Today I attempted to board an airplane without presenting ID. This is your right, according to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but few airport workers know it, and even fewer flyers know it. No civilian has actually been able to look at this law. It's a secret law. You are governed by a law you are not allowed to see. These things actually exist in the United States!

( Here is what happened: )

Is anyone aware of any serious calls for the president's resignation/impeachment after the revelation of his NSA directives? I'm no lawyer, so am I right to assume that his executive orders instructing others to break the law count as Bush breaking the law and are therefore grounds for impeachment?

But then again, would anyone who wants Bush out prefer Cheney instead? I'm curious to see where this is headed!

Also, the Patriot Act has been partially deflated? Maybe things are going to be okay?

I was walking down the street with Ryan, carrying an open container of a beverage of an alcoholic nature (knowing full well that the city of Los Angeles has decided this is something that should not be allowed) when two Department of Public Safety officers stopped us and made us pour out our drinks. I'm told this law is typically not enforced around USC because it is a college. People drink at colleges. Plus we were on Greek Row. I mean, come on.

Following is a brief retelling of the conversation that occurred. Since these people had power over me and survival was my chief concern, there was some disparity between what I thought and what I said.

"Gentlemen, come here. Pour that out."
-I think: "Bummer. This was some good stuff. Open container laws are now officially stupid in my book. Don't you guys have something better to do? I bet several girls will be raped tonight, and you spent your time making people pour out beers. Congratulations!"
-I say: "Okay."

"Where's your ID?"
-I think: "I do not have any pockets, and since I wasn't planning on purchasing anything else that required me to prove I'm old enough to companies that are forced by the government not to sell products to people they've deemed too immature to use them, I decided not to bother with it. Besides, I hate the idea of ID cards. Carrying one seems to imply that my existence needs to be validated by the United States government. It doesn't."
-I say: "I don't have it with me."

"Then how do I know you're 21?"
-I think: "Why do you need to? I'm not breaking any law except the one you've already stopped me for. I've lived for 22 years and consuming alcoholic beverages is something I can do without legal ramification now. Since I'm not trying to purchase anything of that nature from you, you have no need to know my age. And even if I was, you'd make me pour it out again because we're outside on a sidewalk instead of 10 feet over there inside that building. In fact, since I'm not carrying an ID, you couldn't really ticket me anyway because I would just make up a name. If you were real cops, you could take me to a prison and fingerprint me and such, but seriously, who's going to take time to do that over an open container law?"
-I say: "I could go back to my apartment and get it."

"California law requires that anyone over 18 must carry an ID on them at all times."
-I think: "Bull $#!%. That Nevada court case last year was the first instance of anything similar to what you're claiming. Even then, he only had to reveal his name. Seriously. How can you tell me that with a straight face?"
-I say: "Really? I didn't know that! Interesting!"

"You need to have it on you at all times. What if you get hit by a car?"
-I think: ...
-I say: ...

I did a little research to make sure I was right. I am. According to Wikipedia's entry devoted to Identity documents in the United States:

Although most American adults carry their driver's license at all times when they are outside their homes, there is no legal requirement that they must be carrying their license when not operating a vehicle. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states are permitted to require people to say their name when a police officer asks them what their name is. See Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada. Furthermore, in some states, like California, failure to produce an identification document upon citation for any traffic infraction (such as riding a bicycle on the wrong side of a street) is sufficient justification for full custodial arrest.

Of course, it's Wikipedia so take that with a grain of salt until you or I are able to find the official documents, but this is what I figured. Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada was a big deal precisely because the precedent it set was such a huge strike against civil libertarians. It paved the way for a law that would require one to carry papers at all times, but no state has actually taken them up on it yet, that I know of.

In conclusion: I know the law better than some people who enforce it. Don't carry your ID unless you do something really illegal, or unless you are going to be hit by a car. In either case, an ID shouldn't be your first concern.