One of the freedoms that John Adams spoke about was the freedom to travel without presenting papers. Indeed, this was one of the fundamental irritations that persuaded the common man to get behind the “Common Sense” pamphlet, and support the revolution in the first place. But, now, like the russians we mocked during the cold war, we have to present our papers before we are permitted to travel in our own country. And, it turns out, this is an enforcement of a “secret law.”

Huh? Secret law? So … ignorance of the law is no excuse, even when that law is secret and we’re not *permitted* to know about it. This is so obviously ludicrous I’m amazed that, even in America, we put up with it. Yet we calmly and happily do so.

Baa, baa.

So, for those of you who don’t read Slashdot, but care about our rights as Americans, you should read the Wired article, and John Gilmore’s site about the lawsuit. And, if you’re legally inclined, perhaps you’d like to read the suit itself.

I suppose I’m a bit of a cynic. I don’t seriously think that our courts will uphold the rights of mere citizens in the face of NATIONAL SECURITY, regardless of any logical tie between security and the ultra-secret law in question (or, in this case, lack thereof). What ever happened to government of the people, by the people, and for the people?