Joe Jefferson wrote:
Uncle Al wrote:
Richard Herring wrote:

What percentage of US citizens even have passports?

All of them. If you do not have internal papers you will be detained
at an airport.

I've been through airports quite a few times, most of them since 9/11.
They only ask for a passport if you're entering or leaving the country.
For all other flights you just need a drivers license or other form of
photo ID.

That's what he's talking about. We used to talk about how terrible it
was that russians who wanted to travel inside the USSR needed an
"internal passport" to go anywhere, to check into a hotel, etc.

Now you need your driver's license to get on a commercial airplane or
check into a hotel etc.

But it isn't quite the same here. You can go anywhere you can drive
without having to show your internal passport to anybody at all provided
you never stay at a hotel or motel, and you never cash a check, and the
police don't stop you. Of course if you use a credit card there will be
records that show every single place and time you use it.