Free movement

"Free movement by the citizen is of course as dangerous to a tyrant as free expression of ideas or the right of assembly and it is therefore controlled in most countries in the interests of security. That is why the ticketing of people and the use of identification papers are routine matters under totalitarian regimes, yet abhorrent in the United States.

This freedom of movement is the very essence of our free society, setting us apart. Like the right of assembly and the right of association, is often makes all other rights meaningful -- knowing, studying, arguing, exploring, conversing, observing and even thinking. Once the right to travel is curtailed, all other rights suffer."

-- Justice Douglas, United States Supreme Court, 1964

In a better world, people would read this quote and think about the importance of freedom of movement. Change. In a better world, I could leave postcards with this quote on the public bus for people to read. Change. In a better world, this quote would be plastered on the side of each bus because the public bus represents freedom of movement. Change. In a better world, freedom of movement would be the motivating principle of the public transit system. Ah.