(replying to sibling comment)

> Well that is an exception to the rule rather than the norm.

It is? I've literally never given my ID on SFBART or Amtrak, what modes of travel besides being the driver of a car have you had to have a form of state or national ID?

I think you misread the meaning of my comment, see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15318245

Amtrak may require ID upon demand:

https://www.amtrak.com/passenger-identification

> Well that is an exception to the rule rather than the norm.

It's a little disingenuous to compare the US and China in this way. In the US, air travel is literally the only form of transportation where an ID is (by convention) required. It is absolutely the norm when you are traveling in the US by car (as a passenger), bus, or train that you never show any form of ID, ever.

> In China, you can also get temporary ID from train stations and airports if you misplaced it.

I think it's telling that it's even possible to get a temp ID in China from so many places if you've misplaced yours. That tells me that having your ID at all times in China is a necessity, and not having it can cause you problems. In the US, if you lose your ID, it's annoying, but it's not a big deal to be without an ID for a while.

> If you really want to compare the ability to exploit the system, I doubt US citizens can beat Chinese citizens.

Ultimately you want to not have to exploit the system. In that it's just not necessary, because the system is fair, or at least there are efficient legal remedies when it's unfair. Obviously neither the US nor China have such great systems, but, again, I find it telling that the need to exploit the system is so great in China that it's so commonplace and everyone is so good at it. So I find your statement about that kinda sad, not a good thing.

It is expensive, but you don't need ID when you charter. The TSA isn't even involved. Usually, there isn't even any security at all.

Obviously, this is only true if you stay in the country.

I agree with your points, but I don't think you are replying to the points that I made directly. I was specifically referring to the TSA rule on verifying identity without ID and its intention, not on car, trains, or how prevalent the requirement of ID is in China. My point is, in terms of ID requirements for air travel, there is not much difference between the two country.

Then again, I am totally used to people getting angry when I say China is not necessarily worse than US in some aspect regardless of right or wrong.

If you really want to be genuine, try to read my comments with a fresh state of mind and see what I am trying to convey.

Edit: maybe you also interpreted my comment wrongly? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15318245

Yes, I did, my apologies. I did indeed think you were talking about all forms of travel.

Ah, now I understand why the downvotes. I mean "not having ID and going through identity verification process" is considered an exception by TSA when boarding the plane, not a norm.

I didn't mean to say "not requiring an ID" is an exception to all forms of travel in the US. So please stop downvoting me if you understand what I mean.