NEWS: America Is A Country Full Of Cry Babies

Someone was shining you on. You do not need a passport to drive back from Canada, nor do you need one to enter the country by rail or by ship. This, incidentally, is why all this "protecting our borders" stuff is so much horseshit.

Sorry but that is idle speculation. It's great that your friends had the wherewithal and means to spend the time money and energy on things they don't need, but really that doesn't validate the system or FTR's screeching, nor does it address people whose passports are expiring and are caught up in this mess.

Whether or not it's horse-shit, all I know is that it what the border agent said, you either need a birth certificate or a passport, because a driver's license isn't proof of citizenship. Also, every time we went after that they asked for passports. So I dunno why they were asking for it, if it wasn't required.

You're right. I shouldn't have said ALL cautious Americans, but I think it was pretty intelligent for those who did. I do see where you're coming from though in terms of perhaps business person who are traveling overseas all the time and need to renew their passports and it takes forever. What are they to do? No amount of anticipation on their part would solve the problem, because they wouldn't be able to travel during the time it took to get a passport.

As far as FTR is concerned, I just read the article as him bitching about people not thinking far enough in advance given the circumstances and based on my previous post I do believe that is a legitimate criticism (for a portion of the population--and the one that the lady in question is a part of). But yeah, like you said, for some none of that matters, which is why I said I think you both are correct.

It's horseshit because we are only applying the requirements at airports. You still don't need a passport to drive, walk sail or train into the country from our North American neighbors. We still haven't implemented the protocols that we're demanding of other countries and basically the whole thing is a big joke.

You have always needed proof of citizenship, all they are doing is asking for it more often, and really, I swear to God, you can look it up, passports aren't required and won't be until (possibly) next year. The last time I drove back from Mexico my declaration was the score of the Lakers game. This does not mean that just because they didn't ask for my ID doesn't mean I didn't need it, or that you have to follow basketball to cross the border.

As for the rest, as I said before, yes, everyone in, say FTR's position has screwed up. Unfortunately the people in FTR's position are in the serious minority, making the screeching generalizations, for which he has earned the well-deserved reputation as SG's own Rosanne Rosanadana, completely insupportable.

One thing, as of June 8th the US government is temporarily allowing those with pending passport applications to travel in the previously unrestricted areas. This is effective through the end of September. Just thought that was interesting and that I'd point it out. Although it doesn't help citizens traveling outside this area, it seems the government is addressing the situation.

Also, I think you're right about the Mexico/Canada thing. All sources reference passport requirements for air-travel (I can't find anything specifically about non-air-travel) and the site specifically for the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel just says identification (it doesn't specify passport). Fucking Border Agents... They kept us there for fucking almost 3 hours for absolutely nothing.

Fucking American crybaby.

Bastard!

What American in their right mind doesn't have a passport? Ocassionally one must leave the country and lie low for a while. Make sure you have a list of places without extradition treaties handy as well.

COMMUNIST!

"NEWS: America Is A Country Full Of Cry Babies"

I think the title of this thread fits better with some of the posters on it than it does with the actual story.