Not enogh - they want to have our fingerprints and digitally scanned photos - machinereadable stored on a microchip inside the passport. This chip can be read even without having the passport in your hands - through radio waves.

And yet they dont give a shit about thousands of foreigners streaming over the border illegally every day. Makes sense.

hmm.. i always thought this was the case.

paranoia nation

now there's a song someone should write, if it hasn't been yet.


[Edited on Apr 07, 2005 7:25PM]

I hate to say this, pains me to say it, but this is probably necessary. Perhaps something could be done to alleviate some of the costs of the passports. I don't have one--why do they cost so much? It would be wonderful if this didn't need to happen, but we should be strengthening our borders all around.

'.. United States had to take every precaution to screen out "people who want to come in to hurt us."

Aaannd.. carrying a passport is going to change this? Not bloody likely. In case anyone hasn't noticed, there are all sorts of ways 'evil forners' can get into the States and hurt people. Not to mention those who are otherwise innocuous U.S. citizens.

The boogey man lives in Panama... who'dve thunk it.

Yeah, no one is going to come in through Canada...it's hella easier to get into Mexico illegally, then the US from there.

But oh well, we are tightening our border. Something that should have been done a while ago. Now to secure our southern border.....

So now you are finding fault with a clearly defined administrative approach to keeping track of those who enter and leave the country - purely out of hysterical animus for individuals entering the country to picks strawberries and wash dishes?

This is necessary to prevent another 9/11. Everyone knows that passports can't be counterfeited.

I don't see any problem with American citizens having to carry a passport to travel internationally, including visits to Canada and Mexico. Pardon my ignorance, but isn't that the whole point of the passport document?

For me, I want to have my passport on me if I am abroad. It is the only piece of ID in a foreign country that is going to do me any good at all.

The problem is not in requiring US citizens to have passports to travel--the problem lies in preventing false passport circulation, and controlling illegal alien entry.

This is not really that big of a consideration when you consider that a US passport is valid for 10 years. That's only $9.70 a year for an adult who wishes to travel outside the US. Doesn't seem like a bankbuster to me

You do realize that both of these policies are from the fine folks you support, right?

nobody in the government has a fucking clue what they are doing. le's all just admit it. they're just as fucking clueless as anybody.

Hey, I'm all for it. I'd like a little consistency in my border-crossings.

Entering Canada: You proved you can drive. Now prove to me you're alive. A birth certificate would be nice.

Entering US: You're all American? Drive careful.