Travel Outside the USA Requires a Passport

Going is not really the problem, it's getting back in. We know we need to protect our borders, we know we need to keep terrorists out of the country, we know we need to stop illegal aliens from coming to the US to take the jobs that real US citizens don't want to do. Ensuring everyone has a passport is one way to accomplish that. What I thought of when I first heard this is that our country could become like axis powers during WWII or the USSR during the cold war. You are walking down the street and an armed man in a uniform stops you and and demands to see your papers. Seeing this in old movies always had me wondering, "what papers are they talking about?" Let's hope it doesn't come to this.

I have traveled all over the world, and by far the hardest country to get into in the USA, I am a citizen, and I have trouble getting back into my own country after visiting some of the wonderful places this world has to offer. Will everyone with a passport have an easier time getting into the country? I doubt it very much. Chicago O'Hare as a point of entry can't possibly process people any faster. Miami International Airport will see a drastic increase in the amount of time it takes to get back into the country for US citizens that are returning from vacations or business in the Caribbean. Other points of entry will be just as hard hit.

As for keeping terrorists out, I am all for that, then I ask myself, why does the TSA fine airlines for profiling? If I see a middle eastern looking man acting suspicious in an airport terminal, you can bet I'll tell the agent, flight crew if I can get to talk to them. If a mother of two or a little old lady was acting the same way I wouldn't give it a second thought. Without racial cues there would be no reason to suspect anyone.

Don't even get me started on illegal aliens. California wanting to give them drivers licenses, come on! Border patrol officers getting arrested for murder after defending themselves from these people, that's right lock up the good guys.

Remember borders are all or nothing. Get your passport, but let's not forget about freedom. Your passport is really just a fancy ID. There is some personal information gathered by the passport agency, but that info is available to the US government via many other avenues so they really are not gathering new personal information on the citizens of this great country, they are making sure our borders are all protected. Protected from terrorists, protected from illegal aliens, protected from the few who would do harm to the many. That is a good thing.