Monday, July 9, 2007

PASSPORTS NOT NEEDED YET?

U.S. citizen passport rules postponed blares the headline. The problem looks similar to the cat's.
The U.S. government has postponed the requirement for returning U.S. citizens to show a passport until at least next summer.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced the change Wednesday in Washington and said the Jan. 1, 2008, deadline was being extended, The Washington Post reported.
Two weeks ago, the State Department said there was a backlog of 3 million passport applications and some congressional members criticized administration's rush.
House Rules Committee Chairwoman Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., whose district includes the border city of Buffalo, N.Y., called the proposal "premature" and "not grounded in reality." Under existing rules, U.S. travelers returning from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean can make a verbal declaration of citizenship and show a wide number of photo identification items, which Chertoff criticized. "Those who believe we should continue to allow 8,000 documents and oral declarations are playing with fire," he said. "They are gambling with the security of this country."
Well, duh Mike. Let me see if this CBS poll will help you understand:
Direction of the Country Wrong track 75% Right direction 19% There's also rising concern about America's standing in the world. Seven in 10 Americans say the United States is not respected around the world today. More than half say President Bush's foreign policy has made world leaders less likely to cooperate with the U.S.; just 10 percent say he's made foreign leaders more agreeable.
Or maybe this: I'm one of the "old guard" who, in my youth, used to visit Canada and Mexico regularly and enjoyed the then hospitality of both countries. I'm also an honorably discharged vet (Korean War) who absolutely resents the very idea that our government wants to tax us all some more by requiring that $100+ passports be carried by legal citizens. I understand the argument that this might protect us from terrorists, but I don't buy that. With all the capabilities of creating forged documents today, it would seem to be a simple matter for these people to supply the overworked state department with clever and honest looking documentation. In other words, the idea seems to be good, but in the cold light of reason and fact, it fails the acid test miserably."
Personal message: moose, be sure to click on the header.

8 comments:

YesBut said...

Hi

You don’t need a passport to post on http://yesbut-images.blogspot.com/

Missed reading your humorous and imaginative captions.

alphonsedamoose said...

Thanks Cat: I'll do my one and only political blog(maybe) on this subject. Great article.Thanks

alphonsedamoose said...

My blog on immigrants is up

Catmoves said...

Thank you moose. I believe this an exceptional, well thought out article. If anyone hasn't read it yet, click on moose's name. Highly recommended.

Unknown said...

Just wanted to thank you for your service to this country. It is appreciated.

Catmoves said...

Thank you just me. I appreciate it.

alphonsedamoose said...

Cat" thanks for the plug.

Catmoves said...

moose, it's how I felt.