sucks to be you i guess...its not as though the people were told about this years in advance or anything. oh, right, we were.

Subby, much like the digital TV conversion, this has been known for quite some time.

If you're heading to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean within the next month and are just now getting your passport/passport card/Enhanced Driver's License (if you live in MI, WA, VT or NY), you're an idiot.

/Got my passport in 2005 (pre-RFID)

Why bother? You can just swim back from Mexico like the 12 million illegals. All this does is infringe on the rights of law abiding citizens. Hasn't the federal government learned from gun laws that criminals don't obey laws? Plus who wants to go to Canada, anyway? So if you want to go to Alaska by driving, you need a passport to get from one state to another? What a giant steaming pile.

For greater comedy, check out America using strong-arm tactics on Canada on the cross border trade in an effort to get Canadian intelligence services to openly share information.

There has been a growing effort in Washington over the years to create an environment where Washington can dictate policy to Canada over any and all things in America's interests. Hence the growing divide between Canada and America.

Not that things like, you know, Predator drones and armed guards in watchtowers wouldn't also be contributing.

Bored Horde: For greater comedy, check out America using strong-arm tactics on Canada on the cross border trade in an effort to get Canadian intelligence services to openly share information.

There has been a growing effort in Washington over the years to create an environment where Washington can dictate policy to Canada over any and all things in America's interests. Hence the growing divide between Canada and America.

Not that things like, you know, Predator drones and armed guards in watchtowers wouldn't also be contributing.

CSIS wants to be part of the Special Relationship. I'm not sure what politicians in Ottawa think is best but the Canadian IC professionals i've talked to would love information sharing to be on the same level as it is with MI:6.

All this security is for the 'common good' ..

Wow, so all the non-English speakers in my neighborhood must have US passports. I wonder how they got them, since they have no other form of ID, or car insurance.

This is just more security theater.

I live in Buffalo and I can see Canada from my front lawn so I am getting a kick out of these replies.

Anyway, my question (and I'm hearing this a lot from people around here) is why in the HELL are we harassing people wishing to travel across the border legally when the southern border isn't even secured yet? What's the point in making an American show a passport to get back into his own country when any random illegal mexican/honduran/guatamalan/whatever can just waltz across the border without documentation and do whatever they want?

Put the National Guard on the southern border, lock it down, stop illegal immigration, then we'll talk.

This "travel initiative" idea is stupid.

nexxus: All this security is for the 'common good' ..

The common good!

Carth: CSIS wants to be part of the Special Relationship. I'm not sure what politicians in Ottawa think is best but the Canadian IC professionals i've talked to would love information sharing to be on the same level as it is with MI:6.

Parts of CSIS may want open information sharing, but after the Arar business, Canada isn't sharing shiat with America.

I mean, America wants to know the name of every single person entering and leaving Canada. This shiat violates Canadian privacy laws, and that we might still respect some vague notion of privacy is seen as an issue in Washington.

blacksho89: Wow, so all the non-English speakers in my neighborhood must have US passports. I wonder how they got them, since they have no other form of ID, or car insurance.

This is just more security theater.

You know all of them personally, enough to know what forms of ID they do or do not carry and car insurance?

SaintAnky: I live in Buffalo and I can see Canada from my front lawn so I am getting a kick out of these replies.

Anyway, my question (and I'm hearing this a lot from people around here) is why in the HELL are we harassing people wishing to travel across the border legally when the southern border isn't even secured yet? What's the point in making an American show a passport to get back into his own country when any random illegal mexican/honduran/guatamalan/whatever can just waltz across the border without documentation and do whatever they want?

Put the National Guard on the southern border, lock it down, stop illegal immigration, then we'll talk.

This "travel initiative" idea is stupid.

Obama doesn't care about courting you for illegal votes in 4 years.

Cry me a farking river, the US government has been trying to strongarm the Canadian government into doing this for the last 8 years.

Bored Horde:

I mean, America wants to know the name of every single person entering and leaving Canada. This shiat violates Canadian privacy laws, and that we might still respect some vague notion of privacy is seen as an issue in Washington.

apologies i misunderstood. I saw intelligence sharing and thought you meant in general between CSIS/CIA. I guess had i bothered to read the article that would have helped.

I really don't understand why people are crying "big brother" for being asked to carry a passport to go to and from another country. That has nothing to do with "invading your privacy." You are not obligated to conduct international travel.

ABC's website looks like utter crap.

JoeBagadonutz: "Why bother? You can just swim back from Mexico like the 12 million illegals. All this does is infringe on the rights of law abiding citizens. Hasn't the federal government learned from gun laws that criminals don't obey laws? Plus who wants to go to Canada, anyway? So if you want to go to Alaska by driving, you need a passport to get from one state to another? What a giant steaming pile."

Reminder folks, you can catch this and every episode of "Troll or Idiot?" right here on FARK. Play along with your friends as you try to guess whether you're dealing with:

* a 13-year old suburban know-it all kid
* a high school dropout target greeter who used their employee discount to get the HP PC that got them on the internets
* a right wing gun nut who thinks that the greatest threats to humanity are Satan, Bryn Mawr Women's Studies majors, and the UN

or

* a bored 20something occasional onion-reading investment banker or graduate student trying their best to imitate the other three.

yay FARK. yay Internets.

dimoko: sucks to be you i guess...its not as though the people were told about this years in advance or anything. oh, right, we were.

I for one have been focusing on getting my analog TV switched to digital, so I haven't had time thanks.

blacksho89: This is just more security theater.

This.

This was news like 3 years ago.

All this security is for the 'common good'

LOLOLOL

I have always been under the impression that you have always been required to have a passport to get back into the states when you travel internationally.

Shiat, where was I?

gulogulo: I really don't understand why people are crying "big brother" for being asked to carry a passport to go to and from another country. That has nothing to do with "invading your privacy." You are not obligated to conduct international travel.

Agreed. I cannot see the fuss either. We used to have a similar reciprocal agreement with the Republic of Ireland years ago, but it was no big deal to get a passport when the rules were tightened up.

Kar98: nexxus: All this security is for the 'common good' ..

The common good!

Yep. The common good.

And it's the same 'common good' that should be credited for most all of our other directives.

Got ID?

>

You should have a passport.

Travel is just about crossing the border to shop at a Prime 1 outlet in Pennsylvania, it is about going far far away to places where you cannot get Bass shoes at 60% off.

And for that you need a passport.

Maybe for shoppers they should have a shopper passport.

/I've never not had a valid passport. I just wish the damn things wouldn't expire every 5 years.

JoeBagadonutz: Plus who wants to go to Canada, anyway? So if you want to go to Alaska by driving, you need a passport to get from one state to another?

If you can drive from Washington to Alaska without touching another country's soil, you are my Carmen Sandiego!

If you are an American without a passport you are a Jerry Springer class loser.

. . . and over here in Europe every year or so another country opens up to passport-free travel. Quaint that France can trust the Germans but the U.S. doesn't trust visitors to Canada.

Unfortunately, the U.K. isn't on board yet, and so I have to fill out the stupid landing card every time I go between the Continent and back to London. I wish they would hurry up and join, but that seems about as likely as the Brits giving up the pound sterling and taking on the Euro.

/of course, that's what they thought about Iceland . . .

Hmmmm. Deciding what ID is necessary to cross the border seems to be a valid role of the Federal government. More so than building skateboards parks, cars, and hockey rinks.

It's not like using a passport for international travel is some bizarre new idea.

Eckyhade: If you are an American without a passport you are a Jerry Springer class loser.

Lots of people don't have passports. It's not uncommon.

TehNacho: I have always been under the impression that you have always been required to have a passport to get back into the states when you travel internationally.

Shiat, where was I?

Fun fact. If you are an American citizen they can't deny you entry even if you don't have your passport (well they physically can but they aren't allowed to). They will delay you for hours while they check everything out but you'll still be able to go home.

Carth: TehNacho: I have always been under the impression that you have always been required to have a passport to get back into the states when you travel internationally.

Shiat, where was I?

Fun fact. If you are an American citizen they can't deny you entry even if you don't have your passport (well they physically can but they aren't allowed to). They will delay you for hours while they check everything out but you'll still be able to go home.

they can't deny you reentry into the United States

FTFM

RickN99: Hmmmm. Deciding what ID is necessary to cross the border seems to be a valid role of the Federal government. More so than building skateboards parks, cars, and hockey rinks.

It's not like using a passport for international travel is some bizarre new idea.

It is a valid role. The problem is that they've chosen security over freedom.

Bored Horde: Eckyhade: If you are an American without a passport you are a Jerry Springer class loser.

Lots of people don't have passports. It's not uncommon.

Like I said.

Bomb Head Mohammed: JoeBagadonutz: "Why bother? You can just swim back from Mexico like the 12 million illegals. All this does is infringe on the rights of law abiding citizens. Hasn't the federal government learned from gun laws that criminals don't obey laws? Plus who wants to go to Canada, anyway? So if you want to go to Alaska by driving, you need a passport to get from one state to another? What a giant steaming pile."

Reminder folks, you can catch this and every episode of "Troll or Idiot?" right here on FARK. Play along with your friends as you try to guess whether you're dealing with:

* a 13-year old suburban know-it all kid
* a high school dropout target greeter who used their employee discount to get the HP PC that got them on the internets
* a right wing gun nut who thinks that the greatest threats to humanity are Satan, Bryn Mawr Women's Studies majors, and the UN

or

* a bored 20something occasional onion-reading investment banker or graduate student trying their best to imitate the other three.

yay FARK. yay Internets.


You sounds short. And brown.

I'm a canuck who travels to the states by car, and I think this is a good idea. Getting a passport is not that hard, really, and it's a good form of ID to have when you're in a foreign country. If it helps with border safety, then why not?
Really, the border crossings themselves are not the issue... it's the many, many side roads, paths, rivers, etc, that people can take to cross the border illegally that they should be concentrating on....

qwave54: If it helps with border safety, then why not?

Because it doesn't.

Welcome to the RepubliCommie States of America Inc.

Eckyhade: If you are an American without a passport you are a Jerry Springer class loser.

If you don't hyphenate your adjectival phrases, you are a ... a ... a doodyhead!

And if you don't have a five-digit Fark ID number, you are a Jerry-Springer-class loser.

rob.d: You should have a passport.

Travel is just about crossing the border to shop at a Prime 1 outlet in Pennsylvania, it is about going far far away to places where you cannot get Bass shoes at 60% off.

And for that you need a passport.

Maybe for shoppers they should have a shopper passport.

/I've never not had a valid passport. I just wish the damn things wouldn't expire every 5 years.

I guess you don't have a passport or you would know that they are valid for 10 years. Only a second limited passport is for two years. There are however 5 year passports for junveniles. If you are in that category congrats. Are you one of my kids?

"What's a valid travel document? A regular passport, a new passport card, a "trusted traveler" card or an "enhanced driver's license," which states the person's nationality. Children under the age of 16 will not be required to have the travel documentation."

Also, yeah; this was announced 8 years ago.

These measures were put in place in response to 9/11 attacks, overlooking the fact that many of the hijackers had valid passports. For crissakes, 8 of the 19 were registered to vote! (new window)

I suppose this is like the TSA ban on liquids even though it's been proven repeatedly that one cannot effectively create a liquid explosive capable of destroying an airplane. (new window)

TheOther: JoeBagadonutz: Plus who wants to go to Canada, anyway? So if you want to go to Alaska by driving, you need a passport to get from one state to another?

If you can drive from Washington to Alaska without touching another country's soil, you are my Carmen Sandiego!

54.40 or fight!

Eckyhade: rob.d: You should have a passport.

Travel is just about crossing the border to shop at a Prime 1 outlet in Pennsylvania, it is about going far far away to places where you cannot get Bass shoes at 60% off.

And for that you need a passport.

Maybe for shoppers they should have a shopper passport.

/I've never not had a valid passport. I just wish the damn things wouldn't expire every 5 years.

I guess you don't have a passport or you would know that they are valid for 10 years. Only a second limited passport is for two years. There are however 5 year passports for junveniles. If you are in that category congrats. Are you one of my kids?

My Canadian passport is valid for 5 years.

Bored Horde: Eckyhade: If you are an American without a passport you are a Jerry Springer class loser.

Lots of people don't have passports. It's not uncommon.

This does not surprise me at all. In my travels stateside I've actually met people who had never traveled outside of the county in which they were born. I'm kind of thinking they're not suddenly going to decide to hop on a plane and travel to say, Finland, when many of them didn't even know where Sacramento was located.

/besides, passports cost money they could spend on beer and ammo

Eckyhade: I guess you don't have a passport or you would know that they are valid for 10 years

If you don't know that the "www" in the URL stands for "World Wide Web" and that some of the people who post here live in countries other than the USA, you are a Jerry-Spring-class loser.

so the "enhanced" driver licenses the article mentions forgoes having to have a passport if you want to travel to Canada or Mexico, but you still have to get a passport to go somewhere like Europe or Asia? That doesn't sound too bad or expensive, just not all states are on board with it yet. I know on Oklahoma's state page, it mentions something about the Governor asking the feds for an extension for implementation of the new IDs. Of course Oklahoma just spent a buttload of money on the new driver licenses that eliminated the laminated plastic ones in favor of the ones that look like credit cards, so they are probably wanting to know where the money will come from to get the new technology and software to implement it.

Nakito: Eckyhade: I guess you don't have a passport or you would know that they are valid for 10 years

If you don't know that the "www" in the URL stands for "World Wide Web" and that some of the people who post here live in countries other than the USA, you are a Jerry-Spring-class loser.

I thought that'd be more Maury-Pauvitch*-class sort of thing.

* spelling is likely not correct and I'm too lazy to google it.

nexxus: RickN99: Hmmmm. Deciding what ID is necessary to cross the border seems to be a valid role of the Federal government. More so than building skateboards parks, cars, and hockey rinks.

It's not like using a passport for international travel is some bizarre new idea.

It is a valid role. The problem is that they've chosen security over freedom.

So it was more "free" to provide a photo ID and birth certificate or whatever was previously required? Hell no it wasn't. A passport is simple and easy, and harder to fake. This has been planned for about ten years, and everyone knew it. This is people biatching for the sake of biatching.