I know America has the largest percentage of citizens in prison per capita than any other nation on earth, but this is taking the concept of a prison/police state to a new and disconcertingly dangerous level. All in the name of our ’safety and security’, of course.

Forget no-fly lists. If Uncle Sam gets its way, beginning on Jan. 14, 2007, we’ll all be on no-fly lists, unless the government gives us permission to leave-or re-enter-the United States.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSA) has proposed that all airlines, cruise lines-even fishing boats-be required to obtain clearance for each passenger they propose taking into or out of the United States.

It doesn’t matter if you have a U.S. Passport - a “travel document” that now, absent a court order to the contrary, gives you a virtually unqualified right to enter or leave the United States, any time you want. When the DHS system comes into effect next January, if the agency says “no” to a clearance request, or doesn’t answer the request at all, you won’t be permitted to enter-or leave-the United States.

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Think this can’t happen? Think again. It’s ALREADY happening. Earlier this year, HSA forbade airlines from transporting an 18-year-old a native-born U.S. citizen, back to the United States. The prohibition
lasted nearly six months until it was finally lifted a few weeks ago. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union are two countries in recent history that didn’t allow their citizens to travel abroad without permission. If these regulations go into effect, you can add the United States to this list.

I know people get touchy about rhetorical comparisons of U.S. policy to abominations like Nazi Germany or the U.S.S.R., but those who wish to study the Third Reich will understand that its power grew with the open support and complicity of so-called law abiding, ‘polite’ German society, who would have NEVER imagined what was actually in store for them or the true meaning of what they were giving their acquiescence to.

Wake up, America, while there is still some remote semblance of an America to wake up to.

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For more information on this proposed regulation, see
http://hasbrouck.org/IDP/IDP-APIS-comments.pdf