Homeland Security Wants Travel Permits

From the "Practical Nomad" blog:

Should you have to ask for permission from the government before you are allowed to get on a plane or cruise ship? ("Mother, may I?")

The USA Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed that airlines cruise lines, and operators of all other ships and planes -- including charter flights, air taxis, fishing vessels, etc. -- be required to get individual permission (”clearance”) from the DHS for each passenger on all flights or ocean voyages to, from, or via the USA. Unless the answer is “Yes” -- if the answer is “no” or “maybe”, or if the DHS doesn’t answer at all -- the airline wouldn’t be allowed to give you a boarding pass, or let you or your luggage on the plane.

It looks like any such proposal won't get off the ground this time because the airlines and Pentagon are objecting - not because it violates basic human rights and is a signature restriction of a totalitarian state but because it would cost too much and take too much time to implement!

Still, it should worry the sh*t out of you that they are even thinking this way.