New International Requirement for U.S. Travel

Here’s an interesting piece of news, from Less Than a Shoestring:

From the producer of our poorly-orchestrated increased airline security measures (”Only Terrorists Carry 200 ml of Toothpaste”) and the creator of the color-based national security threat chart (”Like Clockwork, Orange!”), a new move certain to alienate our closest friends and allies: starting January 12, 2009, all travelers to the U.S. who travel without visa restrictions (15 million people annually) will now be required to register themselves and their travel plans online at least 72 hours prior to travel or be denied boarding on their chosen air or sea carrier.

…This is the same information the U.S. government has always collected from these travelers on a form passed out by each carrier prior to arrival and turned in to border agents. The digital information will be kept just as long as the paper version: an unbelievable 75 years! Canadians and Mexicans are not affected by this regulation, nor are those arriving by car, foot, bus or bicycle.

The U.S. apparently is requiring the information to be submitted online only, and will keep this information for up to 75 years! I’ve not been very happy with the government policies for many years now, and this is just another reason to stay home for the vacation. I have to wonder if the policy makers in Washington, DC, realize how odious they are being, or if this kind of behavior is purposeful. Those idiot politicians are going out of their way in every way possible to ruin our economy!