you thought it couldn't happen here?

Want To Leave Or Enter The Country?

Digby:

This disturbing notice on Slashdot comes via Sara Robinson at Orcinus:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a system which will in essence make it mandatory for you to have permission before leaving or entering the country, effectively putting everyone on a no-fly list unless the government says otherwise. Interestingly, the proposal does not seem to cover personal travel, only that on some sort of carrier like an airline or cruise vessel.

One would think that passports would be enough for a free government to regulate travel abroad by its citizens. But no, issuing passports doesn't have enough goose-stepping zip and pizazz for the Bushites. Passports are subject to public checks and balance And that, we just can't have; it would be too easy for someone to learn whether Bush is abusing them….read on

It sounds more and more like Soviet times every day.

(Crooks and Liars)