random memes }

Prelude to internal passports?

There are folk who seem to be trying to turn this country into a police state. In the past several years our country has acquired more of the unpleasant features - more like the old USSR rather than the old USA.

Travel by airline is now heavily monitored. Travel by car is still free. Fans of a police state will at some point try and control interstate travel. So when this item went past, I have to wonder what it really means. Especially given the actual number of "terrorist attacks" against "surface transportation" is about zero. Are they going to propose internal passports (in some form) for interstate travel?

I really want to be wrong about this.

Strengthening Surface Transportation Security Executive Order 13416--Strengthening Surface Transportation Security

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to strengthen the security of the Nation's surface transportation systems and thereby enhance the protection of the people, property, and territory of the United States of America against terrorist attacks, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The security of our Nation's surface transportation systems is a national priority, vital to our economy, and essential to the security of our Nation. Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and the public share responsibility for the security of surface transportation. It is the policy of the United States to protect the people, property, and territory of the United States by facilitating the implementation of a comprehensive, coordinated, and efficient security program to protect surface transportation systems within and adjacent to the United States against terrorist attacks.