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U.S. Department of Homeland Paranoia & Stupidity

posted August 18, 2008 - 5:40pm
U.S. Department of Homeland Paranoia & Stupidity

We really know how to make visitors coming to the U.S. feel welcome, these days. What other country fingerprints all visitors arriving at our airports? Now it appears that everyone planning a trip to our country will have to electronically apply for approval as part of the Visa Waiver Program. Boy, if Americans had to go through crap like that to get into foreign countries, you could imagine how many would be screaming their heads off.
Hell, how many nations demand their own citizens fill out a friggin' questionnaire just to get back into their own country? Like it's anybody's business but my own where I've been and what meaningless merchandise I'm bringing back.

I absolutely love some of the questions they are now asking foreigners. Here are a couple of real beauties, right off the stupid site:

B) Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or have been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or have been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities? *

C) Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities; or genocide; or between 1933 and 1945 were you involved , in any way, in persecutions associated with Nazi Germany or its allies? *

Yeah, that's going to be seriously effective at keeping the criminal element out of the US. If anyone answers yes to either question, they should be allowed right in. Anybody stupid enough to announce their intentions is not going to be a very successful terrorist, that's for sure.

Of course, it's quite possible we might just nab a few 95 year old former SS officers. If they're senile enough, who knows.

You just can't make this stuff up, folks.


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Comments

Wow

That's a terrible experience, but I'm afraid It's not uncommon from what I've heard. We are fast turning into a police state. :( Welcome to Xomba!

 
 

re Homeland stupidity

You hit the nail on the head here. I have lived here in the U.S for 7 years now, and last tme I re-entered I was detained for 7 hours, verbally abused, and accused of prostitution and drug trafficking. My suitcase was put back on the plane to send me on a 15 hour deportation trip. Meanwhile I missed two flights which were not covered by insurance, and my husband and kids were hysterical wondering where the heck I was. I was finally pitied by a supervisor who clocked in for duty, and ordered these thugs to back off. He walked me to the departure gate and called my family for me. What a guy. Something* needs fixing. Great read, Thanks.

I agree

Creating DHS (ya gotta love the name) was totally unnecessary. It was just another way to fool the sheeple into believing the government was looking out for them. There's one thing that's always puzzled me: With all the focus on the luggage going onto planes, they completely ignored just how easy it would be for a terrorist to walk into any terminal and take out hundreds of people at a peak time. But I suppose it would be a nightmare to screen every piece of luggage entering the terminals. ↑ Grab this Headline Animator

 
 

replying at the bottom because it is easier

dhs has been unnecessary since day one (and this is coming from a bush supporter). we had the departments in place to do the job of the duct tape department but their directives were not enforced. as for dhs violating the rights of visitors...the constitution applies to citizens of this countries, not visitors. however, it does violate our citizens rights in many many many ways. dhs was nothing but a publicity campaign to make a frightened country feel happy. the problem is when most people are frightened they will buy into any source of security without finding out what it costs them. fingerprinting for a job...that's as whack as having a credit check. no employer needs either.

Honor System

Back in 1995, when I was returning from my Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment, we had to fill out those forms just before we arrived back in our homeport of San Diego. Those of us who didn't bother to list the trivial stuff we had didn't have our lockers or anything inspected by the Customs agent who came through the ship prior to our return. Those who did got a little more detailed inspection, mostly to match up what they bothered to put on the form. The only thing I ever really had to declare was the set of China I bought in Hong Kong for my brother's wedding, but that was at the actual American post office at the fleet landing just after I bought it. All I came back with was silk kimonos from HK, a couple of gold chains from Dubai, and a couple hundred dollars of unspent foreign currency, including one Iraqi dinar bearing the likeness of Saddam Hussein that I bought as a souvenir in Qatar. I believe that Customs was so short on manpower that they are more focused on the big fish smuggling in weapons and drugs in shipping containers. A couple of hundred bucks here and there is a low priority. DO YOU HAVE THE WRITE STUFF?

Something like that

I dunno, it's all pretty absurd. I wonder how many Americans actually disclose what they're bringing back when handed those little sheets to fill out on the plane on return to the U.S. ↑ Grab this Headline Animator

 
 

Maybe those are verifiers, KJHack.

Sorta like the opening questions in lie-detector tests: 'Are you wearing shoes?' 'Is water wet?' 'Are You the King of the Jews?' Questions that are asked not so much to see if the testee's a good liar, but more to check the machines grading`m. ... signed, Uncle MythMan---Big Fan of stars like Tori Spelling, Fussin`, Vanessa Montagne & Lena Li--Xombie Plan

---when You Join Xomba, you can join this- and MythMan's other-hot discussions!

Could be, mythman

I really wonder wonder if they'd turn somebody away for answering "yes" to such ridiculous questions. There was one more I found after posting this article that asked if you were carrying any WMDs. I kid you not! :-S

 
 

I Didn't Wanna LieMyFaceOff, but Imorovan's Devil Made Me Do It!

Maybe that's to keep the mindless-drones out, because anyone with an ounce of sarcasm and a grasp of the language will find a way to answer 'yes'! ... signed, Uncle MythMan---Big Fan of stars like Tori Spelling, Fussin`, Vanessa Montagne & Lena Li--Xombie Plan

---when You Join Xomba, you can join this- and MythMan's other-hot discussions!

Thank you, Lady

Glad you enjoyed it. :)

 
 

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