[rNr5Di3S]

I thought you were American?

[HitAttetlyTek]

He's a kiwi-canuck. or some variety of that combination.

If US customs wants to read though the details of my sex life, they'd better have the time and officers to spare.

[Rellshare]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Aggie, to give the info to the US they have to already have it. You're looking in the wrong place for the problem. Not really.

I dislike the fact that the government of the place I live would keep a file on me that I cannot see.

I further dislike that they would share this information with some other government. Some of this is no doubt census information, and who knows whether it might include private medical records.

I also dislike the idea that I should have to answer personal questions like that merely to enter a country. It is absolutely none of their business whether I am a foot fetishist or S&M freak (I'm neither). It's also none of their business who I voted for.

I have no problem with US immigration taking my fingerprint or scanning my retina, because, as was explained to me, it is used to tie me to the passport I was using, to stop someone else using it if it were stolen. Some of this other stuff is out of order.

[KlaraNovikoffaZ]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
Alternative

US govt official "we're trying to determine if this guy belongs on a special watch list when he comes over. Abu Omar, was he involved in the Finsbury Park Mosque?

UK official "We know, but we can't tell you"

"Does he support groups sympathetic to Al Qaeeda?"

"We know, but we can't tell you"

"Does he subscribe to the philosophy and beliefs of Sayed Qutb?"

"We know, but we can't tell you"

"He was born in Pakistan, is he Pashtun, a Punjabi, etc, etc"

"We know, but we can't tell you" If he's on a terror watch list in the UK, then that is fine. But this seems to be everyone. No one is saying that agencies cannot share information about people suspected of crimes. However, sharing information about absolutely everyone is a privacy violation.

On the other hand, if someone is merely gay, the US customs have no right to know that. It's none of their business. Similarly if I was a Muslim.

[DoctorIrokezov]

Originally posted by Agathon
Looks like I won't be going to the USA anytime soon.

[giDdfezP]

Originally posted by Patroklos


If you don't like the questions, don't come here.
Here's hoping the system works as planned.

edit - Crap didn't see Dino's post.

[FallJimerks]

Originally posted by Patroklos

If you don't like the questions, don't come here. I don't other than in transit to somewhere else. Turns out that if I want to go home, I sometimes have to go through US customs.

I have no desire to live in, or visit the US. It's not my kind of place.

[invest7manager]

Originally posted by Patroklos
This is why I don't vacation in North Korea ZOMG USA is like North Korea?

[EmpaccalGah]

Bah, communism is passe.

[Unhappu]

Originally posted by Agathon


Not really.

I dislike the fact that the government of the place I live would keep a file on me that I cannot see.

I further dislike that they would share this information with some other government. Some of this is no doubt census information, and who knows whether it might include private medical records.

I also dislike the idea that I should have to answer personal questions like that merely to enter a country. It is absolutely none of their business whether I am a foot fetishist or S&M freak (I'm neither). It's also none of their business who I voted for.

I have no problem with US immigration taking my fingerprint or scanning my retina, because, as was explained to me, it is used to tie me to the passport I was using, to stop someone else using it if it were stolen. Some of this other stuff is out of order. Then you likely wouldn't like being a citizen of the EU, since apparently personal information is kept and shared.

What's the difference if it is shared between France and Poland or France and the US?

Or, as an American if it is shared between Oregon and Nevada, or Oregon and Britain?

[TodeImmabbedo]

Originally posted by Patroklos


If you don't like the questions, don't come here.
That has been my approach.

My last visit was 2-3 years ago and it was awful. Opted not to go to the US on my last vacation and will not be going south this year either.

[Donadoni1809]

Whenever I drive South on the interstates they are full of Canadian license plates, but whenever I return driving North not a single one.

I can only assume you are planting sleeper agents.

[Ruidselisse]

..trade union membership, and data concerning the health or sex life of individuals... What do these things have to do with terrorism?!

[VawSwaspamups]

The sex life of Brits? Fear not, they will soon die of boredom.

[corkBrobe]

He never managed to have an intercourse with a british girl, though he tried for several years (all the time he spent in college in UK)


On the original topic - US is becoming like medieval china under Ming - noone in, noone out, our eyes are closed, our mouths shut (to the outside) policy.
History has shown multiple times that restricting personal freedom leads to totalitarianism and finally to decline.
US although claiming to have learned a lot from history (like govt very close to that of Roman Republic and other presumably good things), has not learned this lesson and it looks like it's going to learn it in this century..

[tsovimnpb]

On the original topic - US is becoming like medieval china under Ming - noone in, noone out, our eyes are closed, our mouths shut (to the outside) policy.

You're funny.

[mikapoq]

Plus we get to wear sharp new uniforms with jack boots and cool insignia