Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The Right to Travel

I use the right to travel as an example of the potential unalienable rights that might fall under the heading "among" in the Declaration of Independence - see below - but do it with tongue in cheek.

Maybe I should rethink this. The Daily Kos points out that a recent copy of the Federal Register contains something called the Secure Flight Plan which, they argue, will allow the Department of Homeland Security to take over pre-screening passengers, which means that the federal government will have to give you permission to get on an airplane before you can fly.

This has been in the works for a while and administration officials say that this will not violate individual liberties.

Sticklers among you will point out, correctly, that this does necessarily restrict travel, just a certain mode of transportation. But still, where does this end?