The Moderate Liberal

Much is being made these days about the passport requirement on the Canadian boarder, and voter ID requirements.

I believe ID is a good thing. Being able to positively ID yourself to customs agents and at the voting booth is a good thing.

But if its required, then the ID and passpors must be free.

Democrats argue correctly that forcing elderly people and non-drivers to present ID is burdensom, and I agree.  The solution is to provide each U.S. citizen a passport. 

As a father of 3 kids who lives near the Canadian border and who enjoyes visiting Canada, and who is married to a British citizen, I realize just how freakin’ expensive it is to get a passport.  And for kids, you have to update them every 5 years.  It may cost hundreds of dollars in “fees” and an afternoon off from work to acquire passports for your family.

Set aside for a moment how ridiculous it is to be focused on securing the Northern Border with Canada, all the while the Southern Border with Mexico is more porus than Sponge Bob Square Pants (see, told you I had kids).

If we can afford to send $150 billion in free money to all Americans in the name of stimulating the economy, then surely government can issue free ID’s and passports to all Americans in the name of national security and voter enfranchisement.