Why do we need Americans to possess passports to travel? Is it because our ID is not citizen specific? At nearly 100 dollars a copy for the passport, this is just a way for the govt to make money IMO, and pretend that they are protecting our security of course.
I disagree. Security is the overall concern, but as always, the Government goes about it wrong.
One of two things will happen. Either this whole thing will get nixed before 2008 or the Feds will drop the price of passports
When one is traveling, a passport is for one's own protection. It is an international identification. Passports are similar around the world and are recognized immediately. This wouldn't be so with a State's driver’s license or whatever other ID one chooses to use. Also, passports do cost initially because they aren't cheap to print and deliver, but they are good for 10 years. If one can’t afford the cost, one can’t afford to travel.