USA Crazy Way To Treat Tourists

For all this talk of secure borders we all need to remember one thing... handled correctly tourism can be a big help to an economy. I'm not saying tourism is perfect but you know what I mean.

So the way the US Government is treating travellers at the moment is scandalous.

The USA already has a fairly robust treaty with the EU whereby it receives a lot of info on people entering its borders. A new agreement has been signed which

adds 19 possible new categories, including information on ethnic origin, political and philosophical opinions, credit card numbers, trade union membership, sex life and details of the passengers' health.

The information will be provided by passengers when making bookings.

I can see the booking form now:

Do you require a vegetarian meal option?

Are you an Arab?

Do support the Coalition of the Willing?

Do you think George W. Bush is the greatest President ever?

Have you ever been affiliated with a trade union (example: are you a Communist?)?

Do you top or bottom? (Please select I'm not a homosexual for neither).

Make love not war. Discuss.

I understand that countries should know about those entering their borders. I've got records from some of my ancestors who upon entering the United States had their hair colour, height and general complexion noted for eternity. But your philosophical beliefs???

Now we all know about the famous questionnaire which some people get upon entering the country which has such questions as: Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party? But that's a direct question (and served a purpose for its time). It's not about your philosophical beliefs or your sex life which to be perfectly blunt are no one's business but your own.

America: Land of the (Control) Free-ak.