Do Passports and Visas make sense any more?  If you can pay for yourself and show respect for the law why should you be stopped from visiting any place.  I find it a waste of time and just an excuse for racists all over the world to practise their trade on people not so lucky in skin colour (?) and nationality.

no really that's fine( we don't need no stinking badges)-just allow all the terrorists to go wherever they want and blow up whoever they want. hey you want to drive a car without a license and kill someone-sure whatever. but seriously, there is a need to identify people(not profile) who are criminals or whose intent is to break the law. i am restraining myself, but the above comment is so without rationality and common sense that i had to comment. your comments(be fair!)?

I think you are both seeing things from different perspectives.  There are good reasons why we need them as Doctor-ice explained but then again as Adeshmukh explained there are many instances where the system is abused for nationalist reasons, and prevents many  good and lawful persons (no history of criminality or involvement with terrorist groups), from emigrating to and visiting places. 

Of course passports and visas have prevented terrorism, crime, war and communicable diseases!  Its just another habit.  It creates jobs but other than that?  I said nothing about Driving Licences.  They guarantee you are an acceptable risk on the road.  Does a Passport guarantee you are an acceptable risk in another country?

"Does a Passport guarantee you are an acceptable risk in another country?"

 

In part, yes. I found funny doctor-ice answer which was typically american, but he was right in essence, just very american in form.

A passport is a sort of proof that you show respect for the law, and a backup in case you don't. But it is another case of liberty vs. safety, giving the government more power over us so that they can protect us- or abuse us...

 

 I am wondering, does anyone know if the feud on Cyprus is still going on? Years ago, if you visited either side of the island (Greek or Turkish) you would be refused entry to the other side.

The requirement of visas restrict travel and are fundamentally oppressive instruments.  They are there to prevent human beings from moving to find better opportunities.   If a person can pay for his travel he should be allowed to travel wherever he wants.  Why make travel such an unpleasant experience? The Schengen visa in Europe is a great step forward because it permits free and unrestricted travel across Europe once you have this visa.  I can understand passports.  It is the visa system that I am against.

I'm sort of with you in I don't think anyone owns a piece of earth and can dictate who can and can't go there.  Migration would be unrestricted in a perfect world.  Visas are just a layer of protection for nationlist interests.

 

ivandh wrote:

 I am wondering, does anyone know if the feud on Cyprus is still going on? Years ago, if you visited either side of the island (Greek or Turkish) you would be refused entry to the other side.

---

The Cyprus situation is not yet resolved but movement between the Greek and Turkish sides is much less strict than before.

Thanks Hotflow.  You have seen my point exactly.  The Cyprus situation is really pathetic if people are not allowed to move freely within the country.  We don't need any more Berlin walls.