(no subject)

[frandroid]

Holy shit. The United States forbid Canadian banks from issuing U.S. dollar bank accounts to Canadians who hold dual citizenship with one of the 26 countries which it deems dangerous to its national security. Some of these countries, like Syria, don't allow you to renounce their citizenship, so you're stuck with it.

Comments

[sabotabby]

You know, I wonder when the big split is going to happen between the free-market fanatics and the Homeland Security fanatics. Because long-term this means that capital will not be able to travel as freely. You'd think that it would chafe some of our corporate overlords' arses.

[frandroid.livejournal.com]

In an article I was reading this week, dissatisfaction with the treatment that foreigners get from customs officials (starting with but not limited to 10-digit fingerprinting, which is about to be introduced) has lead many international conferences (in particular academic) to hold their events outside the United States in order to avoid any undue hardship for conference attendees.

It's a good point you make about free-market fanatics. Just like the restaurant business lobby is currently lobbying in favour of illegal immigration (or for any other way to relax Mexican immigration, anyway), this could eventually lead to business groups to start lobbying for a reduction in these kinds of arbitrary security measures. However, I think the Democrats will have to start getting some cojones in tackling the Bush agenda in Congress before business decides they can oppose the DHS.

I'm wondering how business will determine what's best for them when it comes to presidential elections, especially if Bush gets his way and keeps plowing ahead.