False Conclusions

[talon]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/02/04/americans.travel.domestically/index.html?hpt=Sbin

I think the people who wrote this article didn't actually talk to people without passports, because "being comfortable" is probably really low on the list of reasons more Americans don't have passports and don't travel outside the US.

They listed:
Comfort staying in place,
Fear of the unknown,
The US's own geographical diversity,
American ignorance of international destinations,

and only then got to what I consider the real, and perhaps only, reasons Americans don't have passports and travel outside the US:
the prohibitive cost of getting a passport
The prohibitive costs of traveling overseas
Lack of time.

I stopped renewing my passport when I found out I was on the no-fly list. What was the point of having it if my own country wouldn't let me use it?

Granted, I could probably take cruises, but honestly, I couldn't accrue enough vacation time to drive to and from a cruise port (see how the no-fly list seriously restricts my movements? I can only travel the distance I can go by car, bus, train, horse, bicycle, foot) and then take a cruise. This is one of the disadvantages of living in a land-locked state.

Even if I could fly, the sheer belligerence of the US against its own citizens in the airports would prevent me from flying.

And then, if I could stomach that sort of brutality enacted bymy own country against me, I'd have to deal with the expense and disrespect of the airlines. Remember, I am hearing-impaired and am partnered with a hearing dog - and considering how airlines treat pets, I'd be terrified of how they'd treat him, especially since he doesn't fit any of the service dog stereotypes.

And then, there'd be the entire issue of getting him into other countries - and back out again!

I haven't even touched on the expenses. Those, too, would be a huge stumbling block against travel.

It's not like we live in Europe, where the next country is just down the road (unless we happen to live in states that border Canada or Mexico). For the most part, traveling to another country isn't a matter of a road trip or taking a train. We have to make arrangements with the unfriendly skies or a cruise line, then hope we select decent accommodations and tours once there. Each country has different rules and regulations on driving so just renting a car once we land may not be a viable option.

It's hard work for us to travel to another country as well as expensive and time consuming.

Comfort and fear are way, way down the list of reasons more Americans don't travel overseas.

Until travel gets faster, easier and friendlier, it probably won't improve much.