Originally Posted by
jedison
What exactly is wrong with making people take care of their legal obligations?
Because there's no logical limit to the program. Right now, it's a denial of passport renewal if there's a child support arrearage. Next, it's unpaid spousal support. Next, traffic or parking tickets, or utility bills. Next, it's your credit cards or other consumer debt. Before you know it, your passport is in thrall to whatever group can muster political support to protect its interests.
It's already happening to driver licenses. As
Tom911 noted, many states will not renew a driver license if there is an outstanding child support obligation. But it hasn't stopped there, with many states using the driver license as a mechanism to force conformity with whatever social norm is the flavor of the political season. For example, earlier this month, Kentucky began enforcing a law which suspended the driver license of any teen who drops out of high school or has more than nine unexcused absences.
Teenagers in particular get hit with these restrictions because they have no political power. But let's remember that those of us who regularly travel internationally are a decided minority in this country. As seen by the policies of TSA and CBP, the interests of FFers count for little.
These policies can easily propagate:
You don't buy carbon offsets for your flights? No passport.
No health insurance? No passport.
You smoke? No passport.
Once you allow a government program to be used as a tool of social engineering for completely unrelated causes, there is no end to the mischief that can be caused.