Hundred of millions of solutions and ideas are being poured over right now on this very subject and yet, rest assured that some of the dumbest ones may take affect. They will continue to make mistakes and screw it up for some people. This thread is gonna make me bummed out for sure, but I guess all things must come around...

I can say this however, in a related subject (dealing with the DMV):

Tried to get my foreign wife a Mass driver's license and we had all the correct documents and colored forms and papers and stuff like that-so we though. She has all her INS papers and everything (what a pain, for those who, God forbid, marry an "alien!") We had called in advance and read everything on line but they neglected to tell us everything, we later found.

When finally at the desk to check in (huge line just for that) we were told we were missing something showing she lived at our address like a phone bill with her name on it, etc. I showed them the newly acquired social security card and the envelope it came in-to THAT address! Not good enough! We did not get the DL. More hoops to go thru. Stupid. Almost makes you mad but then, you cant be mad because there are cops around and all that. I guess I'll have to sign up my wife for the MCI (with miles of course) and then go back. By then, like with the airport, the rules will change.

I asked the motor vehicle dude what on earth we needed to do to be SURE we can get it right, AND not have to go through this stuff if there is a next time. (This is a bit like going through security gates and wanting to know what to do, or be on some kind of list of those considered to be "OK" by the powers that be)

Turns out that those 19 terrorists had ALL the excat RIGHT documentation when they did anything! This can be obtained. There is no "system" that cannot be eventually broken. It can be fordged, a person can pay off someone to get it, and the like. I hate to say it but I think that not many of your suggestions would necessarily work and yet, you are right about much of what you say. I dunno the solution yet.

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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!