Papers, please

I'm glad I no longer live in Ohio:

A bill on Gov. Bob Taft's desk right now is drawing a lot of criticism, NewsChannel5 reported.

One state representative said it resembles Gestapo-style tactics of government, and there could be changes coming on the streets of Ohio's small towns and big cities.

The Ohio Patriot Act has made it to the Taft's desk, and with the stroke of a pen, it would most likely become the toughest terrorism bill in the country. The lengthy piece of legislation would let police arrest people in public places who will not give their names, address and birth dates, even if they are not doing anything wrong.

WEWS reported it would also pave the way for everyone entering critical transportation sites such as, train stations, airports and bus stations to show ID.

Now I'm sure if this was a Bush bill, we'd see the right creaming their pants in excitement on the idea that security trumps civil liberties like walking around in public freely. After all, the guy who doesn't have an ID doesn't deserve to ride the bus, but rather detention and a free hooded flight to another country where he can be waterboarded and tortured so we may discover the latest plot involving riding public transportation without an ID.

Who cares if he was simply too poor to be able to afford a state issued ID card. He knows something, and we need that information. We know who he called from the corner pay phone. We just cannot tell you or him or the judge that may eventually rule on his case. Because that will reveal to Al Qaida and other terrorist organizations that we are spying on them we are planning a surprise party for them! And letting anyone know what the government is doing will ruin, um, the surprise.

I'm sure that part of this bill is aimed at scaring the hell out of protesters, too. Already we've learned the government is watching vegans and PETA, so why not make it a law that makes it mandatory to aid in the compiling of a watchlist so the FBI has an easier time monitoring you and your organization?

Taft, the most unpopular guy in the state, and most likely the world, is expected to sign the bill into law. Legal challenges are expected to start shortly thereafter.