[Ted Davisson]

Greetings From New Orleans ,
For those of us that actually hold and work under a Coast Guard license on this nation's waterways , there has been a major overhaul of both the appearance and application requirements to both attain and renew this license . Up until recently the Coast Guard license that was issued was both attractive and easily read and very suitable for framing not only at home on a wall but on a boat as well . Now however , this same license has been reduced to something that vaguely resembles a passport and is not really easily read and not something that I would or could place in a frame on a wall and in a place of prominence . This is now my 9th. license renewal and unfortunately it's appearance is something that I for one am no longer especially proud of and under the very best of circumstances will never be framed much less proudly mounted on a wall . Futhermore , rumor has it that this is just a step along the way to futher reduce the appearance of the Coast Guard license to something resembling a driver's license with a personal identification " chip " in it . Just imagine , how would that look framed and on a wall . Personally , I also believe that this is another means by the Coast Guard to indirectly reduce the stature of a Master's or Pilot's license and of the individual that has earned and works under this license . What a shame !
Food for thought !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson