If you follow this blog at all, I’m sure you are aware of the cross-country adventure looming over the remaining weeks of the McKibbens’ summer. Because part of our journey will take us into Canada (otherwise known as America, Jr.) we are required by federal law to get passports for Roark and Edie.
While I understand the need for identification for the kids, it’s funny to think that at age five, Roark will be toting a passport with his six-month Charlie Brown photo.
As difficult as it can be to get a regular passport, the process is considerably more involved for children. Among other things, both parents are required to apply in person, so this past Saturday morning the whole family loaded up in the mommy-van and headed to the post office in hopes of making the two hour window in which they accept applications.
We made it to the service counter with ten minutes to spare, and then the waiting began. After five rounds of I-spy and all the black & white tile hop-scotch she could stand, Edie got bored, and we headed outside to climb trees, leaving Leigh and Roark to deal with the postal workers.
Half an hour later, Leigh emerged to inform me that Roark had blown out his diaper and that the lady inside needed me to sign something to wrap things up. I signed the paperwork, and all that was left was to pay the bill.
Now, it’s not that I mind paying taxes, but what came next was pretty unbelievable. Each passport required a $75 passport fee and a $25 execution fee. On top of that, a $60 fee was required to “expedite” the application process plus additional shipping fees. All in all the total was just shy of $400! I found myself wondering where the heck my tax money is going if it’s not paying for this type of government service.
The worst part of it all was when the postal worker explained that because we paid the expedite fees, we would only have to wait two weeks for our passports. I couldn’t help but think that FedEx or Wal-Mart could deliver something like this in a day or two for less than half the un-expedited cost. Where else can you get this kind of service?
On the ride home, I had that sick feeling you get when you’ve been ripped off, and then a disturbing thought hit me… These same people want to run healthcare?
I wonder how much it will cost to expedite the procedure of surgically removing these politicians heads from their rearends? I’d happily pay $400 for that!
