More on the pASSport People

This is Congressman Gary Miller. He's my congressman (and yours too if you live around me). Not even he could get Jason's passport done on time. Well...it's not like he really tried all that hard. He forwarded my e-mail to one of his constituent affairs people who couldn't get anything done - not even in the name of the good congressman. His representative was a nice guy and I believe he tried his best to help. But, he's not a congressman.

So...the pASSport people said I needed to make an appointment at the pASSport office in San Francisco and head out there with wife and son in tow to get an emergency pASSport. I called the automated pASSport appointment line ('cause you can't speak to a live person) and was told there were no appointments available. Of course.

I contacted the congressman's constituent affairs rep again and explained what was happening. He was able to arrange for us to be seen. But, we have to be on a standby list. I was told we need to plan on arriving before the doors open and being there all day. Great.

So, off we go to San Francisco tomorrow to spend the day sitting in a government office waiting to be seen. That should be fun. Oh, and I have to pay for the pASSport again - with emergency service fees. "Oh, you'll get a refund for the first application," I was told. Yeah...that doesn't include the overnight postage I paid for, a day I'm going to have to miss from work, all the cell phone minutes I burned up, and the stress we've been through over this.

I was thinking, isn't it ironic that we call ourselves the "Land of the Free," when in fact we're really kinda like prisoners in a way. We're prisoners of an inept government that lacks leadership and vision. Because they won't let you leave without a pASSport. It's a shame.

Don't get me wrong. Nobody loves this country more than me. I spent over 22 years defending it. But this situation has really opened my eyes to the amazing inefficiencies of our government agencies. Once I get this pASSport...IF I get this pASSport...I might just find the time to do something about it.

What do you say? Laurence for Congress???