Also, I really don't mean to be a tool, but what is the big deal about getting a passport? At the busiest time of the year (May) it has only ever taken me 10 days to get my passport back in my hands. Piece of cake....

So, why don't people just get THE MOST valuable piece of documentation you can have while outside this countries borders?

I once traveled with a familar of full-blooded Americans who did not have passports for their teen-aged kids (and they travelled outside the US ALL the time). It took FOREVER!!!!!!! At everyone else's expense. Why did they just get passports?!?