Or maybe they both read and understood it, but didn't really have anything of value to add to the conversation.

This is funny. You complain that people have read the thread without posting, but when someone posts in response to your complaint, you get defensive and tell them they should not post or read your thread.

It's #4 for me: I didn't respond because I generally don't respond to long-winded rants. How's that? :p

I'll keep in mind that you only respond to short comnplaints. :p

You misunderstood my intent. I was not complaining about people not responding. You may call it a rant, but it wasn't. We got the passport our problem was solved. The intent of the post was to warn others what they might face, and how they might want to approach the problem if they face the same situation. It's a serious matter when Government employees are incompetent and or liars and you can only res;love the problem when a Senator's staff intervenes.

So you missed the point completely. One of the three applies to you. :p

I never used the Post Office either. I downloaded the renewal application off the Passport web site, paid extra for expedited processing, mailed it in myself, and got it back within a couple of weeks. I was very nervous mailing it in because I don't like the idea sending id through the mail. Oh well, it all came back fine.

When I lived overseas I went to the Embassy to renew and that was worse than going to the Post Office.

I have always got mine on the same day by submitting in person. There was a time when there was no extra fee for expediting it.

#5 is that most people have their own stories of government mess-ups and it's easier to nod knowingly than to post. Don't get me started on how the Social Security Administration messed up my wife's birthday:td: