On Passports and Student Exchange Programs

[Angela Shelley]

If a significant percentage of the threads at DU are at least partially true, then I would theoretically suggest that a valid US passport could be a very valuable personal treasure.

Apply now before the "processing period" is prolonged due to system overload.

A second valuable experience would be to either host an exchange student from the European Union or have one or all of your appropriately aged children spend time in Europe. Intercultural contacts can be extremely enriching.

[SoCalDem]

1. I think the US could certainly "afford" to provide a passport to all US citizens

the renewal is fairly cheap, but for people who do not already have one, this would be a great first step to "solving" many problems.. An employer who sees a US passport as ID, could hardly wonder if you were indeed a citizen.. when you went to vote, your legality as a citizen would not be in doubt...and if we EVER do manage to get national health care, that same passport could be YOUR passport for health care... and of course, if a great trip happens along, you are ready to bug out..)