On Sep 23, 9:16*am, ChattyCathy > wrote:
> Dan Abel wrote:
> > In article >,
> > *ChattyCathy > wrote:
>
> >> J. Clarke wrote:
>
> >> > Uh, why does a lack of desire to spend 110 dollars on a piece of
> >> > paper that is likely to expire before one uses it indicative of a
> >> > belief that "civilization stops at the USA's borders"?
>
> > It's not a piece of paper, IT'S A WHOLE BOOK!!!
>
> > :-)
>
> >> 110 *US* dollars?
>
> >> Heh. The cost of getting a passport in South Africa is the equivalent
> >> of USD27.00 - and it's valid for 10 years from date of issue. So I'd
> >> say you're either getting ripped off or exaggerating somewhat.
>
> > Here's the info:
>
> >http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html
>
> > If I understand it correctly, it's US$165 for the whole works, good
> > for ten years.
>
> That's much pricier than what we pay here - but on reflection, that's
> only $16.50 per year. Some people spend (almost) that per month to
> access Usenet, so I don't think it would exactly break the bank - and
> at least if an urgent need arose to have a passport (death of a family
> member elsewhere in the world, for example), one wouldn't have the
> hassle (and extra expense) of applying for an emergency travel
> document/passport.
> --
> Cheers
> Chatty Cathy- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I venture an opinion that your accusation that Americans don't think
about anything beyond their borders, might equally apply to you ....
you assume everyone has the same options as South Africans, and don't
make allowances for things you have mistaken assumptions about. But
then sweeping generalizations are easy.

N.