USA Passports are made WHERE?

The Washington Times reported on March 26, 2008, that the US Government is outsourcing the production of Passports overseas to save money.

WHAT?

The same administration that preaches the value of saving American jobs and the need for increased security on our borders has sent the production of the documents that allow people to enter the USA to people OUTSIDE the USA???

The most charitable thing I can say about this unbelievable story is that this is the most hypocritical act I've heard in a long time ... not to mention bordering on the line between gluttonous greed and insanity. I think that most people who travel internationally have a certain amount of money available to spend and I for one would certainly be willing to spend more of it to have my passport made here in the USA by United States citizens.

I have written both of my Senators and my Congressional Representative on this matter. I have written them before on other matters and fully expect to hear back from at most one of them. I'll post whatever I get.


FOLLOWUP ...

Weeks later, I received one response (out of the 3 I sent). The response was insulting. I'll paraphrase it as to not waste anyone's time:

Blah-blah-blah it was cheaper to go abroad, blah-blah-blah and they promised us that they would guard all of our national secrets very carefully, blah-blah-blah I'm sure it will all be fine because we here in the government are smart.