The Federal Government Is An Ass

Today I drove into Anchorage to get replacement Social Security cards for the kids. I had them a few months ago — and then put them somewhere “safe.” I believe they will be very safe, wherever that place is, because it ain’t anywhere to be found.

I took in their birth certificates and US Passports for identification and hoped I’d be in and out fairly quickly. I was, but not with replacement cards ordered.

It turns out the Passports expired a few months ago. Now, the document itself is the same, the kids are the same, so why couldn’t it be used as a form of ID? Because the date on it said 2010 and not 2011. No, I wouldn’t expect it to be able to be used to travel out of the country, but as a form of ID? It’s a Federal document, it should work.

“No sir, it’s an *expired* Federal document.”

No problem, because I also brought the birth certificates. But apparently that’s not good enough for the Social Security office — an original copy of a birth certificate doesn’t tell them who you are.

“That’s not good enough.”

It was suggested I get updated Passports — do you know how that happens? I send in the BIRTH CERTIFICATES. That’s all the ID that’s required. So if a birth certificate can be used to get a Passport, and a Passport is all you need to get a Social Security card, shouldn’t a birth certificate be all you need in either case?

“We have different rules than they do.”

Then it was suggested that I have the kids’ dentist fax a copy of their dental records and that could be used as ID because it’s from a doctor.

Um…

The dentist has NEVER asked us for ID for the kids. So the Social Security Administration will take a faxed copy of a dental record as ID, but not an original copy of a birth certificate. Why? The only reason I can think of is that they are, collectively, morons.

As the title of this post says, the Federal Government is an ass.

2 Comments on “The Federal Government Is An Ass”

  1. O.K. – Repeat after me. “I could have been in Costa Rica for the past four years.” “I could have been in Costa Rica these past four years.” “I could have been in Costa Rica these past four years.” Oh – did I mention that they don’t have snow or ice days there – ever? 🙂

    You had a dream, remember? I remember the dream too, and I don’t remember there being a website about Alaska. I do remember a website about Costa Rica. http://costarica.ourfirstyear.com

    Good luck on your apps.

    Jim

  2. Jay, Jay, Jay,

    I couldn’t stop laughing. Great post.

    The feds never make any sense.

    Remember these are the same idiots that bankrupted the country.

    “Move along folks. Nothing to see here. We’ll let you know if there’s anything you need to be concerned about.”

    Oh, and don’t worry, they’ll fix it all. Real soon.

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