Augh, I remember applying for my passport a couple years ago, and it was phenomenally annoying, as well as expensive. And I had to pay Overnight mailing fees (both ways!) on top of that, so I could get my passport in time for a midwinter trip to London. Apparently, the government is willing to recognize your citizenship in a timely fashion if it's paid exorbitantly, whereas at the reduced rate citizenship is recognized in the State Department's own good time.