In A State Of Confusion

(I overhear this exchange between a new coworker of mine and a customer.)

New Coworker: “Okay, so I need to see your license for that beer.”

Customer: “Well, my license got revoked, but I have a passport here.” *presents her passport*

New Coworker: “No, I don’t think that will work. It has to be a state-issued ID.”

Me: “…[Coworker], for the love of all that is holy: ‘state issued’ means issued by the GOVERNMENT, not the actual state of Colorado.”

New Coworker: “No, I don’t think that’s what it means.”

Me: “I assure you that one of the many definitions of ‘state’ is ‘government.’ A passport is definitely issued by the government.”

New Coworker: “Are you sure? That doesn’t sound right.”

Me: “Yeah, I have a passport. They’re issued by the federal government.”

New Coworker: “But not the state.”

Me: “The government IS the state!”

New Coworker: “I don’t see how the government could be Colorado.”

Me: *facepalm*