Here in Canada you can get a passport on the spot if you need one. Within 2 weeks for "quick" turn-around if you don't need one immediately, and normally I think within 4 weeks.

You just pick up a passport application form, fill it out, get two passport pictures which you can have taken at thousands of photographers, then bring that along with two other pieces of suitable ID to the passport counter at one of many federal offices. There's always at least one in every major municipality. Multiple forms of payment are accepted, including cash.

If you have more time to blow you can just send in everything by mail.

Sounds like in the US it's more complicated and convoluted than in Cuba. I suppose it's because the vast majority of the population never leave the country. Sort of like China or again, Cuba.