Matt Damon: 'Americans Need Thicker Passports'

Matt Damon believes America's problems could be solved if more of the country's population were given thicker passports.

The 'Bourne Ultimatum' star, 37, believes in the power of travel to transform people, and wishes that Americans were less insular.

Quoting the fact that only 21 percent of Americans have passports, Damon tells the Conde Nast Traveler, "I think many of our problems as a country would be solved if people had thick passports.

"There's just no substitute for actually going and seeing things."

Damon also feels that Americans should be more aware of international politics and called for politicians to increase aid to Africa, explaining that he had seen the direct benefits of "American taxpayer money".

"I realized that because of President Bush's malaria initiative, this baby had survived," Damon says. "American taxpayer money saved this baby's life.

"When you go to a country and see your fellow Americans feeding people or getting clean water or saving their lives, you are really seeing the best of us.

"We are exporting the best of who we are - and who we should be."