I don’t want to be too cruel, or harsh on this subject, or debasing, for some may think I have a slanted opinion perhaps on this matter, which I call an up-front opinion, and it has to do with American travelers in South America; and I spend a lot of time in South America.  This does not pertain to Peru, Colombia or Argentina, and a few other countries. But countries like Brazil and Paraguay, and a few others I will not mention their names, they know who they are. The premise is Visas. So what’s my beef!  Just this, they are greenly. Let me explain.  

       Six years ago I went to Brazil for eight-days that is all, the visa cost me $60-dollars.   Now in 2007 I go to Brazil it cost me $100-dollars (in Paraguay, it cost $45-dollars even if you only want to stay a day, and there isn’t one thing worth seeing there, even in the big city called Asuncion ((which is really not too big)), not one thing worth $45 in seeing, the only thing you get there is a hotel for your dollar, yes, once you look out the window, you will agree with me most likely, except if you were born there.  It doesn’t cost South American’s a dime, only Americans, yes, just Americans; why they charge Americans, knowing why would most want to live in Brazil, except if retired, there are no jobs, and little hope for anything beyond that.  The normal premise of a Visa, is to insure the person receiving it, does not stay in your country, and can pay his way; in most cases the Brazilian cannot meet these standards going to America, where everyone knows, Americans can afford to stay longer in a foreign country, and would not want to leave good old America). 

       Anyhow, let me get on with my complaint, or better put, dismay at this situation.  Mostly Brazil: I know they say ‘But we have a regicidal Visa plan, monkey see, monkey do.’  Meaning, it is difficult for a person living in Brazil to get into America. This is true, but if America did not have a policy like that, there would be no one left in Brazil, they’d all be in America (one must remember America is giving them aid, not they giving it to us; if indeed it was reversed, I could understand their stand in this matter), like the Mexicans are doing, and the Asians in South East Asia are doing, and Cuba would like to do, and started to do, until we put a stop to it.  It is no different then the  West Africans were trying to invade Malta and Europe recently, trying get on their shores, leaving their battered countries to start a new life, and they put a stop to it:  the EU.

       But here is my logic.  They hurt themselves in the process, out of pride you could say, and to a neighbor that gives them between $800-million to $1.6-billion dollars a year.  They grab the money and run like an elephant to the bank with it, and say, ‘…throw another $40-dollars on top of the already $60-dollars, it simply part of the visa reciprocal plan, they got to money.’ It is a cheap way of slapping your neighbor in the face, who has just signed a billion dollar check for you (for nothing).  If had, but I don’t have of course, the power to stop these gift payments to South American Countries that slap our face, I would. Anyhow, the rhetoric we get back from them is: ‘…you give more free money to Egypt, than us, your neighbor.’  So the beggar is complaining about the other beggar.  I can’t believe it.

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