Ecuador Forum

bentparrot
Joined 2010
Posts: 286

13 years ago

Ecuador Interacts w/the World.

13 years ago

Rather than destroy the rainforest, while the country is waiting for the courts to determine whether the bad guy was Chevron, Petro-Ecuador, or the indigenous native, President Correa simply asked for a payment NOT to drill. Why not! He was educated in the American heartland where we pay corporations billions not to grow certain products. In the meantime he sees to it that Ecuadorians pay only a $1.48 for gas.

The Ecuadorian government knows that, given a free rein, China would cut the prices on their exports to a level no local manufacturer could compete with. Millions would be out of work. So, he hits imports with a big tax. Now, many of us, myself included, feel he should reevaluate that tax and impose it only to protect local and the start-up Ecuadorian industries. Even a car, probably the most costly purchase besides a house, if it costs 40% more than it should, is taking money from other areas of the Ecuadorian economy. Not smart, Mr. President!!

Ecuador is looking long and hard at the punitive visa fees the US is charging, and so far, has not reciprocated. Has anyone asked WHY are we charging Latinos so much to enter our country? An acquaintance in Honduras, a policeman whose sister is married to an American, wanted to visit Houston. He proved to the US Embassy in Tegu that he had $40,000 in savings, a well paying job, by Honduran standards, and was not a visa risk, but his application was denied.Why??? A student pharmacist I met in Argentina, who had studied in South Carolina and spoke perfect English, was in the same boat. Visa denied! And, one of your fellow Cuencanos, a DOCTOR applying for his residency with all the qualifications any American institution would seek, tried to get into John's Hopkins. He was accepted, but he needed to put up $250,000 to be admitted. Unable, he resigned himself to advanced studies in Mexico or Argentina.

We may be unaware, but we are tolerating this disparity. The next time an Ecuadorian strikes up a conversation and marvels at your ability to travel the world, hear him out. He too may want your freedom, but it is being denied by the USA Canada, and the European Union.

Do you support these inequities Madame Secretary Clinton?

Ray

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