So we dismantle it to what benefit? It's known, it works, and it's considered the gold standard.
Kill the "brand" and absorb it into the treasury, and every Trump follower will cheer?
And?
40% of OUR containers go through the canal. A canal that is owned by Panama, and that we co-controlled after we finished the project started by the French.
Carter didn't "give it away" as Panama was never a territory of the US, even if the plan was to mimic what happened with Puerto Rico. We made an investment. I'll guarantee the ROI over the 85 ensuing years was quite good, and then we ceded control back to Panama, while we still benefit from an $11.6 Billion trade surplus.
And when we had a chance to be the operating authority, we got outbid on the contract.
Like I said, we could just stop using the canal, find alternate routes for all the containers, and give up any additional benefits we get from the relationship with Panama.
Who cares about trade surplus?
Or, we play Communists and take over the canal again by force.
BTW - Good pricing on Diet Coke this month. No limit. With my one can a week, a couple of twelves will hold me for a while.
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