Banana republic of Panama charges $1 per ton of a vessel passing through the Canal, seems cheap? Not really, an 80000 ton cruise ship pays $80000 for a passage, a 100000 ton container ship pays $100000 etc.
Panama stopped growing bananas in 70's when stupid peanut farmer from US gave up US held Canal lease good for 30+ more years.
Uh... Carter? I beg to differ. He isn't a stupid man. He manage to to turn a failed presidental legacy into a walking billboard for tin-horn dictators all around the world.
Let's not be pigs, the Canal really belongs to the Panamanians. It is not right to hold onto a national asset like that after we got all our money back...