[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Thing is that family connections don't help much when it comes to physical/mechanical realities.

A lesson Americans are about to learn, to their peril.

[expat_panama]

family connections don't help much when it comes to physical/mechanical realities.

A lesson Americans are about to learn,,,

In both places we're looking at long standing cultural traditions. In Panama there's little or no legal recourse available so folks are forced to do everything through personal contacts.  In the U.S. there's supposed to be a rule of law and a reasonably effective legal system where merit can prosper.   This is why I'm especially concerned about the disregard for law that's more and more in fashion stateside these days.