Land of the Free, My Ass: Part II

It's actually not about protectionism. It's about bureaucracy and short staffing at CIS (the successor organization to the benefits half of the old INS). That file is waiting its turn behind a bunch of other files.

Bureaucracy is also the problem behind the spousal visa. Most of the "processing time" is the time the application spends languishing in the queue.

Having had my own miserable dealings with the INS, I think the bureaucracy explanation is more likely than Machiavellian malice. Most INS employees are too stupid to spell "protectionism," much less know what it means or try to enforce it.

Even if the _intent_ isn't protectionist, the end result is the pretty much the same. Quite a few tours by British and European tours have collapsed in recent months because the band's visas took too long to process. US bands don't have to wait months for visas when touring Britain:

This article a few months back highlighted the problem:
http://www.maximummetal.com/columns/tales/55.asp

Given the freedom of movement immigration-wise between the two countries, maybe it would make more sense for them to just be permanent residents, and stop worrying about temporary visas.

I don't know how you are going to take it, but this just isn't an issue that I can get real worked up about. We've got a lot of bands over here, and a lot of people. Your island just isn't a priority in the grand scheme of things.

I accept that you can't always assume malice when simple stupidity can achieve the same result. But when a good friend is being held in jail for five months for the crime of marrying an American, it's hard not to think bad things about them.

As for band's getting visas, It probably doesn't matter to you if the only music you care about is the mass-market pabulum pushed out the big media companies. The big losers are fans of anything non-mainstream, who have reduced chances of seeing many non-american bands performing live.

Phelps wrote "Your island just isn't a priority in the grand scheme of things." I don't remember that being the case when the USA wanted British soldiers to die to protect their oil interests.

Hola George and Tom,
Guys, it�s not the immigration department that prevented your festival from having Mostly Autumn on the bill. It is the fact that you have to take the first step too. You two rely on other people to do your dirty work for you and turn people who want to help you into slaves, with no compensation and too much expectation with your impatience, wow, both impatient and slow, what a deadly combination for a personal business ethic huh? The fact of the matter is, this is the second festival I believe that you two have done, and you both have had no problems with other foreign bands playing at your festival in the past, not to mention that many bands on the 2005 bill were from Europe. Now, why didn�t you two get all the immigration stuff squared away as soon as the bands were booked? You have no excuse, you need to get your priorities straight, so stop running your websites and festivals like hobbies and act like real businessmen, and maybe you will start selling more tickets instead of getting bands to perform in front of a half-full house. Trust me guys, people will be more impressed by a business approach rather than some B.S. prestige factor of �Oh we have a festival, Ha, Ha."
Amen
Hugs and kisses as always, �The Abortion�

Dude,
I heard that financially, Rosfest is not doing well. I give the festival two years and it will probably go under. It's a shame, but then again I have not heard to many good things about the two promoters/producers either. George Roldan and Tom Smith are assholes from what I hear.

George Roldan and Tom Smith are also Liars who can't keep thir big mouths shut. Don't do business with these morons.

George Roldan has short man syndrome, anybody who does business with that pint sized fat fuck deserves to get screwed & lied to.