Your even need an ESTA to transit

Just a quick note that not only do you know need to pay $14 for an ESTA visa, in order to visit the States, but you  need to apply for one even if you are just passing through.

This means that anyone travelling to Acapulco, which is the main embarkation point for P&O cruises Oceana Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises or to the South American countries on an indirect flight will have to apply for the visa.

I can 't really understand this - other than as a money making exercise for the US authorities. I'm all for the US doing security checks and cutting down time by doing it in advance, but I don't agree with paying for it, and certainly not if I'm not even staying there.

What do you think?

If you do need to apply for an ESTA the link you require is

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html