The Democracy Center Book Tour is Coming to the USA!
Dear Friends,The Democracy Center’s new book, Dignity and Defiance, Stories from Bolivia’s Challenge to Globalization (University of California Press) is now for sale. We hope that you will buy it and read it! And the Democracy Center’s U.S. tour for the book – more than 25 events in a dozen cities – begins next week. Please come and join us! Details about how to order the book and where to find us on the book tour are below. And to our friends in the media, we are happy to do interviews anywhere along the road.
Researching, writing and publishing Dignity and Defiance has been the major work of the Democracy Center for the past three years. And now we are ready to bring it to you, our friends and readers. In San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Santa Fe, Washington, New York, Boston, Twin Cities, Chicago and other stops along the way, we hope to see many familiar faces and many new ones as well. Most of the big public events listed below will also feature music, video, and refreshment. A boring book tour is not what we have planned!
We hope to see you soon!
Jim Shultz
The Democracy Center
Dignity and Defiance, Stories from Bolivia’s Challenge to Globalization
(University of California Press)
“This is the little-known story of a people that has dared to fight back against the most powerful economic forces on the planet, told by writers with the courage to dig relentlessly for the truth and the humility to stand back and let their subjects speak for themselves. Enraging, unsparing, inspiring.”
—Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine
As the U.S. enters a new political era, what can we learn from one nation’s battle to define its own way forward in a globalizing world?
Dignity and Defiance is the story of one country, Bolivia, but it is representative of many countries around the world. The book tells the story of Bolivia's citizen uprisings against the privatization of its natural resources. It travels to jungles and jails to trace the human impact of the U.S. war on drugs. It pedals by bike across the Bolivian highlands to document the disaster left behind by an Enron/Shell oil spill. It digs deep to trace how IMF economic policies led to bloodshed on the steps of the Bolivian Presidential Palace.
Dignity and Defiance also tells the story, from the ground up, of how people have fought courageously to keep globalization from swallowing their lives and to make it work to their benefit – as activists, workers, and immigrants. Ultimately the book is a story of inspiration, and it goes to the heart of what has drawn so much global attention to Bolivia.
HOW TO GET YOUR COPY OF DIGNITY AND DEFIANCE
Order the book today from (click the links):
Amazon.com
University of California Press
Powell's Books
WHERE TO HOOK UP WITH THE DEMOCRACY CENTER BOOK TOUR
"Globalization on the Ground -- What Bolivia Teaches Us"
As the U.S. enters a new political era, the lessons of one country speak volumes about how the government of the U.S., U.S. corporations, and international institutions dominated by the U.S. (the World Bank, IMF, etc.) impact the lives of people in Latin America. Join us as we visit cities coast to coast and in between to talk about these lessons and what lies ahead as U.S. citizens seek to reshape the U.S.’s role in the world. In addition to co-editors Jim Shultz and Melissa Crane Draper, we'll be joined by two great Bolivian friends, Leny Olivera of the Democracy Center, a terrific young activist, and Roberto Fernández Terán, a professor at the University of San Simón and one of our most thoughtful and insightful mentors.
Here are the main public events below. A full calendar of all the events, including a number of smaller ones not listed here, with a list of our sponsors, maps and downloadable flyers (that you can copy and post to help spread the word), can be found at this link.
February 2 — Berkeley, CA
When: 3:00 pm
Where: The University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Goldberg Room. 2778 Bancroft Way @ Piedmont Ave.
February 3 — San Francisco, CA
When: 7:00 pm
Where: Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission St. (between 24th and 25th St.)
February 4 — Marin County, CA
When: 7:00 pm
Where: Redwoods Presbyterian Church, 110 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur
February 5 — Portland, OR
When: 6:00 pm
Where: Portland State University; Smith Memorial Student Union Building (SMSU) Multicultural Center, Room 228, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland
February 6 — Seattle, WA
When: 7:00 pm
Where: University of Washington, HUB 310
February 8 — Albuquerque, NM
When: 2:00 pm
Where: The University of New Mexico, Student Union Building (SUB), Film Center (lower level), 801 Yale NE, Albuquerque
[Part of the Sin Fronteras Film Festival]
February 9 — Santa Fe, NM
When: 6:00 pm
Where: El Museo Cultural, The Santa Fe Railyard
1615 Paseo De Peralta #B, Santa Fe
February 10 — Santa Fe, NM
When: 6:00 pmWhere: St John's College, Junior Common Room, 2nd Floor Peterson Student Center, 1160 Camino Cruz Blanca, Santa Fe
February 12 — Washington DC
When: 6:30 pm
Where: Busboys and Poets, 1390 V St NW @ 14th, Washington
February 13 — Washington DC
When: Noon
Where: George Washington University (The Elliott School), 1957 E St., Suite 505, NW Washington
February 17 — New York, NY
When: 6:00 pm
Where: The New School, 66 W. 12th St., New York
February 19 — Boston, MA
When: 7:00 pm
Where: Boston University, The Jacob Sleeper Auditorium CGS building,
871 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA
February 20 — Boston, MA
When: 7:00 pm
Where: The Jamaica Plain Forum
First Church in Jamaica Plain, UU
6 Eliot St. (across from the monument),
Jamaica Plain
February 21 - South Hadley, MA
When: 11:00 am
Where: The Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College St., The Village Commons, S. Hadley
February 21 — Northampton, MA
When: 3:00 pm
Where: Smith College, Neilson Browsing Room, Northampton
February 23 — St Paul/Minneapolis, MN
When: 7:00 pm
Where: Macalester College, John B Davis (JBD) Lecture Hall, Campus Center, Lower Level
February 24 — Chicago, IL
When: 6:00 pm
Where: The University of Chicago
International House, 1414 E. 59th St., Chicago
Labels: Dignity-and-Defiance
posted by The Democracy Center at 12:43 AM
The Democracy Center, based in Cochabamba Bolivia and San Francisco California, works globally to advance human rights through a combination of investigation and reporting, training citizens in the art of public advocacy, and organizing international citizen campaigns. If you like the Blog, consider becoming a subscriber to The Democracy Center's free e-newsletter by sending us an email at 
39 Comments:
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the Public Treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the Public Treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy always followed by dictatorship."
Alexander Fraser Tyler, "The Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic"
This is what "Democracy from the ground up" means in Bolivia. Bonos left and right, taxes on the producers so that the "proletariat," who often times never really held a job or paid any taxes, can live off the sweat of "evil foreigners."
The current US democracy is governed by a new federal government that was voted in by the efforts of social movements (eg; MoveOn.org). That is to say that it is a democratically elected government built "from the ground up". In contrast to the argument that they vote for those "promising the most benefits from the Public Treasury", the evidence is the opposite.
For example, MoveON.org supports Obama's "plan to expand national service programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps and to create new service organizations1, including:
a Classroom Corps to help underserved schools;
a Health Corps to serve in the nation's clinics and hospitals;
a Clean Energy Corps to achieve the goal of energy independence; and
a Veterans Corps to support the Americans who serve in harm's way."
That mindset and the values represented are in contrast to the political group you advocate for. You represent the antithesis of a "bottom-up" group, a "top-down" driven government. Said group have been arguably shown to be driven by the efforts or capital of racists, xenophobes, greed-mongers, haters-in-general and/or wealthiest 1-2% that Bush called "my base" and that underpinned the Republican administration.
In terms of a governing system's perils: it is not a "bottom up" movement but the Bush-Cheny, top-down government that has shown that capitalism is unstable. Consider Iceland, England and the other capitalist systems that are bordering on toppling.
Democracy from the ground up means different things to different people. To you it has a twisted, perverse meaning given your misrepresentations and bad-faith hyperbole that seeks to mislead the reader.
But then, that's just you, Rush.
Good luck staying off the hillbilly heroin (vicodin) since the Bush boys no longer wield political power as office holders. Warehousing controlled substances generally merit stiff sentences, as you often advocated for recreational drug users. And do think twice before packing your next viagra-laden luggage to child-sex tourist spots as in the case of your "boys only", sans-wife visit to the Dominican Republic.
I know you would like to perpetuate Bolivia and Latin America's status quo since dire poverty allows for cheap "services" for your benefit. However, some of us residing in the US think that our quality of life will be better if all lived in just societies with their human dignity intact.
Does Moveon (pause for thoroughly washing mouth after uttering lefty ultrakook group) support da 'Bama keeping Bush Dept of Defense honcho Robert Gates and continuing its military policies? Does it support waiting at least for a whole year to close Guantanamo? Does it support da 'Bama hiring Clintonite centrists in the economic and diplomatic arena? Does it support da 'Bama not touching the Patriot Act? Does it support da 'Bama placing a lobbyist as #2 in the Defense Department after exclusively promising not to do so? Is it happy the Bush tax cuts aren't being repealed? Etc.
You see, you only touched on cosmetic stuff that really amount to nothing and esentially doesn't change the way business is done in the US.
"However, some of us residing in the US think that our quality of life will be better if all lived in just societies with their human dignity intact."
I'm sorry, I can't take it any more. Let me get my garapiña. Bottoms up! (collapse to floor in laughter)
;-)
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The Israelis are the good guys
The hack hired to post the above lacks reading comprehension skills.
First, I presented a counterargument to the point made that democracies are doomed because the public will always vote for those promising to transfer the treasury's wealth to them by way of benefits. I set forth examples of how social movements and Obama's administration stand for all standing together and making the necessary sacrifices to right the ship of state.
Secondly, I respond below regarding this wild claim:
the "proletariat" who often times never really held a job or paid any taxes, can live off the sweat of "evil foreigners".
It's a non sequiteur, It does not follow that Tyler's analysis supports said claim. Tyler's conclusion only addresses democracy as a stable system of government and nothing therein can be held to support the claims or issues regarding labor versus foreign capital.
We are in the opening days of Obama's administration, as posted on this blog, Obama is going about reversing eight years of Bush's errant policies. That he is proceeding prudently by maintaining some continuity regarding national security does not show anything but that he is wise and wild and careless like Bush or how the above hack would have him act.
Errata:
That [Obama] is proceeding prudently by maintaining some continuity regarding national security does not show anything but that he is wise and [NOT]wild and careless like Bush[.]
LA PAZ, Jan 27 (IPS) - Voters in Bolivia, one of the countries with the highest concentration of land in the world, decided in Sunday’s referendum to limit the size of large landed estates, or "latifundia", to 5,000 hectares.
In Bolivia, South America’s poorest country, just 100 families own 25 million hectares, while two million campesinos (peasants) have access to only five million hectares, according to a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This extreme level of inequality in a country that is highly polarised between the western highlands, home to the indigenous majority, and the more ethnically mixed eastern lowlands, which account for most of the country's natural gas production, industry, agribusiness and GDP, makes for an explosive cocktail when it comes to the government’s land reform plan.
In Sunday’s referendum, an estimated 60 percent of voters approved a new constitution rewritten under the left-wing government of Evo Morales. Simultaneously, 70 percent voted in favour of a 5,000-hectare limit on privately-owned rural estates. (The other option was 10,000 hectares.)
Under the agrarian reform programme and the new constitution, the authorities have the right to determine whether rural property is serving an economic and social function, or is unproductive and thus subject to expropriation – with fair compensation – and redistribution to poor families.
Anon 12:28,
Yeah, this was done in Zimbabwe as well, and we all know how great things are turning out.
Like so many right wingers who spray us with their drive-by blurbs, Anon 12:28 attacks Bolivian efforts for a fair democratic society by posting a logical fallacy: this time it is "false analogy".
Comparing Zimbabwe's economic and agricultural crisis to Bolivia is like comparing apples to oranges. The results of Zimbabwe's land reform have nothing to do with Bolivia's democratically approved proposed land reform. Voters approved a law that only limits-henceforth-ownership of land to 5,000 hectares (thus putting a damper on land-grabbing speculators).
Further, to date under Evo's government, Bolivia is an economic miracle that has Bolivia relatively more solvent than the US after eight years of Bush. This is particularly a stark reality when considering the socio-economic context of where Evo and Bush started in terms of Bolivia's then long-running deficit and the US budgetary surplus that Bush inherited from the Clinton administration. If Evo continues to be able to perform the economic miracle he has performed with Bolivia, as evidenced by the Bolivian budget surplus for the third year in a row, will rely on different factors than those affecting Zimbabwe under the government of that international pariah, Robert Mugabe.
The US, England and the European Union-in accord under the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001-have financially isolated Zimbabwe in manner worse than the US has done to Cuba. Bolivia is not subjected to similar prohibitions on relief efforts by NGOs or plagued by AIDS. Nor is it as mismanaged as economically as Zimbabwe or the US under Bush, for that matter.
Jim, if you can convince Amazon to offer free shipping I might be able to afford to purchase your book with the few imperialist dollars I have.
;-)
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The Israelis are the good guys
Senility has struck croat-jew guy once again. Just like he can't recall calling Obama a monkey, he appears to be unwilling to remember that Jim posted the whole .pdf file on this blog.
Uh-oh, here it comes again. Ready?
RAAAAAAAACIST!
9:27 provides the perfect example that when ultraleft kooks like himself are unable to articulate coherent responses to superior minds, their frustration leaves them to resort to the intellectualy lazy "RAAAAAAAAACIST!"
God, I'm bored.
(that doesn't discount my appreciation towards you for reminding us that Jim's book can be downloaded from his blog...you are somewhat useful after all)
RAAAA...
Buh-bye.
;-)
The Croats are Morales's Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The Israelis are the good guys
PS Eva and Adan Marinkovic celebrated their birthdays yesterday. 'Twas awesome!
Croat guy is a racist, and usually I hate his cobative, biased, erroneous posts. However, something inside me believes that if he were to stop posting I might actually miss the little fraile. Like Nixon said, we wouldn't have the Croat guy to kick around anymore. My advice Grindio is to ignore the most bigoted and moronic comments that Croat guy makes. It is obvious based on his constant monitoring of the Democracy Center's websites that he is very lonely and he is lashing out for attention. Like I do with my toddler I ignore behavior that I do not want to encourage. So when Croat guy calls Evo or Obama a monkey, it is like when my toddler throws himself on the floor and starts a fake cry when he does not get what he wants. We must be understanding with the You see Croat guy lives in Cochabamba and therefore is surrounded by the indios he deplores. Its akin to a Klan member attending a Southern Baptist church and never leaving.
Although I’ve been reading this blog for nearly a year, this is the first time I post a commentary; I find it absolutely imperative that each of you consider (if not remind yourselves of) the foundation triggering this supposed process of change.
In my opinion, Bolivia is not ready to be a socialist/communist/leftist country (or any combination thereof) for one basic reason: deep down in our hearts, all of us are inherently selfish. I know that some will be outraged to hear this, but it's true (and natural, perhaps) that everyone looks out for him/herself, family members and maybe even a best friend’s interests, so long as these don’t interfere with one’s own. In fact, when it comes to politics, most people support the candidate whom they think will most give them a better life (more money) or best serve their interests.
As always, there are exceptions to the rule. For campesinos who have practically nothing and therefore nothing to lose, a communist government would certainly be an improvement to their current lifestyles, but only because the vast majority aspires for more wealth and a more comfortable life. In essence, this narrows down to basic Marxist theory: the political and ideological superstructure of society is a direct consequence of basic allocations of resources (materials). If it weren’t true that everyone wants more wealth or more comfort, then ALL of the informal vendors of electronics, clothing, food, etc. in the “mercados” (e.g. Uyustus, Eloy Salmon, Cancha, and La Ramada) would pay taxes- which none do- and buyers would not automatically ask for “con o sin factura” (obviously selecting the latter). I’m positive even Jim buys stuff without facturas. Maybe 15% of businesses and 20% at most, declare all of their sales. A formal and efficient system of taxation by the State has never characterized the Bolivian economy, primarily because the government has not provided the vast majority of its citizens with basic necessities and opportunities. So who are we kidding when Morales begins trying to collect all of the taxes that should be paid? Shit will hit the fan when Morales forces the predominantly informal micro, small and medium businesses (91% of businesses in Bolivia) to give facturas for 100% of their sales. When all the restaurants, including the small “pensiones” where a meal is Bs. 10/US$1.40 (which used to be Bs. 7/US$0.99), are forced to pay taxes, does anyone honestly expect that Bolivians will be happy and allow Morales to govern in peace? Rather, all the people in these markets will regret the day they voted for Morales and for the new constitution.
So who cares for the exact vote count, or what Marinkovic, Costas, García Lineras, and even Morales say will happen? The truth is that when Bolivians start facing drastic salary/income reductions without any real benefits, they are going to kick him out as fast as, if not faster than Goni in 2003. All of these new constitutional amendments, great plans and new promises with the current leadership mean NOTHING unless the State can solve the basic problems for all Bolivians, regardless of whether one is an originario, blanco, tara, kara, cholo or mestizo. Bolivia needs more education, better health, more jobs, less corruption and PEACE. How can we even argue about the specific styles of government when we cannot even run the country efficiently? Efficiency is the word that should be in everyone’s mind; in Bolivia, it’s a well-known fact that most if not all government employees and companies are extremely inefficient in comparison to private companies and employees. To some degree, it’s true that a lot has changed with the current government, but instead of Goni’s friends having priority to all the contracts and Bids, it’s Evo’s friends. Likewise, with all the new constructions and projects- which are as corrupt and twisted as before- come all the new wonderful opportunities for other people to steal and cheat us (Bolivian citizens) out of our money…only this time, the other people are simply ones who couldn’t reap these rewards in the past. ALL politicians, whether they are from the MNR or MAS, should stop chasing a piece of the pie of our government’s money (a.k.a OUR MONEY), and instead, start working to improve the country from the foundation and not the other way around.
Saludos Cordiales
Daniel
Interesting post, Daniel. I agree with you that all of us are inherently selfish. After all, one cares a thousand times more of one's, say, tootache than an earthquake in China or a typhoon in the Phillipines (unless one is in that area of the world, of course). Everybody looks for one's interest, no matter if that person is a politician, a voter, a cholita in La Cancha, or the ayatollah. The Che wanted to create a "New Man," and look in what special circle of hell he ended up in.
Nothing necessarily wrong with being selfish. As the venerable and wise Adam Smith said over 200 years ago in his famous "Wealth of Nations":
"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest." In essence, cooperation between people is readily secured, not out of one's benevolence, but out of one's natural regard for one's own interest. You know, "invisible hand" and all that good stuff.
In Bolivia's case, the rule of law has always been so weak, the bureaucracy so stifling, and its governments have been so corrupt that the average citizen finds it more expensive to follow the law than otherwise. How many times has a "paquito" been bribed by a supposed traffic infractor in order not to go to the police station? How many times have government officials been bribed on control posts near Villa Tunari or Caranavi? How often does a business have to offer a few more bolivianos to a tax official to overlook "double accounting?"
The countries with most economic freedom are the most prosperous ones, and that's a fact. Currently, Bolivia is at the bottom of the heap.
;-)
The Croats are Morales's Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The Israelis are the good guys
Croat guy's ignorance continues... If you are going to cite the wealth of nations you must also include Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments wherein Smith comments among other things that "fellow feeling" is vital for any society and it is not mere self-interest. Smith made other iteresting assumptions regardings the invisible hand, like that no one would pay another person less than a subsitence wage. Perhaps Smith would amend his advocacy of the free market, if he were to see the wage slave conditions that exist in many countries. So Croat Guy if you are going to be a dead white man worshipper to counter Evo's "cuchi cuchi" worship please read a bit more into the work of the author's rather than the cliff notes versions or some sound bite you heard on Limbaugh. People are not inherently one way or anohter... human experience, expression and behavior is multi-faceted and a lot depends on how people are raised. In a consumeristic society like the dominant western culture it is not suprising that you see more greed... but there are multiple example of societies where the emphasis is not on individualistic material gain and therefore you see less self-centered behvior.
Croat guy is less mature than my toddler
Croat guy wants to have Adam Smith's baby
Croat guy is a self-hating Afro-Bolivian
To Anon 2:35 if you are so confident about your posts why do not identify yourself. What are you afraid of? Are you embarassed by your own comments?
I guess it's easier to bash someone who is clearly laughing his head off cause he knows how to push your buttons, than reply o admit that before anybody fights about anything, we should all solve Bolivias basic problems.
Daniel
Daniel,
What you cite as "Bolivia's basic problems" are non-unique to Bolivia. Test that idea by plugging in the name of any country where you put Bolivia's name: ________"needs more education, better health, more jobs, less corruption and PEACE."
I understand that thanks to eight years of Bush's government, much of Europe has a higher quality of life than the US so since I haven't been there lately I can not speak authoritatively but the US "needs more education, better health, more jobs, less corruption and Peace".
Jim and most of us probably believe that a democracy-built from the bottom-is a more representative form of governance and is how humankind can discuss policies and plans that solve, provide a comparative advantage over the status quo or provide a net benefit regarding the needs you mentioned. Some of us take a little free time and post our thoughts, ideas or responses from our varied points of view with the idea in mind that said discussion illuminates our understanding. So we are doing just what you ask but it's at the brainstorming level. How does that solve anything, you might ask? I know that Jim is quoted on many levels of media and various countries. Therefore, I think journalists, opinion-makers, and others in the media (that molds the public's values) might be reading these comments and might be better informed for whatever they are working on. Unless they get to "Croat guy's" garbage. Naturally, they'll stop reading and dismiss what they read for lack of credibility. And "Croat guy" will have done what he set out to do: muddle the debate, spread misinformation and degrade the value of this forum as a tool for solving the needs you mentioned.
Repeating his lies with the intention that they eventually might be regarded as true, is it a wonder he gets bashed? Its not because he pushed our buttons, its because trolls like him don't make it past the smell test and they are disqualified as a source. Sometimes with a good bashing.
Jim:
I hope to meet you during the book tour. Thanks for your work in and for Bolivia.
5:30, you've left me more confused than a hungry baby in a topless bar! First, you mention something about "fellow feeling" without providing any context (neither the full quote nor the source, by the Ekeko!) of what you're talking about and then you have the temerity to imply what Smith would have thought of "slave wages" today. What, weren't there "slave wages" during his time? Did he mention anything about that? Second, you mention there are "multiple example[sic] of societies where the emphasis is not on individualistic material gain and therefore you see less self-centered behvior." Goody! Well, in your "modern-computer-built-by-selfish-Western-individualist-capitalists," type which are those "multiple societies" not self-centered are what do they "emphasize" on.
People ARE selfish are look for their own self interest, but nothing wrong with that. Aren't you happy Bill Gates was "selfish" enough to build Microsoft? Did you ever think how places we take for granted such as mercados or supermarkets function and get all its products? Go to la Cancha and you'll see bananas and oranges from Chapare, peaches from Tarata, charque from llamas bred in the highlands; go to a supermarket and you'll get American cheese, wine from Chile, singani from Tarija, and Nesquik from Brazil. Do you think any of those producers give a Grindio's arse about our (the buyers') well being or who we are? Do we care about who the producers are? Nope, but thanks to all of our "selfishness," there is cooperation between millions of people who don't know each other and don't need to. Viva la invisible hand!
Daniel, you're very wise. By the way, Cuchi Cuchi worshipper's government is demonstrating once again that it's inherently corrupt. One of his strongmen Quintana has been involved in a massive smuggling mess, and now his other strongman Ramirez may be involved in a murder/bribe of a wealthy businessman.
I'm very fond of you, too, Grindio. You may leave now and continue reading "Mananging Money for Dummies."
;-)
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The Israelis are the good guys
Yes Croat guy you are a poor confused soul...
I'd like to know why Jim never has an opinion on his blog? I'd also like to propose some sort of gathering so we can all debate these topics in person, for all the people here in Cochabamba. I find this kind comunication too impersonal, and the opinion of people who aren't living in Bolivia is unimportant and irrelevant since the only info they get has some sort of bias, instead of first hand experiences. Its pretty easy to support Evo or any other politician when their decisions don't affect your everyday life.
Daniel
I think if people met in person there would be a brawl.
Daniel:
People's opinion who live outside Bolivia are irrelevant? Kind of radical opinion isn't it. Many grew up and lived there before and left bolivia courtesy of the crooked dictators like the real Nazi Banzer, Sanchez de Lozada, Paz Zamora, Tuto Quiroga, and specially Garcia Meza.
Economic conditions and all the ills of the neoliberal governments caused massive migrations everywhere. If Bolivia were closer to USA half the country would be gone.
Who would be left? The croats, nazis, and sold out cholos like Cossio, Cardenas, and of course part of the indigenous population too poor to travel and continue to be misstreated as when they were slaved the past 500 years.
So do not disregard bolivians who live outside, yes I can read the lies of the media like el Diario, Deber, Razon, Tiempos, and can watch TV of the distorted news broadcasts of Bolivision, Unitel, ATB, PAT, but I
can also find other sources, and travel to Bolivia.
Do you think that we should not be allow to vote in the next elections?
A lot of people still care about our home country and send money to our families so we are still part of the economy positively.
It is the crooked polititians and croats, koreans, arabs, the remaining jews, and the bolivian plutocrats ...who send fortunes outside the country, so who benefits the country? Just check who is who and where those fortunes and mansions came from. Manfred, Goni, Zorro, Banzer, Miristas, ADnistas, Tutistas, etc.
Signed
5th grader
Daniel wrote:
"I'd like to know why Jim never has an opinion on his blog?"
Previously Jim wrote on his blog entitled "A Strange Campaign Over An Uncertain Constitution":
"Political Reforms
You want my opinion? I think it really all came down to this, issues of how the political playing field would be laid out that will affect the fortunes of politicians and their constituencies for decades to come. . . But the fact is that a new constitution will likely change little here"
Jim. Oh Lord, I´m so worked up about your book, but...
Why is it that... when I see you... I don´t see YOU!??
Huascar
The day NCSX was going to begin taking reservations on the imported Japanese PSP system, I spent most of the day reloading their home page in anticipation of being one of the first to get my reservation in since most people knew the demand for the unit was going to be extremely high. I quickly got in my order when they began accepting them that afternoon and then had to patiently wait for the Japanese launch. wow goldThe day the units arrived at NCSX, they broke the news that many of us already expected, that being that the cost of the PSP was going to be much higher due to their suppliers having trouble getting in enough units to meet the high demand for the units. wow goldThis caused the already high price tag to jump dramatically. Of course that certainly didn't stop me from okaying the new price and having my system dispatched later that day.
In Bolivia's case, the rule of law has always been so weak, the bureaucracy so stifling, and its governments have been so corrupt that the average citizen finds it more expensive to follow the law than otherwise. How many times has a "paquito" been bribed by a supposed traffic infractor in order not to go to the police station? How many times have government officials been bribed on control posts near Villa Tunari or Caranavi? How often does a business have to offer a few more bolivianos to a tax official to overlook "double accounting?"
Jesus Croat guy, you are capable of putting together a paragraph of measured sense without insulting anyone or making prejudiced remarks.
I don't know how to say this without sounding condescending but, I'm proud of you.
5th Grader:
You obviously have some sort of rsentment twords anybody linked with any kind of power in the past political or economic. I would like to know where you live now? If it isnt in Bolivia your still a hipocrite, because there is no new regime in town so that means that you wont get persecuted, and should come down here and "poner tu grano de arena". Honestly are you so small minded to believe that every single person involved in politics is guilty, that every imigrant that is succesful should leave? Seriously what kind of background do you have to judge all these people? You must be like 70 years old and living in bolivia to have dealed with all the people you list personally. Your remarks towards all the media is ridicoulous by being so biased you lose all credibility and perspective. I think you should read what you write before you submit it, like many things have strenths they also have weakneses, Incluiding the current government, even Croat would have to admit that some good things have come out of Evos years as president.
Daniel
Daniel, about the only good thing that came out of Cuchi Cuchi worshipper's years as president is how not to sport a haircut.
Seriously speaking, though, the only good thing I can say of Morales is that he exposed the racism and discrimination that the indios/cholos have always experienced from "whites." The bad part of all this is that far from unifying the country, he has done exactly the opposite. He mentioned nothing about racism/discrimination from indios to cholos, cholos to indios, and cholos and indians to whites and blacks. You see, he thinks that racism/discrimination is a one way street. Instead, he used the same old race card to advance his backward, autocratic, hateful, and corrupt agenda.
Speaking of corruption, this one has to be the most corrupt government since Bolivia's return to democracy in 1982. Cuchi Cuchi worshipper's main men involved in bribes, drugs, and overt sexual acts... but this Santos Ramirez outrage is the cherry on the pie.
And where does Cuchi Cuchi worshipper plan to be in these times of moral crisis? To fly to Venezuela and celebrate his boss' 10th year of autocratic rule.
;-)
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The Israelis are the good guys.
Croat/Israelite:
Please check your definitions of racism, then perhaps you may understand that what you are writing is nonsense.
Thank you,
5th grader
5th grader/school dropout:
Perhaps you could elaborate. You're about as interesting as watching paint dry.
;-)
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The Israelis are the good guys.
Having worked in the Chapare region and lived not far from the tranca in sacaba I have witnessed the progression of Mr Morales and cocalero unions first hand.
To me he is a naive, racist, delusional, disrespectful and incompetent man. Other than that I guess he's great. Luckily for him many of the opposition share the same traits. They both deserve each other. Unfortunately the ones who come up with the short end of the stick in this dance are the bolivian people and the country which continues to remain retrasado.
Anon 1:57 PM,
Thank you for sharing your feelings with us.
Only "retrasados" make emotional claims without providing any factual basis or pattern of reasoning to support claims other than how they feel-at that particular moment of their mood swings.
You must feel a sense of community or "oneness" with a "country which continues to remain retrasado". But please do consider getting therapy.
Now tell us how you really feel.
Don't feel offended, 1:57. Only people who are as confused as a hungry baby in a topless bar, such as Grindio who lives thousands of miles away in la-la land, think that Cuchi Cuchi worshipper is an "economic miracle" savior and that his government is an example of harmony, equality, progress, and morality -- and therefore can't tolerate any reasonable assertions to the contrary.
Never mind the rampant corruption affecting (so far) his closest friends and associates, tons of lynchings (the latest ones burned to death in an Achacachi stadium a la Tabiban), increased coca and cocaine production, higher inflation and unemployment, intolerable meddling by Chavez, the country status as an international pariah, loss of important CAN and ATPDEA markets, higher unemployment and emigration, racist demagoguery, extortion, etc., etc.
Yep, I'd define that as definitely "retrasado."
;-)
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The Israelis are the good guys.
Don't feel bad about Grindio's reply anon. He's got some family issues since the fortune that he enjoys and that allows him to cavort with russian models in convertibles while flying around the world in search of the perfect wave, was after all illgotten by his family. You might be familiar with his family's scion: Manfred Reyes Villa.
So why would in the world would you believe that this individual has any sort of credibility when he speaks about Bolivia's poor?
I have worked in several projects around Bolivia, and you're right, the leadership of the country is a lot like Grindio: "naive, racist, delusional, disrespectful and incompetent." There are no true believers, only snake-oil salesmen out there...
I always found the fact that the US does not allow foreigners to own media outlets interesting. May be Bolivia should do the same
http://www.lostiempos.com/noticias/06-01-09/06_01_09_nac9.php
http://www.redbolivia.com/news-in-english/news/751-bolivia-hillary-clinton-and-james-steinberg-talk-tough-on-latin-america.html
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