- Thread starter AlisonFay
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Three Election Questions!
In the Dominican Republic...
?Do the younger voters (ages 18-26) play a large role in elections, or do not many of them vote?
?Are debates held between candidates?
?What are the 3 major issues candidates are focusing on emphasizing in their campaigns?
To try and answer honestly----
Yes, the"younger voters play a significant part in all local and national elections, though they will vote for the party offering the most to them personally.
Not so's you could tell. mostly the candidates try to out-disparage each other without regard to the truthfulness of their remarks. Around election time this sort of cross-debate(???) get very vicious and there's a lot of real "name-calling".
1. The opposition party is composed of a bunch of crooks and don't deserve to live.
2. Always point out thebad things done by theopposition while never mentioning the same wrong things that your party has done.
3. Buy as many new zinc roofs as possible to get the votes in theCampos and throw 100 Peso notes from your SUV, Mercedes or helicopter while leaving.
Every Candidate promises as much as possible then promptly forgets all about it whether he wins or not.
Study the politics of the Southern US States in the 30's, 40's and 50's. Very similar as far as politicians are concerned.
Texas Bill
TB, I beg to slightly differ. As opposed to the DR, Huey and Earl delivered on almost all of their promises. Bilbo was another matter all together.
TB, I beg to slightly differ. As opposed to the DR, Huey and Earl delivered on almost all of their promises. Bilbo was another matter all together.
Maybe so, but Louisiana is only ONE of theSouthern States referred to in the post.
The reference is just that, a reference.
The similarities to the DR and the Southern States of the time is still valid.
Texas Bill
I was wondering if you guys would elaborate on the comparison you make with politicians in the US southern states during the 1930-1940. Are there no issues being discussed? Are DR elections an exercise in character assassination?
Also, I am really interested in the OP's question regarding the younger voter. I think most voters respond to politicians who offer them something. When you say offer them something 'personally' are you referring to something more direct? Do younger voters tend to be more informed? When I think about politics in the DR, I am reminded of an old Machiavellian line, "the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept that which they must accept." Is this changing? Are young voters feeling more empowered?
Also, I am really interested in the OP's question regarding the younger voter. I think most voters respond to politicians who offer them something. When you say offer them something 'personally' are you referring to something more direct? Do younger voters tend to be more informed? When I think about politics in the DR, I am reminded of an old Machiavellian line, "the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept that which they must accept." Is this changing? Are young voters feeling more empowered?
Bilbo
Bilbo was the ultimate racist crook. He was, as I am, a Mississippian.
Born in the early 40's, I grew up in a family completely immersed in Southern politics. My father was an attorney and my mother was the appointments secretary for a number of governors. I was handing out campaign literature door to door by the time I was six.
You make an excellent analogy.
Maybe so, but Louisiana is only ONE of theSouthern States referred to in the post.
The reference is just that, a reference.
The similarities to the DR and the Southern States of the time is still valid.
Texas Bill
Bilbo was the ultimate racist crook. He was, as I am, a Mississippian.
Born in the early 40's, I grew up in a family completely immersed in Southern politics. My father was an attorney and my mother was the appointments secretary for a number of governors. I was handing out campaign literature door to door by the time I was six.
You make an excellent analogy.
In my observations of of the Dominican Political scenario, I have come to the following conclusion:
1. No matter what any Dominican political party tries to convey to the Dominican public, their individual political agenda is always the same as the oposition party's. They all are of the same philosophy ultimately; ie, get as much money as possible while they can. In this they are all alike and have no real interest in the ultimate welfare of thecountry.
2. Each party subverts the oposition to the degree of outright vicious inuendo, while promising every sort of advancement without calculating the cost to society as a whole.
3. "Pet Projects" take on the mantle of progress and the concentration of effort regardless of the practicality or feasability of financial costs to the nation.
4. The various political parties seek only to prepetuate themselves without regard to the consequences of their actions and legislative passages. None of the parties lend an ear to the plights of the public at large, but rather, press on with their own selfish agendas designed to further their power in the marketplace and society.
With that, I am looking at being eventually deported for my unbridled opposition to theway government is conducted by the various parties and their administrations.
Texas Bill
1. No matter what any Dominican political party tries to convey to the Dominican public, their individual political agenda is always the same as the oposition party's. They all are of the same philosophy ultimately; ie, get as much money as possible while they can. In this they are all alike and have no real interest in the ultimate welfare of thecountry.
2. Each party subverts the oposition to the degree of outright vicious inuendo, while promising every sort of advancement without calculating the cost to society as a whole.
3. "Pet Projects" take on the mantle of progress and the concentration of effort regardless of the practicality or feasability of financial costs to the nation.
4. The various political parties seek only to prepetuate themselves without regard to the consequences of their actions and legislative passages. None of the parties lend an ear to the plights of the public at large, but rather, press on with their own selfish agendas designed to further their power in the marketplace and society.
With that, I am looking at being eventually deported for my unbridled opposition to theway government is conducted by the various parties and their administrations.
Texas Bill
I understand all that has been said here and it sounds and appears absolutely correct, particularly regarding the political class that seems to have developed in the DR. I'd like to hear your take on the role of the more recently educated youth, and the comment that has been made here that younger voters play a significant role in local and national elections there. Do you see a positive impact from this development, one that will benefit the masses, or do you see this as simply creating a new political elite/class?
I don't live there but from my impressions on the dominican youth that lives there is that they are (sadly) more interested in video games and in reguetton more than they are interested in politics or how the desicions being made, will affect them/the country.
I think the youth of the DR has yet to mature enough socially and emotionally for their impact on Dominican Society to be properly measured.
After all, I'm sure from your personal experiences in the political scenario you didn't really mature along those lines until reaching well beyound the "age of reason".
Give it a few more years yet.
The past 8 years have certainly been ones which would trigger political and social thought in today's youth. I liken it to the 60's in theUSA where the youth there began to be heard by the "old school" politicians and brought about significant social, economic and political changes. The same thing will happen here, unless I miss my guess about the impact the gross mismanagement of the recent past and the current administrations have reacted to those speaking out.
Changes are in the wind. We just don't know yet what those changes will lead to. Maybe something we will regret in the long run as the Socialist Philosophy resurges throughout Latin America as recent events indicate.
Texas Bill
After all, I'm sure from your personal experiences in the political scenario you didn't really mature along those lines until reaching well beyound the "age of reason".
Give it a few more years yet.
The past 8 years have certainly been ones which would trigger political and social thought in today's youth. I liken it to the 60's in theUSA where the youth there began to be heard by the "old school" politicians and brought about significant social, economic and political changes. The same thing will happen here, unless I miss my guess about the impact the gross mismanagement of the recent past and the current administrations have reacted to those speaking out.
Changes are in the wind. We just don't know yet what those changes will lead to. Maybe something we will regret in the long run as the Socialist Philosophy resurges throughout Latin America as recent events indicate.
Texas Bill
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