Again, Lambada has provided some interesting insight. Although I tend to avoid DR politics, I am intrigued by the blatant manipulation by almost all the politicians here. The example provided by Lambada just reinforces what I have witnessed repeatedly on a local level.
If an intelligent person such as Greydread can be taken in to some extent by the marketing ploys of Leonel then I guess Leonel's handlers are doing their job effectively.
I think you probably have to live it on a daily basis, like we do, to fully understand the depths and to truly understand how the governmental spin doctors lie blatantly. Unfortunately, with the level of education many here have, the spinmeisters don't even need to be subtle. What's the betting most of those mothers lining up for the cash, actually thought it was Leonel's own money? As opposed to taxpayers' contributions.
As always, it's done to proclaim the politician's 'generosity'. Gosh here we are actually redistributing some of the STATE's money to the poor, as opposed to redistributing it via our own pockets. No concept of citizen's
rights to have this money (& the rest) used for decent education, decent healthcare etc. Same with all these 'inaugurations' of a new bridge, a remodelled park etc. Politicians in other countries would get laughed out of Court if they tried to repeatedly use normal infrastructure repairs as an opportunity to blow their own trumpets.
Then there are those regional meetings which the President attends. And some of the masses turn up with their hand written placards on the back of a cardboard box, begging for the completion of their school, or the completion of their barrio clinic
It is none of it accidental. Those who facilitate the master-serf relationship know exactly what they are doing.
