Timex said:
Gabriela
Read that, and had to clean the coffee, from my screen & keyboard!!!
Fell off my friggin chair! I don't know whats worse, my backside, from falling, or my ribs from laffing. That was good- had tears, coming down my face. :laugh: :laugh: :knockedou
You sound like the EX-Propaganda Minister, from Hippo's crew.
Thanks
Tim H.
The "culture of change" appears entirely too elusive in the DR - one for which the impetus comes from necessity and often times from intellectual forethough, foresight and intelligent analysis. On the other hand (or behaps, "hand-in-hand"), Changing the DR culture would not be easy - and that is not an entirely "bad thing". Some things should remain "timeless in their innocence". "Ignorance", however, is not one of them.
Ignorance in certain repsects serves to benefit one party or the other. What is essential, though, is balance. You be the "judge".
What sometimes is of concern to me, though, is that many who are pearched on the "fence" resist change for the better. Others, like the rooster, claim credit for the sunrise.
To the issue, if "smokes and mirrors", "vodoo economics", or any other miracle economic fix (or in this case by fiat) will solve the DR's money (nb: "money" - used on purpose) problems, then kudos for those in power. Sanity, however, lets me know that there will be much sufferring, much more, beofre it's all over. And what about the prices not being reduced? Let's all kill the golden goose. Hotel cost for me for example, in Feb, 2004 - RD$600. per day...I returned in JUune cost became RD$1,200. day....nothing else changes (as to services, amenities at hotel, etc.)....But my point here is, this drastic change was done in summer when US$1.=RD$40. (+)......
Nothing makes sense....no logical, or "valid" economic models entertain this situation. Not much to do with IMF, WTO, FTA, (there is no shortage of acronyms here...). It all has to do with short-sighted, common folks filled with greed. And in the long run? Not to worry; by that time these grredy folks will all have thiers. But what they probably are not counting on in the "long, short term", or "short, long term"....what that means is that they, too, will feel the "bad" consequences. What of the "avarage" poor folks? What of those who earnestly "struggle" for example in the "gran manzana", to "trickle" help back to home?...These days, it will be trickle indeed.
wc
more to come.