Lawyer and political scientist Flavio Dario Espinal writes in El Caribe about the government’s tendency to blame external factors for the ills afflicting the country. Without minimizing the effect of outside events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which had a definite effect on the economy, tourism and the free trade zones in particular, Dario Espinal reminds readers that a recovery was already underway in the travel sector when the Dominican economy’s deterioration intensified. Neither can the Baninter collapse be blamed on the government, although according to Dario Espinal there is something to be said about the way the government has mishandled that particular crisis. Another target is the business community, which is frequently accused of being self-serving – as opposed to the government, which is looking after the nation’s true interests, comments the writer, with more than a hint of irony. Many businesspeople have paid the highest price of the economic crisis, with their companies going bust, and can hardly be blamed for resisting unconstitutional taxes. The government is also in the habit of criticizing what it calls pessimism or negativity in reaction to any suggestion that the situation is serious and that changes are needed, as in the case of the recent call by religious organization Condor. “Meanwhile, the crisis continues to affect all sectors of society, especially the poor, whose incomes lose value as every day goes by and whose jobs are in jeopardy as more and more businesses close their doors all over the country.”