A Listin Diario editorial reminisces about former President Joaquin Balaguer’s primitive style of bookkeeping, using a small notebook to jot down government revenues before deciding on government expenditures. The newspaper ironically says that the "pulpero style" is the key to effective budget management. And wonders whether this style is no longer in practice. "Apparently not," writes the newspaper, "to judge from the disorder that is evidenced by the use of internal revenues and the evident miscalculations carried out by the architects of the national budget of this year." "After having estimated and passed a budget of expenditures for RD$61,418 million, it looks like expenses will surpass RD$70,000 million. While the disorder intensifies, thousands of retired government employees, suppliers and other persons and companies that do business with the government are complaining of delays in payments," says the editorial. The newspaper urges President Mejia to exercise more direct control to avoid the continued worsening of what it describes as a "chart of distortions." The Listin urges the government to implement austerity, greater control of resources and moderation in making promises it cannot fulfill.
