The Mystery of Unbroken Fears

It is sicken and comical to watch a candidate blatantly lie in front of millions with untroubled manner. This has happened before and will occur forever, until that is when the world is over.

What is troublesome is that even when they are wicked creatures who deceive for personal gain, they are just like lawyers, torturous and necessary. Like a story that is passé the old complain about politicians should come to reality. None of the prolific speech tellers are willing to rule for the common good if it interferences with his personal achievements.

But there is no other way to make things work, society is a moving entity that follows unknown patters that are God´s guess how they work. In any case, the citizen of a country is left to believe that change is always the solution for the problems that the country is facing. We know this much, everyone always offer change, that is because we never think that our country is working as good as it should be.

You may not care about a singular voting process in the middle of the world, but there is a remarkable aspect in the human sick that is best to describe.

Ecuador will go to the polls in a couple of weeks to vote for a referendum asking if the new constitution – written under the regime of Rafael Correa – should be approved. The fact that there is a voting on the constitution is pretty important – even so – it is heinous to branch it as the best we ever had. Some trouble appeared when questions rose that the text that was voted on the assembly floor was different from the one that will appear on the Yes or No voting.

Correa´s allies on the assembly admitted that the actual text have some differences from the original one, but called those mistakes of “good faith”. They parrot responses given by the President over and over until they get transformed into a well design script. This is not unique of Ecuador, most politicians will read somebody else’s speech making you thinking that they know it by rote.

Most of the process ended up as a bunk, we are still struggling to understand if the pros of the new constitution are better than the cons. Overall it seems to me that this is the least concern that we should have in our heads.

Personally I don´t trust democracy, I do feel the need of it, but we all face the mistakes done by a majority that not always takes elections as serious as they are – or to be even clearer are too dumb to think. The problem of democracy is that just like free market it will always lead to the right thing, but only after we all pay a high price.

In this particular voting process the flaws are basically the same ones that we had before. The “wise” Rafael Correa – who by the way is an economist – poor soul, talks about change, about a better future that will start as soon as the new constitution gets a Yes from the majority of voters. What is troublesome is that most of that is just talk, the fact is that you see the same old habits, only that this time he screams that he is not part of the old “policies”. Sounds familiar? Looks like someone has the same tactics that Karl Rove used for the G.O.P.

The situation is sometimes disturbing as it seems that the government flogged the constitution and then threw it to the people – some of them who barely understand that the future of the country is at stake. My response to the nay voters is that they are wasting their time making false assessment about articles in the constitution. The main problem surrounding this whole process is the process itself.

You can proclaim change when people are in woe and, lo, nothing seems to happen for better. That is a cheap strategy but it will certainly work, even more when people in distress are clinging to a leader that they see as honest and hardworking.

The resemblance of today´s division in Ecuador looks like what happened years ago in Venezuela, it puts a wanton weight over the few that acknowledge the dangers of letting the starving claim a better future. And it is not that the poor do not have the right to claim change, the problem is that it is easier for politicians to trick them. To me this is the case today.

Millions of grievous citizens are feeling the heavy investing that the government has put into infrastructure; roads have been built, schools improved, health care given. So if you are as the majority of Ecuadorians – poor – then you will be an ingrate if you voted No.

My particular position is that in some cases projects seem like profligate investments. I understand that investment is needed in poor areas as much as big buildings need to rise in big cities. What the government must do is to find balance between these parts; if you want to execute leverage you need that first. The country as a whole does not have a path to follow; we lack that distinctive get together to go to the moon theme, that open our market so we can manufacture everything that the world needs, that unite the continent so we will be stronger.

What I always grumble about is that good words written on a paper are not relevant to change, the dim future exasperate the brightest and hardest working people, they usually don´t benefit from a herd of delinquents that plague our government. Change is a cultural matter that starts with basic and unpopular measures. This will affect not only the pockets of the rich, but some benefits that the poor get. Medicine and education could not be taken away from people, and food to children should be provided by the government if necessary. Any other wickedness by the government may as well damage our free future.

We are not committed to a better future with the rest of the country, we face the same problems that Thomas L. Friedman and Paul Krugman entitle to the Bush administration for making people go out shopping instead of asking them to face the war with all the sacrifice needed. Our path is not limpid – not to the common citizens at least – it may be blight to some of us, but crystal clear to the dark Machiavellian advisors that Correa has. He appears talking from one non sequitur to another, in the end I even doubt the evidence and hope on a glimpse of light that never appears on the horizon.

We are facing a deep transformation that may start just like every other one done in the past, with flaws, corruption charges, a youth full of stoicism, personal attacks that end up on the opposition taking umbrage on Correa´s regular tasteless remarks. We hear the wail of the hunger and a hand willing to give them help. That is a strength that populist have, it is not fundamentally wrong, what complicates it is the fact that it violates the foundations of democracy and free market. Price control and other measures are not welcome in the long run, they help create black markets and distort the real output that the economy can achieve.

I don´t believe in a transcended transformation that cannot address the most underlying problems in this tumultuous times. You should not spend as if the price of oil will be over $140 a barrel forever – Ecuadorian oil prices are much lower – cause as it happens today is falling below the $100 mark. We need a fundamental transformation that focuses on what we do best and what we will do best. We have had more than enough constitutions to play with, now comes one more. Correa may have the charisma to blatantly lie without being caught, we may be so desperate to let that happened with no accountability. We sure missed another shot at creating a unique opportunity for our children. Shame on everyone that let this happen, mainly on the passive voices that watch change without knowing that change is not synonymous of better; change is just different and there are out there a millions ways to be different and get it wrong.

You can read the next constitution as much as you want, if we as a society are not willing to enforce it as we haven´t done before, we may need to make a better one in the next ten years. We are scornful citizens prompt to depression as we pull away from each other, and there are no signs of détente between the President that has polarized Ecuador – just like Chavez successfully did in Venezuela – and a weak opposition that sure can´t make their case right. Think again, this is not about a Yes or No on the ballot, it is about starting that “better” future with the wrong foot.

An Outstandingly Talented Candidate… that should have run against McCain

The more that I see Obama being outperformed by McCain, the more that I as struggle to understand why Democrats did not send Hillary to the final round on the presidential race.

Her marvelous speech on Tuesday night was even greater because of her grace, her positive attitude and the energized crowd that gave her a long standing ovation when she first walked in. Even Bill appeared tearful at times. As I watched Hillary performed in such unique way – to a crowd that maybe still hoped that things change before anything was official – it came to my head that Democrats may feel that they made a huge mistake sending Obama to face the tough Republicans on the main election.

Obama is nowhere near to take a huge lead over McCain, who at every point should be losing by a lot, considering that he is clueless about the economy, that he still wants to be in Iraq and the his monochromatic party has failed to embrace a multicultural country.

Obama has failed to bring that change rhetoric to a consistent action. While Hillary was tough and heroic Obama is timid and lacks that spirit to make a huge majority believe that despite his inexperience he will be a great leader.

McCain on the other hand is not the best choice for Americans. He wants to drill so more oil profits will go to his pals, but with no actual consequence to the price on the pumps. He is so jealous of Obama that even went to the extreme of placing him with Paris and Britney on the same add.

Knowing that America should not risk four more years with a Republican on the White House we can only hope that Obama wins an undeserved presidency.

Bill Clinton gave an outstanding speech on Wednesday after a four minutes or so ovation from an exited crowd. He did after Hillary a day before, what they should have so no one can tell that because of them the party lost on the general election.

Bill after all had one of the greatest eight years on the White House, opaque at times with the Monica scandal, but remembered with nostalgia after eight years of a Bush presidency that has bought more doubts than great memories.

The big night was on Thursday, although the big stadium presentation could mean a lot of problems for Obama, Democrats filled the stadium nevertheless. His speech was done to weight some confidence in the American audience. Compare to both Clinton´s speeches this particular one told me nothing new about a better future, but is generally acclaim as a great speech, where he said what was needed.

My bitter sweet feeling that Obama is the lesser of evil is more deep now that we have to tolerate a movie star for the next eight years. His character was not strong enough to beat Hillary in the primary, now it seems that he is not strong enough to beat McCain.

Now that Sarah Palin – an unknown governor from Alaska – is in the race as McCain´s choice for veep, Obama has to feel that leaving Hillary off the ticket was a dumb idea.

We may see that Joe Biden with all his experience overshadows Sarah on their debates, but woman that felt that Obama let them down may chose to support Sarah in the end. Remember that Hillary appealed to a lot of woman on the fact of just that, that woman are capable of getting to the White House, that is exactly what Palin is doing, trying to be a woman on the White House.

This can pose several problems for both campaigns, Obama risks losing the vote of thousand of Hillary supporters, most of the woman that could flunk to Sarah, also McCain can no longer attack Obama for his inexperience, as you know Sarah just got into the spotlight as she was nominated to be the Vice presidential choice two days ago.

But thinking that Palin could take most of Hillary´s votes just because of gender is not right either, what we are seeing needs to be analyze at more depth, you can take it anyway you want it, but Republicans placed a woman as Vice president candidate and that is a lot of accomplishment for a remarkable election, the US surprises the world every time that things looks bad.

If Hillary would have won the Democratic primary things will be different now. But things are the way they are and are far too complicated to understand why.

Obama does not seem like the great leader that the US needs in order to embrace the future. America was the hope and destiny of millions of entrepreneurs that saw it as the only place where they can achieve what no other place in the world could offer them. In a globalized world this is not longer the case.

Universities can bring and educate the brightest people in the world, give them the tools to be entrepreneurs, give them information, showing them a new culture. But only the government can chose to keep most of those bright students in the country. Allow them to have a job, maybe a working visa or to accept them as new citizens.

America needs a strong leader that knows that this is the future. That embraces green technologies and pushes for environmental friendly legislation. I have not heard either candidate committed neither to this nor to a hard future for this side of the planet.

We all saw the miracle of the Chinese growth, the ultra-modern airports, the slim stadium, the billions invested in infrastructure, their proud people and of all the gold medals during this past Olympics.

Obama does not seem like the right choice; Americans need someone like JFK to guide the country to the moon, someone like Reagan to achieve policy based on true beliefs. Clinton was a clear example of economic policy leaning to growth and equality.

So in this tumultuous times – just at the begging of this new millennium – when the US needs a strong leader with a clear vision of the future, voters have delivered McCain and Obama. Both candidates lack the sense of how the future will unfold all the imbalances of the current situation.

It is a shame that Obama has to be the next president, but true democracy brings to power whoever gets the most votes. Hilary knows this and pressed on a remarkable speech for everyone around her to vote for a better future. I think she knows that Obama is not the right one to change things, but McCain should not be allowed to win.

“No way, no how, no McCain”, those were Hillary´s words on her Tuesday speech. This implies that McCain must not win, even if you have to elect Obama to impede that.
We hope for the best, but it has to be set, I don’t think that Barak Obama was the right choice.