Diálogo Plural

In these times of uncertainty it sometimes seems hard to be kind. We are full of resentment towards the lack of sensibility in which the Puerto Rican government handled - still is - the fiscal crisis which such abandon to the human side of the equation. We don't even know how to react, especially when job terminations hit so close to home and the possibility of economic deprivation and mental distress are real and very tangible. We cringe at the likeliness of social distress and violence in an island that does not need any more damaging to its collective psyche. When things like the dismissal of over 16,000 government workers take place politics seem so trivial. We trust our politicians will do their best in terms of policy, only to be disappointed time and time again. And while it may seem to late to do something about it, it should at least give us pause to think about the consequences of voting for the sake of voting without giving a moment's thought about their proposal...

You know, I still have hope for this administration. I am aware of the difficulties of governing a republic so shattered by obvious cultural cleavages and bad-faith politics. What doesn't make sense is how this presidential administration is helping a vociferous and lunatic opposition, and a more legitimate but intransigent conservative one, by self-inflicting some of its injuries. This comedy of errors needs to be at an end. Meddling in states' affairs is at best an anti federalist attitude, very unbecoming of a US government, and at worst a dangerous politcal move that could backfire with dire electoral consequences. Read the article below and tell me what you think... http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-09-23/rahms-precedent-for-meddling/ Sent from my iPhone

Imagine a conversation on health-care reform that doesn't involve bad-faith politics or right-wing conspiracy theories, but a civilized dialogue about the options. Visualize a forum where the President can be criticized essentially for not having made the moral case for health-care reform right from the beginning and taking the discursive bait on this administration's enemies regarding the extension of health-care benefits to immigrants, who contribute substantially to the US economy. Imagine that such a conversation is possible and then take a look at the link below. Harvard Kennedy School - Former Secretary of Treasury ‘Dismayed’, ‘Distressed’ Over Media and President’s Health Care Conversation