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Showing posts from May, 2012

Comment on Article: Analysis: Puerto Rico bets on American tourists to repay debt

This is what we have allowed successive governments to do to us: bring us to the brink of financial debacle. We are up to a point where government is running out of options fast and the draconian measures meant to reduce public spending are not enough. Even an increase in taxes (assuming Puerto Rico's treasury is able to collect taxes efficiently) might not curb our public debt's downward spiral. See the article linked below from Reuters , Analysis: Puerto Rico bets on American tourists to repay debt Our government's brilliant solution: tourism. We'll deposit our hopes, not on diversifying our economy, not on outside and local investment, not on promoting small, middle and cooperative enterprises (see here ), not on creating a thriving entrepreneurial class, not on improving the conditions of the Middle Class, but on American tourists. And while tourism in itself is not a bad thing, take a look a what type the government is trying to promote: high-end tourism bas...

On ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ, and how inconvenient it is when Greeks chose to exercise it...

It is most certainly a possibility. It might possibly yield unexpected positive results. But to consider this at a time when Greek voters have spoken in the ballots, that, what does that say about "democracy" in the cradle of δημοκρατία? Check the linked article below... Euro Officials Begin to Weigh Greek Exit Resiliency is the code word for this article. Nevertheless, European institutions are drawing up scenarios for Greece's Euro exit. There is little consideration about softening the dacronian measures that are affecting Greeks' livelihood and social stability for the past two and a half years. No willingness to reflect on the democratic exercise that the Greeks performed and what it means.  If, then, there is more resiliency in the Eurozone, why insist on the rigidity of the measures? Why not accommodate Greece? Why allow the markets and capital to be tyrannical in the face of human plight? Where is the State, where are the institutions? ©Steve Bell 2012...