Politics

The election in Ecuador is two weeks away. While the press has accused Correa of various corrupt acts, it seems to be mostly that Correa's approach to managing Ecuador does not fit well wth the agenda of those who own big business, including the press.

A friend sent me a copy of this editorial from a Michigan newspaper. While my personal conclusions are different than those implied by the author, it's a short piece which raises some serious concerns. My reason for posting it here is to talk about how Nicaragua would fare in the points being made.

[Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the newspaper where it appeared. I assume it is under copyright but claim fair use here as it is being posted for discussion.]

http://www.nicaraguadispatch.com/news/2012/09/like-lambs-to-the-slaughte...

Or, at least I would if Nicaragua were like the US and I were able to vote without any form of identification whatsoever.

Is there any other country in the world where you can vote without ID ? I couldn't find any, but I might have missed one.

This question stems from Daddy-yo's reply on another post about who will be better for Nicaragua, Obama or Romney?

Canada breaks diplomatic relations with Iran:

"The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with U.N. resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide," Foreign Minister Baird said in a statement. "It is among the world's worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups."

Things appear to have been happening inside the FSLN. This, along with some of the articles Juanno posted, seems to be part of it:

http://www.nicaraguadispatch.com/news/2012/08/gen-ortega-nicaragua-must-...

Two quotes from Humberto Ortega:

"Each generation has to assume the responsibility of challenging political and economic leaders to build a better and more inclusive country, Ortega says."

The imperialist yankee empire, enemies of mankind, have extended "The Waiver" for another year.

US Embassy press release (in Spanish)

There is an article in Counterpunch titled Coming to the aid of war criminals. What it is really about is the US Congress threating to withold aid to Nicaragua because of unresolved compensation issues. Note that I filed it under Politics because that, to me, best reflects both the issues and the suggested solution.

Daniel Ortega, winner of the Muammar Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights, has joined other great democrats such as Robert Mugabe and Raúl Castro in mourning the loss of Kim Jong-Il, who was one the few remaining giants in the struggle for civil rights, freedom and peace.

Life sure is getting lonely at the top for Danny Grouse.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/21/kim-jong-il-cuba-mugabe-mour...

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/blogs/articulo/928-impuesto-impuestos-im...

some thoughts on how things are.... i pay INSS for only 4 employees right now. They are very well paid. Let's see how this affect us when it comes into effect. It may end up cheaper hiring independent contractors.

Interesting reflection on Ortega, The Election and the Results.... http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/5574/ortega-y-su-magia

Edmundo Jarquin is certainly best Nicaragua has to offer in terms of politicians.

We were lower than Costa Rica and Panama, and only in 3 years things got worse. It goes back to the Al Jazeera article about the correlation between socioeconomic situation and violence. More proof that people are actually worse off than they were previously, not only that, the gap between the have and have not has widened.

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2011/11/30/portada/82377

P.S. The number of Firearms has little to do with the increased rate, as the number of firearms have most likely remained same over the past few years if not decades.

There is no new information in this opinion piece from Al Jazeera but I am struck by the astuteness of its analysis.

I do not agree with all of its premises: Most notably, the statement that “Ortega has poured money into health, housing and education programmes and extended support for farmers and small businesses” is very debatable ... unless you agree that this includes donating zinc roofing sheets to party militants and the promise of one-time, election-year bonuses to underpaid, barely-literate teachers. But that is irrelevant to the central message of the piece ...

Alvaro Somoza...is the son of Luis Somoza, the second of three Somoza dictators who ruled Nicaragua between 1936 and 1979. ... "My father started the social security system in this country," Alvaro said. "The minimum wage was established by my father; the labor code, the right to syndicate. I could go on and on and on and on."

From Public Radio International's "The World": http://www.theworld.org/2011/11/somoza-nicaragua/

http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/5265/29-mil-millones-perdidos-de...

it is not hot off the press, but i do not recall hearing about it here. If this kind of embarrassment continues, Bye Bye ALBA.