Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip
Also, you guys realize that the Domincan politicians don't want an educated constituency. Why would they want to have the people actually tell when they are talking that they are full of schit?
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This is a bold statement and an interesting point.
Of course there are plenty of historical examples of dictators and pseudo-dictators actively keeping their populations uneducated, to avoid too much criticism. I think the Duvaliers and even Aristide are said to have followed this policy. And in the Dominican context, an uneducated uncritical population is of course a necessary element in a system of caciquismo.
But what about today's Dominican political elite? Do they actively and consciously underfund education and keep the Dominican population uneducated to maintain the political status quo? Or are they perhaps mildly yet genuinly interested in improving education, but end up being even more interested in filling their own pockets and spending money on projects that build short-term loyalty?