I hope Mejia wins for 2 reasons - Page 4

MommC · #31 04-24-2004, 11:45 PM

the best I can do is "debate" the "virtues" of one candidate over another and attempt to persuade some of those who don't normally vote that only they can change the way things are. The ones in my neighbourhood didn't listen last time (they were convinced that Hippo was going to give them everything for nothing ) and by all appearances they are now convinced that "the good times" will come if his baldness is elected again!! How does one convince an adult that Santa Claus really doesn't exist except for that short period before elections when he's busy buying votes with free rice and motorcycles if you happen to be in the right place at the right time???
Is it "morally" wrong to take advantage of the higher buying power my Canadian dollar has??? I don't think so......
Am I being condescending as Terry suggests??
No...I'm just stating (in a very detailed manner) what I witnessed in my area in the four months I was there this year.
Do many really say "they're all crooks " in Canada,the US and Europe? Of course some do, however we do attempt to elect those we feel will do the best job for the country with the least amount of "patronage" (or feeding at the trough as we in Canada are prone to say). We don't expect our gov't to give us something for nothing (unless of course you're part of the "welfare" minority) and realize that what we do get will cost but we do know that our schools are educating, our hospitals function (even with waiting lists at least when your number comes up the resources are there) and our police are not a large part of the problem (yeah we all have bad ones in the barrel but humans are an imperfect lot!).

BTW ....my reason for editting my previous post fits all of us at some point or another!

Lambada · #32 04-25-2004, 12:58 PM

I don't think it is morally wrong to take advantage of the higher purchasing power of U.S./Canadian dollar, PROVIDED one increases the level of one's charitable contributions accordingly. I would find it hard to live with myself if I simply got the best exchange rate going & then kept it. If you plough it back into the country by providing more employment, giving more meals etc to hungry people, then one is not pillaging the economy.

jsizemore · #33 04-25-2004, 01:35 PM

If I am spending money and staying on a budget it does not matter how good of a return I get I still support the economy. I hate to say it but part of the attraction of the DR is the bad economy is good for us immigrants (EXPATS).
So while we emotionally may feel bad for the poor Dominicans we are more than happy to hire that maid now that the cost of labor as become reletively lower. It is just how hypocritical we really are. We want the economy to improve but so much that the cost of living increase to the level of our home countries.
This said as a want to be imigrant.
John

Narcosis · #34 04-25-2004, 02:02 PM

No ex-pat should feel bad about the state of the economy and capitalizing on it, on the contrary you are only helping not hurting as long as your money is spent legally of course.

Only Dominicans are to fault for poor choices for president. Don't feel it is none of your business to express your opinion to those around you even if you don't have the right to vote, on the contrary if you do have a positive influence on people by all means express what your conscience tells you, that is part of democracy and you have the right because your money makes a difference.

Rosemary · #35 05-02-2004, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narcosis

No ex-pat should feel bad about the state of the economy and capitalizing on it, on the contrary you are only helping not hurting as long as your money is spent legally of course.

Only Dominicans are to fault for poor choices for president. Don't feel it is none of your business to express your opinion to those around you even if you don't have the right to vote, on the contrary if you do have a positive influence on people by all means express what your conscience tells you, that is part of democracy and you have the right because your money makes a difference.

IN the name of anything sacred, where do you justify, that money has the right to command anything ! It and you may rule and conquer people, but only to a limit ! Dreams, Pride, Dignity, will ride only so far on money, then they part company ! Thank God ! To someone like you ,I wish you three stones !

MommC · #36 05-03-2004, 01:12 AM

Quote:

originally posted by ROSEMARY IN the name of anything sacred, where do you justify, that money has the right to command anything ! It and you may rule and conquer people, but only to a limit ! Dreams, Pride, Dignity, will ride only so far on money, then they part company ! Thank God ! To someone like you ,I wish you three stones !

No-one said money was "commanding" anything......nor is it!
Lambada, jsizemore, and Narcosis have it right when they say that it's ex-pat $$$ that support this country (The Dominican Republic -in case you think I mean Canada!). I personally contribute roughly $20,000 Can dollars each year to the economy and more in the years that I do renovations or purchase big ticket items like vehicles or furniture. I also contribute to the employment stats by employing household help and also by teaching a class every year while I am here that gives skills to young people which enable them to obtain employment.
That doesn't take into consideration the "charitable" contributions I make each year (which CCCCC takes me to task for -see the "it's about time" thread!).
Nor does it include the "tourists" who visit each year (and spend their $$$ here) because I've invited them to the island! It also doesn't include the tour operators and fisherman who increase their income because as a "friend" I actively seek revenue generating opportunities for them (I.E. talking to other tourists at the local coffee shop/disco/bars to convince them to take a tour or to let them know where they can get fresh fish for tomorrow nights' dinner!).
I did my best last time around to convince those I know to vote for the PLD (yes as CCCChris said Leonel did do the best for the country and the country has gone back not 10 years but more like 30 under "Hippo's " rule) and I did my darndest this year to convince them again to vote "purple" for Leonel. Will they??? Nope!! They wanna be part of the "Good Times" his baldness is promising!

Do they deserve what they get??? Guess I'll take a page from CCCCChris on this one!!

Narcosis · #37 05-03-2004, 01:13 PM

Rosemary:

Thanks for the stones?? maybe you are having a bad day/life who knows I on the contrary wish you the best.

We should not mix oranges and apples on this subject, what Rosemary is accusing me of is exactly what Hippo/PRD are doing in this campaign; buying conscience through votes.

What the poor of the DR need, is to rid this type of practice which is used againts them.

They should on the other hand respond to the fruit of their own labor, this is DIGNITY and PRIDE, they should learn that what they work for is what they will recieve and if you as an ex-pat are on the giving end because you have recieved a service, you then have earned a right in this equation as well and your voice should be heard as well even if it does not get counted in the ballot box.

frank alvarez · #38 05-04-2004, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narcosis

Rosemary:

...what Hippo/PRD are doing in this campaign; buying conscience through votes.

What the poor of the DR need, is to rid this type of practice which is used againts them.

They should on the other hand respond to the fruit of their own labor, this is DIGNITY and PRIDE, they should learn that what they work for is what they will recieve and if you as an ex-pat are on the giving end because you have recieved a service, you then have earned a right in this equation as well and your voice should be heard as well even if it does not get counted in the ballot box.

Bravo! Completely in agreement....until the lower Dominican classes, used for decades to be parasites by the succeeding governments, learn to not depend on the government for jobs, handouts, etc., and not rent or sell their consciences, lousy 'leaders' will continue to keep them right where they are by giving them a temporary prize in exchange for a long term deepening of their poverty as a result of inept management in government; never a better example than the present situation with the PRD/PPH crowd. The best chance to get away from this bad practice is to go with the PLD (Leonel Fernandez), who already demonstrated that they do not follow the populist policies of the other two major parties, the PRD and the PRSC. Hope the conscientious majority prevails!

Rocky · #39 05-05-2004, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sangwong

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I thought this was an open forum, where free people are allowed to express their opinions..

You are half right, but it's a DR open forum, not a forum for you to vent your anger about the USA.
As for your personal attacks on others for their opinions and letting you know you are getting off track for this forum, it certainly demonstrates some mental or emotional instability of your own.
Perhaps it's time you relax a bit, or if you need to vent your anger, take it to an appropriate place.
We are here to exchange information and opinions about the DR, and help out those who wish to travel or live here.
This forum provides a great service to many and should not be abused.
Marco.

p1atan0 · #40 05-25-2004, 07:55 PM

It was about time we had a retarded President in office, i mean how else was the rest of the country gonna understand what the president was saying...
example... a reporter told Hipolito Mejia "Bread has gotten too expensive" Hipolito's answer to that was "man does not live on bread alone, eat platano and yuca".
Now thats an answer. by the people and for the people.
I dont think Leonel understands what hes reading in his speech.