Know who your friends are

Jerry K · #1 06-09-2008, 09:51 PM

What a delight it is to read the DR! news somedays.
Two items are most interesting today.
First the figure of US aid to the DR in 2008 will be over 42 milllion dollars (that's a lot of pesos) up 54% from last year. I wonder if any of the money might be diverted to supply
more SUV's to "the boys"? How much will actually go to pay for his presidencial legacy, the metro? I bet a bunch.
On the heels of the announcement comes are Leonel calls out Chile, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela as the countries that showed the most "solidarity" to the DR.
Maybe it's time the pres was weened from the US breast. He doesn't appreciate it anyway.
Secondly, the head of the Dominican travel agents is pyssin and moanin about several US airlines cutting back service due to financial considerations. The woman thinks the DR should align itself with countries with national airlines like good ole Venezuela, Chile and Columbia. Good idea, if things get tight don't you think they'll cut back?
If the DR gets a national flag carrier airborne again, how long will it last in bad times when they couldn't make it in good times.

davidleemac58 · #2 06-09-2008, 10:53 PM

I believe Lionel is aligning himself with the devil... I understand the americans may not be a great alternative,,but I must say I believe a better alternative than Cuba and Venezuela.... It appears to me he is trying to go down the same path......Constitutional Reform perfect example.... If you rememeber Chavez tried this a few months ago.... Be careful,,,, foreign investment will cease with moves likes this...I hope everybody who has invested in the Dominican Republic understand what he is trying to do.......I have never been apart of a more corrupt government.......He needs the poor, ignorant and people he's paying to support him... Have you ever seen a country with the poor people paying for a campaign similar what he did ....With that stupid hand waving,,,,,Believe in him and you will be like a venezuelan without oil.......

davidleemac58 · #3 06-09-2008, 11:22 PM

As that very intelligent woman of tourism stated today..."Its time to align with countries with national airlines like cuba ,venezuela, columbia ,brazil and chile...I would love to know the percentage of people that travel to Dominican Republic that are from these countries....My estimate is less than 5%.... Talk about cutting your nose off despite your face....After hearing the lack of appreciation for americas 50 billion dollars,,, I believe better spent in america for americas poor people....I know for sure it will go for less suvs... WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!

suarezn · #4 06-10-2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidleemac58

After hearing the lack of appreciation for americas 50 billion dollars

50 Billion? I thought the figure given was more like 45 million (a drop in the bucket compared to what The US "gives" to other countries)...

I do agree that most of this aid doesn't really get to the people who really need it, but par of the fault is in The US itself by giving money without significant checks. I'm sure they don't care though...because believe me if The US is giving 45 million USD in aid they are getting 10 times that back in some form or another.

Leonel has played his relationships very astutely. He's friends with both Bush and Chavez and getting benefits for the country from both "friends" (i.e. The DR gets a lot of their oil subsidized from Venezuela through the Petro Caribe accord, which is a big deal now that oil is so expensive).

davidleemac58 · #5 06-10-2008, 12:42 AM

SUZANE,,one question what did you country contribute and what were there checks and balances??????? Its easy to counter what people say but give me some answers on what your country did for the D.R...... You sound like you have all the answers!!!!!!!!

davidleemac58 · #6 06-10-2008, 12:48 AM

If lionel is getting all these benefits from chavez why is gas 6 or 7 dollars a gallon there and 4 dollars in U.S.????? Talk w/ intelligence.... Lionel has all these chavez subsidies ,,,,whats up with the price?????Looks like its really working......!!!!!!

:bu nny:

GringoCArlos · #7 06-22-2008, 02:17 AM

$42 million sounds like a 2.5% credit card rebate program to me. The US received a net gain of more than US$1.8 billion in the year 2007, and already has netted US$955 million in the first 4 months of 2008 in the trade balance from the DR. Maybe that's why the US Dept of Commerce and the State of Florida always have trade representatives visiting to "grease the wheels of trade".

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/...2470.html#2008

And there are always "strings" attached to any public money given by the US. Like extra radar stations, more port security, more airport security, more US armed forces patrolling the DR's territorial waters with impunity, mainly to stop THEIR problems, not the DR's. The DR wouldn't have a drug problem if people weren't trying to ship product through the DR to sell to the users in the US.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Who should be thankful???

heliace · #8 06-22-2008, 12:50 PM

hmmm... 42 million is a lot of pesos??? How many pesos does the U.S give to Israel?
And for what?
Gas is $ 4.00 because us dumb Canadians sell it to you at a huge discount along with cheap electricity. Great free trade agreement eh?