Year: 2012

Daily Dingleberry 01-27-12

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Critical Thinking:

 Critical thinking has been described as “reasonable reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.”[2] It has also been described as “thinking about thinking.”[3]It has been described in more detail as “the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action”.[4] More recently, critical thinking has been described as “the process of purposeful, self-regulatory judgment, which uses reasoned consideration to evidence, context, conceptualizations, methods, and criteria.”[5] Within the critical social theory philosophical frame, critical thinking is commonly understood to involve commitment to the social and political practice of participatory democracy, willingness to imagine or remain open to considering alternative perspectives, willingness to integrate new or revised perspectives into our ways of thinking and acting, and willingness to foster criticality in others.[6]

–  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking

Can we please apply this right now, right here, today? O alright. It is Friday night. Go relax with your friends but first thing in the morning ok? Peace out, lovers 🙂

Super Bonded and Royally screwed by: Aria Lightfoot

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“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

I guess my concern about Belize’s political culture is this persistent message telling Belizeans to ignore the past actions of political parties or just pretend the past does not exist. Focus on today.  Undoubtedly, a necessary message when the pool of candidates remains the same.  We just change seating positions in the House of Representatives.  Election Day should be renamed Ground Hog Day.

 I can no longer advocate going forward in Belize without looking back and taking a serious account and evaluation of our past.  In my past writings I had advocated the present party focus on today’s issues and stop blaming the past administration, but today I am not too sure.  Maybe I have been oblivious to the entire “super” bond debate.  I did a bit of research and read some online opinion pieces. The payment schedule for the next 17 years is quite alarming.  This year alone, Belize must pay 65 million dollars towards INTEREST ONLY.  Next year, Belize payment will increase to 95 million dollars and will be accredited to INTEREST ONLY until 2019. It is truly troubling that we would even agree to these debilitating and impossible terms. Even more troubling is that we continue to re-elect the same people without a thoughtful process.  The payment this year will do absolutely NOTHING to offset the 1.1 BILLION dollars borrowed. Our creditor will continue benefiting from interest only payments for the next 5 years or so.  In fact, based on the payment schedule, we will be paying roughly 800(eight hundred) million dollars in pure interest, before we even start chipping away at the 1.1 BILLION dollars loan.

   I worked in the foreclosure industry in the United States for over 5 years.  Most people who became victims of the foreclosure crisis were victims of the same predatory lending.  People making modest salaries, were allowed to borrow money to buy extravagant homes with an interest only rate for 5 years.  It appealed to people’s dreams and aspirations and little to do with their reality.  It was great living in a 5 bedroom house, with a three car garage and a swimming pool, but after 5 years elapsed, interest and principal payments became due and families were crippled and destroyed.  Today, I live in one of the worst US States affected by the crisis. I can drive through many neighborhoods boasting extravagant empty houses, standing as white elephant reminders of very bad decisions.  Is that the future this bond will have on Belize?

As I read about the “super” bond, I realize that we need to look at Belize holistically and outside the tainted glass of the political parties. I need to know what caused such a bad decision to be made?  Who benefited?  Where is the evidence of 1.1 billion dollars pumped into our economy?  Why does my country look so dilapidated?  Why has the poverty rates increased so dramatically?  How many of our families have fallen victims to our leaders’ bad decisions?  And once again, Who benefited from this 1.1 billion dollar loan?

Our spiraling fragile economy has more to do with the consequences of thirty years of politically bad decisions, wanton corruption and a refusal or maybe timidity of our people to demand accountability.  How many people today are sitting in silence while the destruction of our society continues unabated?  I have become apathetic almost disgusted with  political party faithful members, who would allow our country to self destruct, as long as their team blue or red wins.   Our children will suffer for generations because we lack oversight and foresight in Belize. The gap between rich and poor will continue to grow and crime will be unstoppable until we appreciate that voting is more than just a popularity contest. Tough decisions need to be made and we need leaders with unquestionable integrity.  

In our very homes, the success of any family is a direct result of years of conditioning and environmental factors. The well being of families depend on money coming in and out of the home. As a family, one cannot go around giving away everything to charity; ignoring bills; allowing the home to fall apart; taking care of brothers and friends homes before taking care of responsibilities. Families do not allow children to run amuck. Good families set rules and guidelines; make sound decisions for their children’s future such as savings; investing in education and ensuring the well being of that child. With that said, why don’t we have the same expectations for politicians?  Our politicians are racking up bills we can’t pay, hooking up their family and friends and becoming super wealthy instead of taking care of the nations needs. As for investments in the future, the future is a super bond crippling payment which is eroding our economy and eventually will destabilize the very fabric of our society.    

Belizeans, we need to sit down, stand up and open our eyes. We can no longer function on empty promises and corruptive behavior.  Take off those party lenses and start making demands for accountability and have expectations for integrity. I urge you to be proactive in your community. I foresee a bankrupt state and devaluation in our future. Do it now, otherwise generations of children’s future will be grim as our country struggle to tackle this debt.

 

 

Please read some opinion pieces below regarding the “super” bond.  The bond was signed in 2005 by the then PUP government.  The PUP formed the government from 1998-2008. 

http://www.sanpedrosun.com/old/09-364.html

http://www.belizetimes.bz/2011/12/02/the-true-story-of-the-%E2%80%9Csuper-bond%E2%80%9D/

http://belizeblog.com/finance/belize-under-the-super-bond.html

http://www.guardian.bz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4312%3Agob-must-pay-3353706666-feb-20-thanks-to-pup&catid=53%3Aheadlines

Daily Dingleberry 01-26-12

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“Griefer” is a gaming term used to describe someone who sabotages a fellow gamer. Basically, a griefer can destroy your house that you built and steal your treasures, for no reason. It’s not a provoked attack, it’s just done to undo a gamer’s painstaking, hard work. Sounds like some of us, huh? No matter how carefully one may explain one’s position, no matter how thorough an examination of the issues, no matter how inclusive one tries to be, someone will “grief” you. Someone will pick on one thing, usually not the most salient point, and try to demolish your entire stance which was made in a genuine effort to provide insight or suggest solutions for all of us, not just a red side or a blue side. This results in a discussion veering down a path of divisiveness and cock blocking. “Cock blocking” is a term used to describe the act of just being oppositional and obstructionist because basically, one refuses to let the other person get credit for having a great idea. Poor Obama has been cock blocked from day one by Congress. Ironically, many of his proposed solutions were once proposed by the Republicans themselves. He acknowledges that, gives credit where credit is due, and STILL those griefers cock block him. This is just like what Belizeans do to each other. Jealousy, insecurity and narcissism stops very passionate, brilliant minded, forceful people from coming together and seriously working to overcome our challenges. This is very selfish and short sighted and ultimately, self destructive.

I challenge everyone today to take a step back and seriously do some soul searching. What is your purpose? What are your ideologies? What is your vision? Are you secretly nurturing a hero fantasy, you know, the one where you and only you get to save the day? There are many reasons people do seemingly altruistic things that upon examination are anything but. Before you turn that mirror on anyone, turn it on yourself. Face your ugly before you show your ugly face.

Constitutional Convention – by: Aria Lightfoot on Saturday, 27 August 2011 at 11:59(repost)

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Recently, the idea of a constitutional convention was suggested, I give credit to Mr. Hubert Pipersburg, who is quickly igniting a necessary debate about the effectiveness or lack there of, of our system of governance!

This was something that should have been done back in the early 70s when the writing on the wall indicated that England was ready to kick us out the proverbial nest! If I recall the debate of the time, one party supported it and the other party boycotted the formulation of our constitution in a shortsighted protest that has Belize in this conundrum today!

Today in Belize, one party makes a suggestion and the other party outrightly rejects the idea. Policies are written with no intent to implement, but rather to win elections,  promote political party agendas,  as opposed to national agendas. Boycotting has been the opposition response to controversial legislation and as a result, 30 years of our history is marred with stagnation and an ineffective system of governance.

I love the idea of Mr. Pipersburg’s  convention with one reservation; he called for the convention to be  “the brightest minds in Belize!” Unfortunately for Belize, many of our brightest minds also represent the elites in Belize,  who many times are detached from the struggles of the country;  are themselves the perpetrators of the abuse in the system;  and too politically entrenched to make the convention a worthwhile effort.  I call on suggestions to be induced from all organizations in Belize and a consensus of the masses solicited.  If we are rewriting our constitution we need inclusion.  We need to limit the power of government and empower the masses. We need oversight of the public coffers and give our politicians a mandate, with serious reperccusions for unethical deviation. We need a “bill of rights” to ensure fundamental rights are cemented into our legal framework. We need to remove the “discretion of ministers” and replace it with laws mandating the office they hold. We need representative government and we need to  have equal access and strong protection of our citizenship!

Take heed to the call politicians who shape the divide  our country. The people in Belize are voting for a change in the system! They cannot articulate it, so they keep voting parties in  or out on promises of change! Recognize that the populace wants equality and access and an opportunity to enjoy the spoils of the country.  Recognize it before our change is shaped by the people calling for violent revolution! Get off your tax payers’ educated butts, tax payers’ financed lifestyles and do something meaningful for the country of Belize!  Let’s create a Belize for all Belizeans…

Is it a calling or just in it for the money by: Hubert Pipersberg

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Is it a calling or just in it for the money

This underscores the point that we have been discussing on social media for awhile now. The
system is in need of serious structural reforms. Insanity is define as doing the same thing over
and over and expects to get different results. Public service is a choice that one makes and it
comes with certain sacrifices. It’s a given that one’s compensation will not reflect that of the
private sector, The public sector and the so called third sector(non-profit) will never be able
to compete compensation wise with the private sector. The reason is that in public service the
compensation is under-written by taxpayers the government gets its money from tax collection
unlike a business that operates for profit. One enters public service with the assumption that you
are serving the public good. You are doing so strictly for altruistic reasons. It is suppose to be
a calling to service higher than yourself. What better way to make a meaningful contribution to
society via public service? The goal becomes blurred when we expect more out of public service
than what the stated results can give. Having said that, how do we determine compensation?
Aligning it with the cost of living would be a start. Offer civil service protection with built in due
process to protect from arbitrary dismissal. In addition, appointed positions such as the CEO
of a ministry who essentially serve at the whim of the minister is still a bureaucrat working in
public service as such they cannot be expected to receive CEO type private sector compensation.
Granted they signed a contract. However, their compensation should commensurate with
scholarship and experience. They should also be evaluated based strictly on performance. Since
they are in fact public servants, they should be compensated enough to do their job for the
public good without compromise or any under-hand dealings. They should be able to serve with
integrity. This is where ethics in government plays a significant role. Bear in mind morality
cannot be legislated. In short, they must still be held accountable to the public trust. I can think
of interventions such as the integrity commission as a start.

As for these powerful elected government ministers with mandates to intimidate bureaucrats,
they operate under a different banner the spoils system. Suffice to say again it boils down to
sacrifice for the public good. I believe that they should be compensated. I am not prepared to
suggest a number. However, it should be aligned with the cost of living. This is an example of
where the Westminster model exposes its short comings. An ongoing discourse or framework
is what is needed to determine the most effective reform to our system of governance and
jurisprudence. What is the most effective model if so how will it be implemented? I am not
prepared to suggest one only because I believe that input will be required from all the stake
holders (the people). I will say this; the stated goal should be for proportional representation. In
addition, I have argued consistently, in this space, that I believe that it should in fact begin with
s sober look at our carbon copy constitution; a constitutional conference/convention would be
my preference. Since the constitution is the highest law of the land we should fashion one that
mirrors our struggle as a people.

Daily Dingleberry 01-25-12

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English: Barack Obama delivers a speech at the...

Image via Wikipedia

I think we are all getting a little exhausted bc now we are starting to turn on each other…so let’s look elsewhere for today while we gather ourselves and our thoughts. Can we say OBAMA!!! Wow! He left his opposition basically stuttering. It was awesome! Even if you won’t vote for him, that was so admirable last night. He was  eloquent and confident. But what I liked even more was, he addressed accusations made against him. He addressed less than popular issues and he made a stand. I loved how he called out the Congress and I hope they felt ashamed because basically they are just cock blocking. That is never acceptable. At this point, I think the Republicans are their worse enemy and has been for a while but if that’s what it took to get our first bi-racial president elected? Then so be it. I hope they get over their outdated views and get with what is best for the country. We all need representation. We are all important. It takes all kinds. Sounds just like Belize doesn’t it? Maybe Belize will finally get a female president…but under what banner? Which party will be brave enough, forward thinking enough to accept a female leader?????