Author RS Ramos, mainly writes about matters Portugese. Below is a sample, which is taken from his extremely interesting blog.
http://www.CagedAlbatross.com/
Auto de Gil Vicente is about five centuries after writing to be represented again.
This time, before a different court, it describes the same ordeal. The philosopher wants to deal with the serious stuff, because presages the dark days to come, wants everyone to know the truth and behave in free men. However, the Silly, silly naughty one that tied the back foot is always interrupt him with questions and comments ... silly. Not only at the time but especially now, philosophers and fools are declining in the plural ...
In D. John III, bigot and a fool, the problems were the introduction of the Inquisition, which led to escape of Jewish merchants and new Christians, the capitalization of the kingdom and the need to resort to foreign borrowing.
We followed the economic decline, loss of trade routes more profitable, and some years later, the actual loss of national sovereignty.
Reminds some aspects of the current situation? Rhetorical question, of course it does. With foolish rulers and a large proportion of the electorate "silly" it is clear that the parents have to suffer, and with it all "philosophers" who care about the truth of the situation and the good of public affairs.
With another kind of inquiry now in Portugal to negotiate the terms of loans indispensable, but we still have a record of mistakes and disappointments, an unbalanced competition on the precipice between primers repeated ad nauseam and proposals and assurances and promises and insults and nonsense. Meanwhile, the Olympian gods come down from Washington and Brussels with the rules of governance and the conditions of compliance.
All this will last until the elections and nothing indicates that change later. Understanding between the parties on the division of spoils?
"Sad Clown"
The Third Republic?
Rest in pace.
Each country requesting assistance from the IMF and now also to the European (in this case Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain probably tomorrow, not to mention other countries rickety) considers that his case is special, unique, unique. However, the only news is these countries belong to a monetary union.
For those who know the work of the IMF and other boxes mutual States, these stories are repetitive. Guilt is never heard of anyone who does not govern, the parties that promise worlds and funds to win elections and then spend more than the country produces. Guilt is always the lender and in turn forcing them to live within their means, pay off debts, developing the economy and meet the rules of good behavior in international trade.
The leaders without vision, without authority, need the "bogeyman" of an outside entity to whom they attribute the blame for painful but necessary reforms. Often the strategy works, voters are childish enough to believe in that stuff, how on earth believe in many others.
But the factors that go into the success of foreign aid programs, or its failure, are also known. The success comes from honesty in the evaluation, the rapidity of the request, the agreement of political forces, social order and discipline in implementing programs. Failure is inevitable when the financial imbalance is too great when interest rates on loans are too high and the recession prevents the growth of the economy, when the time for the repayment of debts do not allow society to hold the sacrifices, when markets collude in pride with the rating agencies to attack a prey in trouble and you cut all escape routes.
When the situation warrants it, we must know how to play chess multi-dimensional and multi-lateral play first with the current, waiting for the moment and then have the courage to say enough is enough. For now, Portugal has no money and need a loan immediately. Negotiate with dignity and to obtain the best possible conditions with the help of the IMF, which in this case it is better ally than the Europeans who will also lend the funds and want to make a lavish example of three brothers, forcing them to pay high interest rates. But when the string is not in the throat, it is necessary to restructure the debt.
In general, countries in difficulty, or more specifically its elites, come first in denial, then propagate unrealistic expectations and only too late accept the reality of the situation. During all this time is the most fragile population that suffers the consequences of the intended national pride, but the very real selfishness of rulers clicks.
In the case of three countries of the Euro that are currently on trial, the situation is complicated by the declarations of the Union, which already mentioned that later will be part of the restructuring aid packages. When the genie out of the oiler, has not re-enter. Neither markets, nor anyone of good sense, believes that these grants will not follow suit.
It is then that the clowns are distinguished statesmen, national and European. The clowns are wasting the time of the spectators on false stories and false quarrels, just to prolong his time on the track. The statesmen know how to negotiate and eventually bluffing, in the best interests of nations and the European Union They know their time to decide the breaks required and take responsibility to change direction.
It was the audacity of disruptions that Portugal was born and so it has survived many crises in its history. This is one more. The Portuguese need hope, need statesmen who can show them a light at the end of this tunnel they entered. The light from a change of political regime to reform and update the constitution, institutions, social structures and everything else that entails.
Come the Fourth Republic as soon as possible. As we anchored in the European Union no longer exists the danger of ideological fundamentalism prevail, can only be better than the third.
(Fim. .. provisional)
The End of the Third Republic
"Don Quixote" by Scott Gustafson
8. Restructure debt
Restructuring the debt is the politically correct term for a declaration of bankruptcy. Works for one country, as for a business or a family. An agreement with creditors to pay part and allows for forgiveness of the rest. In order to save what is possible, before the economy runs out in the fight against windmills.
The definition of intelligence is the ability to learn from mistakes and correct course. Just look at the examples of other countries, but more specifically Greece and Ireland (from being in the Euro zone), to realize that Portugal has already passed the point of no return, that despite all the sacrifices and austerities, there will be a future need to restructure debt.
It is not easy or pleasant for a time the markets do not dare to lend and credit tap is closed. The funding can only come from the clubs to which they belong, as the Fund and the IMF, which never cease to lend because they are the first to be repaid, and also establish the rules of recovery.
Richer countries, exporters and Monetary Union partners, as well as banks that hold debt securities of states, hate this possibility. Since poor countries and poor in each country, are paying very high interest, because they will want to change the paradigm?
We need to break the vicious circle, there must be statesmen who have the courage to declare that it wants to restructure the debt and now. A kick in the European hornet's nest and the problem is now also the EU and the Banks of all countries that have Portuguese debt. Increases the bargaining power to make the same necessary reforms, but with less suffering for the population and a greater chance of economic growth.
Pull over to the wall also countries and European institutions in order to accelerate the establishment of a genuine economic government for the Union If it is necessary to protect the Euro, which benefits all European countries but especially those that export more, because they will only be troubled countries suffering the consequences of not being able to devalue the currency? As the federal government creates barriers to the consequences of national bankruptcy of individual states, such as through federal bonds, so Europe has to enforce rules governing financial penalize irresponsible governments, but protect, as far as Can the people of the whole Union
When the economy is growing, the markets gain confidence and everything returns to normal, except that life for people too "normal" improves soon.
The End of the Third Republic
7. Statesmen, must be
The last government and now the parties in electoral competition, delivering incantations hypocritical populist rather than taking the reality. They know that the promises can not be met because they are contrary to existing commitments from the lenders to negotiate loans, but remain stuck to the narrative of a parallel reality. Wishful thinking.
It would require that citizens had the foresight to require that these parties submit to the forthcoming elections only candidates for deputies who have acquired real-life experience, professional competence and personal credibility.
The country needed now statesmen. Europe needs statesmen. Most countries in the world too. Unfortunately, democracies often produce weak leaders, popular support on rickety transient, and dictatorships are almost always corrupt puppet, extremist and despicable.
Statesmen do not grow on trees, or in incubators comforts and privileges in favor or in favor of parasitism crossed with the affairs of state. The statesmen have in common a requirement for education and leadership, sense of duty to the community, perseverance competed in professional achievement, the spice of steel in personal hardship and adversity.
Only with credible personalities and awareness of national interests, one can expect what is now indispensable: first and immediately, the necessary agreements between parties to get the loans, after the elections, the choice of rulers who know what they do, to put well future of the country above party and personal benefits of immediate, and finally, the coup-wing or kidneys, can make the difficult decision that we must declare bankruptcy of the state, to renegotiate the debt and reform the country for the economy to recover on a firmer footing.
33 - The End of the Third Republic (6)
L'umiliazione di
6. The humiliation and suffering
For the country, this is a time of international humiliation and national distress.
The international humiliation is triggered by the tragic incompetence of the government in managing public affairs, transparency child of the strategy used by this government to sacrifice the good of the nation to survive the party in power, the pitiful spectacle of parochialism in current squabbling of politicians and above all, greater and more lasting humiliation, which is the image of a political minority people. Finally, lack of dignity in leaving unanswered and no retaliatory measures, some public statements by leaders of institutions and countries, about the Portuguese situation. But where are the national dignitaries and diplomacy? There is a huge moral difference between being broke and being cowardly.
The suffering has already started with the national half-measures of PECs. But the conditions for the loan from the European and the IMF, while necessary, will be much harder to bear for a country barely used to the effort and discipline, especially over a long period. The restructuring of the public service of public and private companies, privatization, unemployment will increase. The tax increases, reductions in wages and pensions, the increase in interest on loans of housing, rising prices of fuel and food, will impoverish the middle classes and the most desperate need.
Right now the country can resort to outside help from anyone who can, but the weight of debts and their interest is already so great that the economy can not develop. The economic depression is a disease whose agony is painful and slow for the entire population, but obviously much worse for the poor and powerless.
It is preferable to the shock of an energetic treatment to save and return to health as quickly as possible. This shock implies the recognition that it is better to honestly declare that the weight of the burden is excessive and that the boat can get to the bottom if you do not throw overboard the excess load, ie the portion of the debt that is not able to pay.
The sooner the better, less suffering to the population and faster recovery economy.
The End of the Third Republic (5)
The fall of the Berlin wall
5. Socialism again in the drawer
As the poor who leaves the lottery, spent it all just nonsensical and then asking, so this scheme began to unravel earlier Treasury, the IMF had to call and put socialism in the drawer to take the necessary measures to recover the two first financial crisis, has squandered the benefits of entry into the European Community, with low interest rates and cohesion funds, and just now in the third financial failure.
Socialism always comes to an end when it runs out of money from others, a fact which encompasses Europe, the England of Thatcher to Mikhail Gorbachev's Soviet Union, through the countries of the South who believe that there is always someone, whether "they" or "the rich "to pay all that are with right. Gone are the economies of the first housekeeper Salazar, after the transfer of cousins abroad and finally the wedding money to Brussels.
This "noble people" have to change our mindset and start working seriously to live than it earns and without recourse to credit, to realize that education and health "tends to be free" do not appear by miracle, to receive what proportion reforms actually cashed for old age, understand that the state subsidies are paid by the taxes of all (todos. .. finally be optimistic).
The first lesson of citizenship must inform you that, for each citizen, as well as over the whole country, for the economy to grow ... we must produce more than it consumes. A portion of the population do not know and even fewer meet a personal or family budget balanced, becoming easy prey for predators of all kinds, economic and others. After complaining that the officials they elect, they do better with the state budget ...
The End of the Third Republic (4)
Pompeii. House of the Tragic Poet. "Cave Canem" mosaic
4. The evolution of this regime
How does this system could be exhausted in little more than a quarter century? Because evil was born, grew bent and aged prematurely.
This system was born amid the high hopes of generations who felt stifled, the bourgeoisie by the lack of freedom of expression and political participation, the people with economic and social backwardness.
The after party and revolutionary organizations, and some extremists in thrall to foreign competition geostrategic interests, other purely domestic generous with ideas of social justice, imposed and utopian populist policies that descend into collectivization of the means of production, the nationalization, the destruction of an economy distorted but in development.
Grew up in the contradictions of an unbalanced development, mixing the positive and negative. In competition policy, all parties accepted the surenchère that you could be living just like the other more developed European countries, without regard to sustainability, nor the process of modernization nor the cost of social measures.
This recovery of previous delays resulted in freedom of expression, in the arrangement of partisan ideology, economic openness, development of infrastructure and the various social protections, employment, housing, education, health, retirement benefits, poverty and exclusion.
Aged prematurely because there was a spectacular flop and third world in the evolution of institutions, human development and economic progress.
The constitutional revisions walked always lagging behind the times and laws have multiplied, trampled themselves, disengaged from reality, producing institutional deficiencies and a weak justice.
The people were not educated in the balance of rights and duties, or the functioning of an advanced society. The spread of education to the entire population was made without requiring discipline or selection by merit, without citizenship education or respect for the values of honesty, character and personal responsibility in managing their interests.
A belated social culture aspires to old privileges of the nobility, who want a course or a degree or other, rather than just a tool, giving the right to an annuity at the royal court, forgiveness, the civil service or tariff privileges in business private.
Labour legislation promotes the collective interests installed with their "acquired rights" instead of rewarding effort, individual creativity and encourage entrepreneurship.
Housing policies homeowners plundered, destroyed the rental market and ruined the inner cities.
And so on.
The End of the Third Republic (3)
3. The pendulum of history for Republics
The schemes change, always in reaction to the previous situation, but not always for the better. Like a pendulum that seeks a balance, but that it can not be pushed while excessively to one side or the other of the ideologies of social and political organization.
The first Republic was born confused, well-intentioned but a terrorist, but verbose anti-democratic, but with some good laws without the authority to implement them. When finished, the country was ruined, broken, dejected.
The Second Republic was obstinate and authoritarian, with the order, restraining the ambitions and the costs corresponding to the implementation of the petty bourgeois and traditional beliefs of their mentors. When finished, the country was modestly successful but outdated, isolated and sick of being a top dropped inconsistencies in colonial cold war.
The Third Republic began with a cyclical demand, a small fire that spread over the dry grass of a regime obsolete, it was aware of dying and therefore could not resist the revolt of some of its centurions. As no two without three, is also to end badly. Under pressure from populist movements, decisions have been taken and they have created expectations that are being defrauded because the country did not create, nor creates enough wealth to be able to pay.
This Republic die now, because it was before the pendulum too far to the right, then was pushed too far left and not yet balanced.
The End of the Third Republic
Titanic and Iceberg
This country has become a Titanic wreck, mortally wounded by the iceberg of the crisis. The master keeps a studied calm and encouraging statements. Officials in multiple disparate contradictory orders, until finally ordered to immediately forward the request to SOS and gave them a primer to repeat in unison: the fault was not theirs, the penguins were treacherous iceberg that pushed against the ship.
The orchestra continues to play the first-class passengers board the lifeboats, passengers are reluctant middle-class confusion, the third-class passengers are trapped in their powerlessness.
Many think that, like the Titanic could have avoided the iceberg if you were aware of external communications, it might be fulfilled strictly the rules of navigation and shipboard discipline was more strict, so the third Portuguese Republic could survive this latest crisis.
But history is made of facts and not speculation about what might have happened. For those familiar with this country since before the April 25, has carefully followed the subsequent events and arrange a broad perspective and abroad, has become increasingly evident that this end was inevitable.
The End of the Third Republic (1)
1. Introit
This is a chronicle of death foretold of the Third Republic in Portugal. In this case, news of the death is not even exaggerated. The scheme started by April 25 for the third time failed financially and politically in a definitive manner.
Most people have not realized that this use of foreign aid is only the latest symptom of the end, which joins many others. Some know, but pretend to believe that the regime will survive, just like they wanted to believe it was possible to prevent state failure, while the debt continued to rise and the economy down.
The obituary notice is being written to each statement irresponsible policy, every change in vane position, every contradiction dishonest attack every party, every time that the tribal or personal interest is put ahead of U.S. interest .
As for the decision to seek help from the Fund and the IMF, in an irretrievable financial situation, which has got to be too hard. Lenders have neither the imagination nor half-measures available, or government and opposition is already understood about the conditions proposed to put the country "on the nail", or no money. The denial of the evidence only serves to waste time and make the situation worse.
The Construction of Europe
In relation to European integration, a time that moves forward with a new treaty, agreement or covenant, rising cacophony made the same hopes and fears of each other, both usually excessive.
The present reality
This time is the formation and evolution of a fund to support over-indebted countries (EFSF / ESM), and the fact that the occasion be used to impose some measure of good governance (Competitiveness Pact). This is done with the usual care and measures to choose names politically correct, because we can not announce casually that countries are really bankrupt, and also to avoid confusion with the Third World mob that does no longer pay creditors.
The world at last, the world account, which has money to invest in markets, needs to believe in the message that the European family may be dysfunctional but is able to understand when it is necessary to help members blundering, those who lived too long to use the name of relatives rich to go into debt with easy credit and low interest rates.
Among the members of the family for the troubled Greek cousin who retired at forty-five years, the Irish niece who bought four apartments on credit, the Portuguese-law who works only in the three-month tourist season, the daughter in Spain that has no Unemployed certain power count Caja site. Not to mention so far of Belgian twins who fight under the table, uncles Italians who does business like icebergs, only a small part is visible above the surface or in-laws of the Eastern ... well, there are limits to the irony of these stereotypes.
To put the problems
The great imperial buildings of the past were possible only by wars of conquest of a people over others. Only kept by the discipline imposed by military force, political institutions cemented by a dominant cultural ideology and administrative structures supported by webs of economic interests. Disintegrated when these components have weakened.
The European construction has been made to the contrary.
Common interests first, the integration of resources in coal and steel to prevent further civil wars, economic cooperation to face trade wars of globalization, a federalist tendency to maintain influence in the world as possible during and after the cold war.
The common ideology that distinguishes Europe from everything else, is that the state must be democratic, secular and social. Hence the danger of some latent atavism natives and immigrants multiculturalisms failed communities, both needing a steady integration and respect for European values.
To continue to be peaceful, European integration has to be progressive and imposed "or aplomb avec en douce" ... the ignorant people who see no further than the immediate interests of his navel. That's why they serve the European institutions.
European agreement on competition
The European Pact for competition, originally proposed by Germany with the support of France, is an example of the measures necessary for the functioning of European economic government. In this case, a measure say ... ill-fated by Angela Merkel. After protests, meetings and negotiations, the pact has been changing colors like a chameleon.
The European Union needs a "coordination" (politically correct term for "government") more effective in their policies in general and this particular time in management and economic convergence. This includes the progressive alignment (and as fast as possible) so much of the infrastructure development, energy, communications, transportation, and taxes of the states on individuals and businesses such as productivity and wages in the relationship, as the survival of social protection, pensions and health.
Maybe if you can call a pact of convergence, with objectives, deadlines and dates, progress and assessment of penalties for noncompliance. Without an economic government for Europe is not globally competitive, nor can it ensure a balanced growth common enough to remain unified.
However, the Union can not or should not operate by "diktats". The rules of discipline and rigor are essential, but we must also respect the good ways, namely through the Commission's proposals, many discussions and compromises that allow countries to save face more recalcitrant, later, or more badly behaved.
The Onion, the "onion" European
The covenant of competitiveness for the euro zone, is seen by the countries that are not members of this club as the principle of a two-speed Europe. But it is clear that Europe is moving at different speeds. It is already being done, despite protests hypocritical. Not all European countries are in the Union, some have agreements that make it look like you are, but there are still others pass through different stages of the accession process. Only some part of the Schengen agreement, the common area of free movement. Only some have the Euro as common currency.
All say they want to be part of the core, the core where there are members who belong to three clubs, but some still can not and others may, but their governments have failed to persuade the majority of the voters of their advantage.
Predictably, Europe will become like an onion, presenting an appearance almost homogeneous, but consists of several concentric layers, and different aggregate. At best, this set will make you cry whoever wants to secede ...
The EU is not like the USA, has neither a federal nor the corresponding policies. Everything is done with more difficulty, complexity and confusion. On the one hand, the EU is more advanced in some sectors, such as social policies, it is much preferable to being unemployed, sick or retired in European countries than in the USA. Moreover, its cost is also a handicap, a competitive disadvantage relative to the rest of the world.
Finding the right balance is a matter of trying to keep doing the best every time and do not hesitate to correct the mistakes and excesses, so that they become evident.
Japan - Sorrow, Respect and Friendship
Earthquakes and tsunamis of the scale similar to the disasters That devastated Lisbon back in 1755, struck the northern islands of Japan.
The total human Losses are the yet uncounted. Entire cities disappeared, broke down infrastructures and inland along the coastline, communications are disrupted, the energy lifeline Affected by problems with nuclear plants. A nightmare to All Those affected.
The videos on the Internet and television, show an orderly population, backed by Officials obviously drilled to cope with such emergencies, doing what They Were expected to the. Later, They applaud In Their grief and restrained sure of Their capacity to recover. Lessons of Personal Dignity and national resilience, displayed for all to see.
The thought to friends in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagasaki, across half of the planet, with the heartfelt Hope that they, Their Families and Their homes, are all well, safe and sound. Tomorrow must be a better day.
A Different Country
Protest
The demonstrations called "the generation of junk," held today in an orderly and rallies ended in an atmosphere of popular festival.
Were on the one hand a demonstration of why this generation is that state (lack of employment, job insecurity contrasted with aspirations to security of civil servants, university courses useless in the labor market, dependence on subsidies) and on the other hand were a source optimism.
Portugal is indeed a country almost always equal to himself in the better or worse, but different.
Since the eighteenth century that politicians and writers describe the country in similar ways, much of which still apply today, but not totally. Unlike other countries in crisis, the manifestations of discontent had a large participation and noisy but peaceful. There was here the destructive convulsions of other European countries and even fewer crowds howling, fanaticized, jumping and shouting, as in the southern Mediterranean.
Portugal is finally a civilized country.
These demonstrations were represented all living generations, from babies in strollers to old men in wheelchairs. We noted a certain nostalgia for the movement of the seventies, a confusion of time and objectives, social and personal grievances. There were slogans incoherent (ideal reheated, faded, inconsequential), speeches senses (life difficult, uncertain future) and a healthy expression of discontent with the general state of public affairs.
Portugal suffers from a lack of rationality in governance.
In this generation there are those who struggle, those who have acquired useful knowledge, those who work, those who think, who are independent and know how to be daring. Make less noise, but it is not difficult to find them. Are inside and outside the country, innovate, create companies and make them grow. Could be more numerous and the change should have been faster, because then no longer will arrive on time for many. The weight of the load is large and you will need to bide his time until the situation improves.
Portugal needs inspiration and hope.
The Speech of the President and the King's Speech
Apart from the small slip of the tongue, speaking to himself (Ex.mo President of the Republic ... instead of the President of the Assembly), there is a common point between the speech of inauguration of the Portuguese President, and speaking of English George VI depicted in the movie "The King's Speech."
The common point is the historical circumstances. Portugal is not the same kind of total war in which England was then, but is also a war of national survival.
The speech he gave George VI, overcoming his stutter, he was an encouragement to the people of his empire to overcome the difficulties of war and resist, fight for their freedom and their values. Assumed without hesitation that all peoples of the British Empire shared the values of public opinion in England.
The President's speech was more than "a shot across the bow" to his government, rather than a warning to the Portuguese political class, was an ultimatum to the Portuguese people and society. The government is run, the system at risk, threatened democracy, because the country is bankrupt. Or the Portuguese public opinion, beginning with the political parties and civil society continues, have a jolt of awareness of reality, or disappear as an independent country, it loses what little sovereignty left to her.
European integration was and is the only possible path for the country to aspire to a prosperous future minimally. What went wrong was the repetition of mistakes atavistic: the failure of necessary reforms (education, economy, justice), the uncontrolled greed of the privileged political power, the easy profits of the financial elites at the expense of the ignorance of the popular classes through an encouragement overwhelming debt. And a new error: it increased the necessary social solidarity, but without guaranteeing the existence of means to pay. All this financed by external loans, which also atavistically end in bankruptcies.
The country is bankrupt, the President cited the Governor of the Bank of Portugal, which recognizes that the debt situation is unsustainable, and added the obvious, that a stagnant economy with no possibility of improvement, or credibility. Government efforts to avoid the inevitable, and the hope that salvation comes from the European Union, are doomed in advance. The conditions of financial aid, imposed by European economic government now in accelerated training, are no less demanding than the conditionality of a loan by the International Monetary Fund.
The European Union is an association of states, with mechanisms to support development, but without calling for assistance interstate. Public opinion in countries more productive, accurate and rich, do not want to pay the ranting, the lack of productivity and lack of rigor of the poorest countries. Even the richest countries enjoy, and really, with imports and consumption of the poorest countries. Business is business.
What to do? It is extraordinary that a country which went through many similar situations in recent history, bankruptcies over the last years of monarchy and the first republic, and the two before this, which is the third of the Third Republic, there are still those who want not knows what it takes do, or make unrealistic demands. But that is exactly what transpires in public opinion that is heard, the marches, strikes, radical opportunist.
The majority, there must be a rational majority of public opinion that ultimately manifests itself, which requires an alliance of parties responsible for implementation of measures for financial restructuring, encouragement of economic, business support, administrative restructuring and other, so that have been eloquently proposed by good specialists that the country has fortunately. Because time supporters of tribalism and personal arrogance has been depleted. Read again the President's speech, or of the King, whatever.
And if it is not possible to understand these ends of Hispania? ... You can always count on the Empire to rule us again, now is not the Roman, but what goes on in Brussels, Berlin and ends in Washington.
The blog of "Muses" associated with it, began quietly, causing only a few e-mails of sympathy from time to time. Lately, however, has been subject to more frequent posts with interesting comments, critics, sometimes provocative and occasionally with exegetical analysis.
A frequent comment is "courage" to have, hold, disclose, a blog of poems ... If it is that these texts can be called poems. Through kind words, it is recognized even preventing the label dreamer who may be glued to oneself and therefore detrimental to a reputation for seriousness. For, in spite of our brave new world of creativity to be done at all, in science, technology, economics, communication, remains in the collective subconscious that the seriousness is further linked to a certain arrogance or hubris, lack of humor in summary of a personality strongly boring ...
In fact, having the ability to write an occasional poem, is the equivalent of taking a quick note of an event, focused on the emotions and reflections corresponding code in a time capsule, a half dozen story lines. It also serves as self-analysis, effective, inexpensive and without risk of indiscretions ...
Another comment, the fact that the poems were written in various languages. The surprise can only be relative, as the relative anonymity also allows blogs yet realize the multi-culturalism of the author, which naturally corresponds to a plurality of languages. In the blog of muses who are appearing spontaneously manifest, although the shape is sometimes other influences.
But it was "The Home of Bearings" that blew up the scale to the non-English-speaking readers. First, they demanded a translation of the title, went to see "bearings" to the dictionary and were confused by the literal translation: "bearings." Bearings house ?!... Well, there are other meanings, such as orientation, direction, make the point. But after the title, there were still too many questions to answer. Simpler, albeit reluctantly, "commit" a full translation. Simpler?
Each language has its lines of evolution of thought, its rhythm, its logic. Translating is always a betrayal, even worse if it is committed by himself. Even the languages that are learned in childhood, in which one thinks and dreams, live in separate compartments of the brain. Just like living and vocational skills assessment, or the practice of the arts.
The languages communicate with each other, but in a casual correspondence and imperfect, which can be frustrating when trying to transfer an expression from one language to another. For example: "the sounds of winds through the coastal mountains hurling", translating as "hurling" which means "fire" usually with noise? By comparison, "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë (Wuthering, onomatopoeia of wind that makes wuuuu ...) Was translated into French as "Les Hauts de Hurlevent (hurlevent, the wind screaming), but in Portuguese gave" Wuthering Heights ". Nothing matches exactly.
The translation reactions were the only enjoyable part, even motivating: suggestions for the best expressions and terms more appropriate to preserve the tone and pace. In this exegesis to detect a depth and complexity of thought that have been overlooked in the original, even to those who wrote it. The ideas and words flow naturally, thanks to a maturing earlier, not always fully conscious. While attempting to translate "home" can be neither house nor home, "bereft" is not just a foul, "far-fetched" is an absurd improbability.
The picture described by a translation is always a pale copy of the living world evoked by the original. But cooperation in the translation can bring the excitement of a police investigation, that subversive ideas is this guy really convey? For those who really want to know, a poem is always an attempt to answer the recurring question about the reason to exist.
Hailing from the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, increasing waves of refugees arriving in countries to the north. Pushed by hunger (the inexorable rise in food prices), lack of work (an explosive birth rate hits all economic progress), by conflict (tribal, ethnic, sectarian), the oppression (religious, military, politics), despair . Many die along the way, too many to even reach the recipient.
In the midst of debate on the consequences of immigration in 1973 was published in France "Le Camp des Saints" by Jean Raspail, anticipating the massive influx of old ships loaded with refugees coming from the starving poor of the world. In 1990, Michel Rocard was Prime Minister and recognized that "ne peut pas la France accueillir toute la misère du monde." It was not prophetic, it was foreseeable, not only for France but throughout Europe.
The European continent experienced successive waves of invaders, and then before written history. They arrived in small groups, tribes or peoples, peaceful or warlike invasion, came from the south, east and north of the same. Pushed by enemies, by hunger, desire for a better life. Like now.
Wave after wave, the existing civilization would eventually be destroyed and a long night of barbarism fell on the continent. By organizing a different world. The Europeans are descendents of all the migrations and invasions all. However, for very unpleasant it may be the crisis in Europe today, we must be aware of the degree of progress achieved by the present civilization and is in danger of being lost due to ignorance of the people and the stupidity of governments. The Europeans do not reproduce, they need immigration, but most communities do not need unassimilable which delay the process of unity, no one can forget that social protection mechanisms are in various states of financial disruption.
It defines intelligence as the ability to learn from the experience, capacity and poorly distributed learning sometimes too slow. As Churchill said of America, democracies can possibly make intelligent decisions ... but after having tried all the others. European democracies will be able to finally act on the lessons of history?
The Practice
To achieve a goal, is assembling a project or climbing a mountain, one must ensure both the planning and the smooth finish each step. For example, going on writing reports assessing the progress in the first case, or go digging clips to hold the rope in the second. They're just good practice, but they are what separate the pros from the amateurs, who are consistently successful of which only reach their destination by chance.
The importance of good practices in the prosperity of a country is a subject not often dealt with either in sociological analysis, whether in economic analysis. As for many other things, analyze the consequences, to ignore the causes.
Starting at the beginning, the formation of each individual must provide the good relationship with others, are valid for the interactions between people, between companies and between nations. The home education, education in school, the rules of society, diplomacy between nations.
When comparing the best practices used in developed countries with those of others, are the major and minor differences that have led to the success of individuals, companies and countries themselves: namely to prepare, choose the best route, talk to the right people and how challenge, arriving on time and meet deadlines, explain ideas clearly, knowing when to speak and when to listen, anticipate questions and more likely to choose the right time to finish.
Learn to maintain institutional contacts and contacts with people. Send letters of thanks, summary of issues discussed, decisions taken and actions to make their deadlines. Fulfill its part of the enforcement work and agreements. Require the same from others.
Finally, know when to persevere and when to change the path.
Printing Press
At the site where it used to be Portugal is already Brasigola, an entity trapped between an invading population from Brazil (and elsewhere) on one side and a economy by purchasing from Angola (not only) on the other. A country stuck in a vise, with many hands to give the crank.
Side population once per Cascais for lunch is instructive.
In the restaurant employees are Brazilian and a Portuguese table next discuss tourism with an Englishman and a German who obviously learned the language of Brazil.
In the Post, some Brazilian girls waiting time to send money home, ask for help to fill out paperwork and take the opportunity to go reporting that can be very affectionate to thank ...
At the mall, the boys wash cars are Brazilians, the maids of the shops are Brazilian, people who are talking with the pronunciation of Brazil, as well as middle-aged woman who speaks with the ATM, saying that there is money and not understand why the dummy does not let her do a survey.
Economic side of the intrusion is slight, most of the time but no longer swell progressively.
At meetings of the boards of banks and other companies, in addition to the multiple crises, we discuss how to survive in Angola and Angolans. Who is there, whether there continue, or want to get there, you have to pay "protection" site. The forms of payment vary, beneficiaries are always the same.
Equity participation in exchange for land of unknown origin for deployment, by association with companies that exist only on paper, by appointment of directors who only receive salary or any other form of recovery. Why yes, because it decides who can and there is no business without a decision.
The benefits of the sale of natural resources also flow to the same pockets, sometimes in ways even more direct. What is not spent on waste is invested in buying stakes in foreign companies, preferably Portuguese, fewer property of Portuguese public and private, from all branches. Note the meekness of progressive ... they're called now? Ah, the media ...
Philip II of Spain used to say he had inherited, bought and conquered Portugal. Now that the country is being bought and won, it seems strange (and at the same time promising) no lack of political parties that want to inherit ...
Of course all this is an exaggeration, hyperbole and as in other senses of the term, the misanthropy of a passing day that the attack of spleen is worse than in many others.
Egypt - Smoke and Shadows
Kebash Road - Karnak
Egypt Could Become The first-ever, Arab democracy?
The parties are winding down in Cairo and Alexandria, and soon Will Be Over. Besides the symbolic leader Resignation of ITS, the armed forces are still in power, They Were the since the fall of the sultanate.
Give the people smoke and shadows, instead of the British-supported Sultans, Give them military-appointed Pharaohs, first to love and hate later. Nasser, Sadat, Mubarak, figureheads change, the real power remains in hands The Same. Give the people to blow the whistle, let's dance on the streets Them and They Will eventually go home.
What to expect this time? Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, Sadat made peace with Israel and Mubarak protected foreign investment and tourism. All of Them entrenched the privileged military caste, lined Their Own and Their cronies pockets, wrested external help, mostly economic development. The military now Will oversee the "transition" ...
The fire of the demand for people empowerment is spreading throughout the region. Two much smoke and some shadows haunting remembrance of the Iran-like unqualified disasters, local wars, terrorism, religious extremists, betrayed promises. After the appearance of victory, now starts the real effort to move forward Actually some political, social and Economic improvements. "Allah Akbar" is not a government program.
The Arab autocrats and Dictators (with a couple of minor exceptions) the minimum Not Have the saving grace of Some Other authoritarian regimes, who used to Reform Their powers the society and fight the most egregious forces of retardation.
Ataturk's "young Turks" reined in the religious superstitions Harmful keeping the people ignorant and the oppressed women. The Chinese stopped the population explosion with the one-child policy, without Which was there in the hope of ever feeding everybody and Improving the economy.
Alas, democracy is not the end of the road to social progress and fairness. Both China and India are extreme examples of an authoritarian regime one and get the other to democracy: each of Them Equally ridded with corruption, the growing chasm Between the privileged few and the starving, slave-like majority ". Real democracy takes time, and education, and work, and justice. Real democracy is always born in pain.
Most of the world, notoriously the Arab family of nations (as well as Asian and African Their neighboring ones, led by committees, or stooges Chieftains), still live with the medieval mindset: patriarchal, tribal, theocratic, aristocratic, mafia-like, chose the name, the functioning is The Same: the few living out of the work of the many, using the forces of weapons, ideology or religion, to coerce people to comply with extortion practices.
The spoils of power take many forms: raiding directly the National Treasury, selling the country's natural resources for private profit, controlling the economy, Requiring local and useless sponsors for foreign investment (or partners who share the profits without actual work or present capital), demanding bribes for administrative or bureaucratic EVERY procedure. All this is done proportionally to power, rank, connections, as well as prodding or disruptive Capacities.
Real Democracy Is Not Likely To Happen there yet, But hope springs eternal.
On the other hand, does not at least some of the above sound familiar Somewhat to Our Own, "developed" countries?
The "IMF no longer has" headline yesterday the "Express", as an echo to the relief expressed by the government after it capitulated in the face of new conditions for have access to feef. After the European Central Bank, a European economic government. It's about time, meaning one more step for the federal government, without which the EU does not make sense nor can survive.
Portugal is currently between the IMF and feef (the International Monetary Fund and Financial Stabilization Fund).
"Inter Scyllam atque Charybdim" said Virgil in the Aeneid, referring to two mythological monsters guarding a narrow pass through which had to mariners. Avoid being eaten by one, inevitably meant being swallowed by the other and vice versa. It seems that the Portuguese government chose which of the two "monsters" prefer, a choice which is perfectly understandable. Unfortunately, this does not necessarily prevent will actually be picked up by another, as happened to Greece and Ireland. Moreover, the conditions of austerity imposed by the two are equivalent.
Not only in the western part of Iberia was a people that does not let itself be ruled nor to rule, as a Roman general wrote some two thousand years. At this point in history, almost all descendants of the Romans and Romanized, as well as the descendants of the heroes of the Aeneid, need to be saved from the excesses of their own governments. Are the ancient barbarians of northern Europe, with more learning and less rationalism, government rules dictate that all countries of the Euro will have to keep ...
What is the IMF?
What is the IMF? Because it has its American headquarters in the capital? Why do we need to ask for help from the IMF to resolve problems in Europe?
These questions have been repeated so they deserve a simple and concise answer: the IMF is a cooperative world of states, with the main objective of promoting financial and monetary stability, and sustainable economic growth, is in Washington because the United States have the largest share, it resorts to the fund's money when they need because that's what you are a member and pay a financial cooperative shares.
In Washington, the "Federal Triangle" area, are the federal government buildings as well as the White House and Capitol. There are also international organizations like the IMF (International Monetary Fund), World Bank (Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and others. The reasons for this require proximity to remember the leading role in U.S. political and economic relations between states since the end of the last world war.
At war's end, the United States was the only country with a large and dynamic economy growing, albeit distorted due to the war effort. But it was in danger of collapse for several reasons. One was the need to create jobs for demobilized soldiers, as women who had replaced as a productive force had become accustomed to their autonomy and were not willing to return home peacefully. Another was the conversion of productive machine to a peacetime economy. The economy needed more customers and greater purchasing power in the domestic market as well as foreign markets with greater capacity to absorb U.S. exports.
Hence the Bretton Woods conference in 1944, which defined the rules of economic cooperation, reconstruction and development and opening of borders to world trade by reducing import tariffs negotiated. We then created the necessary institutions to regulate the implementation and operation of these agreements, the IMF, the World Bank and GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade).
The scope of responsibilities of these institutions has evolved over time and needs. The "Bretton Woods" sisters ", the Fund and Bank, complement and sometimes covered the same areas for funding development. Also gave rise to legends conspiracy based on small real facts, like the tunnel that connects the original buildings below the 19 th street. The tunnel exists and is very useful even in a climate of extremes, linking the car parks and allow to cross the street with the heat without melting or freezing in the cold, or slipping on ice, or through occasional manifestations of lunatics gullible and misinformed. .. Moreover, the GATT became the WTO / WTO (World Trade Organization).
Along with the Marshall Plan and the creation of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) measures taken at Bretton Woods allowed the rapid recovery of Europe, a long period of peace and prosperity as well as lay the foundations of economic cooperation between countries continued by Community agreements and the establishment of a European union tends federal.
Caged Albatross
The albatross (the largest of sea birds, family Diomedeidae - the companions of Diomedes) Belongs to the endless horizons, the trade winds and the waves of the open blue sea. In the days preceding the discovery of the world, They Were called "birds without feet," Those living in the clouds. They Were part of the ancient mythologies, the imaginary creatures of unknown lands and seas. (Albatross, from Portuguese alcatraz, from Arabic al-Ghattas, sea eagle).
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Woohs stream at http://woohs.blogspot.com taps into many streams of thought and action. Nearby yoga at http://nearyoga.blogspot.com taps into human body movement using yoga techniques and Kundalini meditation. The Wuh Lax site http://wuhlax.blogspot.com focuses on sources and research behind the Wuh Lax series of books. At Togwells Publishing we focus on people's notions of pilgrimage of body, mind, and soul, http://togwells.blogspot.com. Whatever your beliefs, there is no end to motion, just evolution and unrelenting change, seen or unseen. Energy is motion both in reality and calculation. Take time to rest even though all inside you is always moving. Your massive relative pause gives opportunity for other smaller streams to catch up. Take time to meditate so that you can see with your mind what lies within and beyond.
