Latin America General : Corona Carnaval

[Major-Tom]

Hm. Im always skeptical of the PRD simply because they ally with the right instead of the left. *sigh*.In any case there are like 4 parties that are like identical there (PRD, MORENA, LP and MC) so idk. still, what's the problem with AMLO?

Well, he hasn't been the left-wing titan that a lot of people had hoped for, the economy's slumped even before the pandemic, he hasn't done well against the cartels with his reconciliation pleas falling on deaf ears(he even released El Chapo's son in '19 just to placate the Sinaloa cartel, which has grown so powerful that they've organised food relief across the state during the pandemic), and his take on Covid has arguably been worse than Trump's in the US despite some measures being taken on the federal level.

This is spot-on, although it seems many Mexican states are cracking down hard on COVID. I was in Sonora through a large bulk of November, and they were far stricter than they were in the US. Could be state to state, of course.

Overall, AMLO is doing a mediocre job, but I still applaud him for trying and failing, as opposed to not trying whatsoever, like many of his predecessors. His COVID response is dogshit, but his anti-corruption, anti-cartel and anti-oligarchic administration overall beats whatever crap the PRI or PAN would try or would have tried these last few years in Mexico.

Edit: Mexicans seem to agree, his approval vs disapproval is a decisive 64/25.

[Shrillland]

Well, he hasn't been the left-wing titan that a lot of people had hoped for, the economy's slumped even before the pandemic, he hasn't done well against the cartels with his reconciliation pleas falling on deaf ears(he even released El Chapo's son in '19 just to placate the Sinaloa cartel, which has grown so powerful that they've organised food relief across the state during the pandemic), and his take on Covid has arguably been worse than Trump's in the US despite some measures being taken on the federal level.

This is spot-on, although it seems many Mexican states are cracking down hard on COVID. I was in Sonora through a large bulk of November, and they were far stricter than they were in the US. Could be state to state, of course.

Overall, AMLO is doing a mediocre job, but I still applaud him for trying and failing, as opposed to not trying whatsoever, like many of his predecessors. His COVID response is dogshit, but his anti-corruption, anti-cartel and anti-oligarchic administration overall beats whatever crap the PRI or PAN would try or would have tried these last few years in Mexico.

Edit: Mexicans seem to agree, his approval vs disapproval is a decisive 64/25.

Oh, absolutely. He certainly tried his best in those fields, he just wasn't able to succeed.

[Kowani]

Mexico becomes the first Latin American country to start COVID vaccination

[Shrillland]

This is going to be long....

Well, folks, another election is coming up, Ecuador goes to the polls on Sunday, February 7 for the first round of their presidential and congressional elections. It has been a hard four years for Ecuador, and their President, Lenin Moreno, is possibly the most unpopular leader in the Americas. He was elected as part of PAIS Alliance, successor to the far-left Rafael Correa, one of the fathers of ALBA alongside Chavez and Morales. He turned out to be nothing like Correa, preferring centre-left social democracy and accepting IMF-guided austerity measures....measures that nobody else in the entire country backed. His approval rating started to drop, and the effects of the North Dakota oil boom, leading to the decade's oil glut, started slamming Ecuador almost as bad as Venezuela until it the country was up to its eyeballs in debt...and more austerity measures followed.

This all came to a head in 2019 when Moreno announced that government fuel subsidies would be ending...which lead to the price of diesel immediately doubling and unleaded petrol prices rising 30% in a week with more price increases following, leading to shortages of all types of goods as truckers could no longer afford to go anywhere. He also considered merging and privatising certain government businesses, until massive protests forced him to back down and bring the oil subsidies back. Correa, forbidden from coming back to Carondelet Palace under a Moreno-backed constitutional amendment passed in 2018, formed a splinter party, the Union for Hope(UNES) of his old hardliners and nominated Andrés Arauz for the Presidency. Moreno himself, meanwhile, now has an approval rating of 7%....and lost the PAIS Alliance nomination for the Presidency to Assemblywoman Ximena Peña. PAIS is....not expected to get to the second round in April, but UNES is, a sign of how nostalgic many of Moreno's voters are for the days of his predecessor. Amidst all of this, COVID has slammed Ecuador and Moreno hasn't been doing well at handling it. Now, the election is coming with Moreno gone and three candidates likely to take his place.

Before we get to the who's who, a rundown of his it'll go down. The presidential(and vice presidential) vote is a simple two-round process similar to most of South America, either 50%+1 or 40%+10 points above your nearest competitor gives you a round-one win. Anything else goes to a top-two runoff on Sunday, April 11, the same day as the Peruvian election(I'll get to that in February). As for the National Assembly, there are 137 seats up for grabs. 15 are chosen via Sainte-Lague open list PR from a nationwide constituency, 6 are elected via FPTP from the diaspora(two each from US/Canada, the rest of Latin America, and the rest of the world), and the remaining 116 are elected via D'Hondt open list PR with a gender quota of 50% per party list.

As I said, PAIS is not going to make the runoff, so Pena's mention in the top is the only one she'll get despite being the only woman candidate. Here are the three most likely to reach the runoff and their policies(fortunately, the manifestos are easily available).

Union for Hope(UNES) - Andrés Arauz and Carlos Rabascall(Left Wing)

Arauz was educated in both Ecuador and the United States, holding degrees from the University of Michigan and the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences(FLASCO). During Correa's presidency, he served as Coordinating Minister for Knowledge and Human Talent, which was an umbrella ministry that included the education, culture, and science & technology ministries in its portfolio. In 2017, Moreno dissolved the coordinating ministry and made the three departments separate entities again, putting Arauz out of a job. He would found the Dollarisation Observatory, an organisation opposed to Ecuador's dollarisation which took place 20 years ago and call for a return to the Sucre. He was nominated by UNES for the presidency in August of 2020, initially planning for Correa to be his VP. The CNE(Electoral Commission) shot this down because (A), Correa has 29 outstanding corruption charges against him, (B), he can't run for VP since he isn't qualifies to be President anymore, and (C), Correa moved to Belgium and still lives there, disqualifying him further.

In his place, Arauz chose Carlos Rabascall, who was born without one leg as a result of Thalidomide taken before his birth. That hasn't stopped him from becoming a famous face in Ecuador, spending 13 years hosting or appearing on political talk shows on multiple TV networks including TC and Ecuador TV. He left that job in 2017 after refusing to interview Fundamedios(an NGO committed to maintaining a free press in the Andean nations) founder Cesar Ricaurte, after Ricuarte was questioning Ecuador TV's transparency and claiming the government was leaning more into the public broadcaster. He was nominated for VP by UNES in September 2020.

Arauz's main policy goals are right here, and they're much in line with a lot of the other leftist leaders in South America: http://especiales.elcomercio.com/2020/09/presidentes/planes/plan_0.pdf

Arauz is currently polling at about 25% in a close first.

Alianza CREO-PSC - Guillermo Lasso and Alfredo Borrero(Centre-right)

CREO(Creating Opportunities, and the PSC(Social Christian Party) are teaming up for this one with a strong candidate. Guillermo Lasso got his first job at age 15 at the Guayaquil Stock Exchange and has been a constant presence in Ecuador's financial sector for most of the 45 years since then including as president of Banco Guayaquil or its board(Ecuador's third-largest) for 20 years and a stint doing finance for Ecuador's division of Coca-Cola in the 1980s. I say most because he's also a seasoned politician, serving as Governor of Guayas for a year from 1998-99, and in President Jamil Lahuad's cabinet as Super Minister of the Economy(a special post to tackle Ecuador's economic troubles) for a month in 1999. He joined some conservative movements before joining CREO on its inception in 2012. He's ran for president twice already, trounced by Correa in 2013, but only barely losing the 2017 runoff to Moreno 52-48. He's polling almost neck-and-neck with Arauz at the moment at about 22%, so third time could be the charm for him.

At his side, Dr. Alfredo Borrero is his VP. Borrero is a physician who's also Dean of Health Sciences at the University of the Americas, and he's also founder of the non-profit Salvar Vidas(Saving Lives), set up in the early days of the pandemic and raising over $12 million to buy ventilators for hospitals initially in Guayaquil and later nationwide. He's been a supporter of CREO since its founding and a follower of Lasso in particular since his '13 run.

Their 87-page manifesto lays out the entire four years, so here it is(damn thing can't be highlighted and easily translated like Arauz's manifesto): http://especiales.elcomercio.com/2020/09/presidentes/planes/plan_13.pdf

As I said, he's in a close second at 22%.

Pachacutik(MUPP-18) - Yaku Perez and Virna Cedeño(Left Wing With Focus on Indigenous Rights)

Perez is a full-blooded Quechua and has spent his life since 1994 fighting for indigenous and environmental rights. He was elected as a councillor in Cuenca Canton, Azuay, for Pachacutik in 1996, and served for quite a few years. In 2011, he took part in a protest against a mining project that led to him being charged with sabotage and terrorism for blocking the roads. In 2013, he was elected President of ECUARUNARI(Confederation of Peoples of the Quechua Nationailty of Ecuador), Ecuador's main Quechua civil rights group, continuing his activism all the while. He stood for president in the 2017 primaries(which took place in late 2016) but lost to Lourdes Tiban. Also in '17, he became President and General Coordinator of the CAOI(Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organisations). In 2019 provincial elections, Perez was elected Prefect of Azuay(Governor is more or less a figurehead title, the Prefect holds actual power in Ecuadorian Provinces) and carried out a promise to ban plastic bags and encourage the use of bicycles for commuters on top of a reforestation campaign and the creation of a Prefecture of Water for Azuay. He resigned in October 2020 to run for President. Not much can be found about his running mate except that she's a molecular biologist

Here's their manifesto: http://especiales.elcomercio.com/2020/09/presidentes/planes/plan_10.pdf

Perez is currently third with an average of 12%.

So, what's your horse? Do you prefer another candidate? Personally, I got to translate Arauz's manifesto(the only one I could), and I'd much rather have that. Their plans for a "Universal Decent Work" salary for homemakers and caretakes of nature and struggling artists(specifically mentioned in the section) is appealing alone to those of us UBI enthusiasts.

[Fahran]

Mexico becomes the first Latin American country to start COVID vaccination

Good Mexico.

[Kowani]

snip

I'll go through Lasso's manifesto and post the basics.

Mexico becomes the first Latin American country to start COVID vaccination

Good Mexico.

indeed it is
now let's hope distribution goes well...

[Shrillland]

This is going to be long....

Well, folks, another election is coming up, Ecuador goes to the polls on Sunday, February 7 for the first round of their presidential and congressional elections. It has been a hard four years for Ecuador, and their President, Lenin Moreno, is possibly the most unpopular leader in the Americas. He was elected as part of PAIS Alliance, successor to the far-left Rafael Correa, one of the fathers of ALBA alongside Chavez and Morales. He turned out to be nothing like Correa, preferring centre-left social democracy and accepting IMF-guided austerity measures....measures that nobody else in the entire country backed. His approval rating started to drop, and the effects of the North Dakota oil boom, leading to the decade's oil glut, started slamming Ecuador almost as bad as Venezuela until it the country was up to its eyeballs in debt...and more austerity measures followed.

This all came to a head in 2019 when Moreno announced that government fuel subsidies would be ending...which lead to the price of diesel immediately doubling and unleaded petrol prices rising 30% in a week with more price increases following, leading to shortages of all types of goods as truckers could no longer afford to go anywhere. He also considered merging and privatising certain government businesses, until massive protests forced him to back down and bring the oil subsidies back. Correa, forbidden from coming back to Carondelet Palace under a Moreno-backed constitutional amendment passed in 2018, formed a splinter party, the Union for Hope(UNES) of his old hardliners and nominated Andrés Arauz for the Presidency. Moreno himself, meanwhile, now has an approval rating of 7%....and lost the PAIS Alliance nomination for the Presidency to Assemblywoman Ximena Peña. PAIS is....not expected to get to the second round in April, but UNES is, a sign of how nostalgic many of Moreno's voters are for the days of his predecessor. Amidst all of this, COVID has slammed Ecuador and Moreno hasn't been doing well at handling it. Now, the election is coming with Moreno gone and three candidates likely to take his place.

Before we get to the who's who, a rundown of his it'll go down. The presidential(and vice presidential) vote is a simple two-round process similar to most of South America, either 50%+1 or 40%+10 points above your nearest competitor gives you a round-one win. Anything else goes to a top-two runoff on Sunday, April 11, the same day as the Peruvian election(I'll get to that in February). As for the National Assembly, there are 137 seats up for grabs. 15 are chosen via Sainte-Lague open list PR from a nationwide constituency, 6 are elected via FPTP from the diaspora(two each from US/Canada, the rest of Latin America, and the rest of the world), and the remaining 116 are elected via D'Hondt open list PR with a gender quota of 50% per party list.

As I said, PAIS is not going to make the runoff, so Pena's mention in the top is the only one she'll get despite being the only woman candidate. Here are the three most likely to reach the runoff and their policies(fortunately, the manifestos are easily available).

Union for Hope(UNES) - Andrés Arauz and Carlos Rabascall(Left Wing)

Arauz was educated in both Ecuador and the United States, holding degrees from the University of Michigan and the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences(FLASCO). During Correa's presidency, he served as Coordinating Minister for Knowledge and Human Talent, which was an umbrella ministry that included the education, culture, and science & technology ministries in its portfolio. In 2017, Moreno dissolved the coordinating ministry and made the three departments separate entities again, putting Arauz out of a job. He would found the Dollarisation Observatory, an organisation opposed to Ecuador's dollarisation which took place 20 years ago and call for a return to the Sucre. He was nominated by UNES for the presidency in August of 2020, initially planning for Correa to be his VP. The CNE(Electoral Commission) shot this down because (A), Correa has 29 outstanding corruption charges against him, (B), he can't run for VP since he isn't qualifies to be President anymore, and (C), Correa moved to Belgium and still lives there, disqualifying him further.

In his place, Arauz chose Carlos Rabascall, who was born without one leg as a result of Thalidomide taken before his birth. That hasn't stopped him from becoming a famous face in Ecuador, spending 13 years hosting or appearing on political talk shows on multiple TV networks including TC and Ecuador TV. He left that job in 2017 after refusing to interview Fundamedios(an NGO committed to maintaining a free press in the Andean nations) founder Cesar Ricaurte, after Ricuarte was questioning Ecuador TV's transparency and claiming the government was leaning more into the public broadcaster. He was nominated for VP by UNES in September 2020.

Arauz's main policy goals are right here, and they're much in line with a lot of the other leftist leaders in South America: http://especiales.elcomercio.com/2020/09/presidentes/planes/plan_0.pdf

Arauz is currently polling at about 25% in a close first.

Alianza CREO-PSC - Guillermo Lasso and Alfredo Borrero(Centre-right)

CREO(Creating Opportunities, and the PSC(Social Christian Party) are teaming up for this one with a strong candidate. Guillermo Lasso got his first job at age 15 at the Guayaquil Stock Exchange and has been a constant presence in Ecuador's financial sector for most of the 45 years since then including as president of Banco Guayaquil or its board(Ecuador's third-largest) for 20 years and a stint doing finance for Ecuador's division of Coca-Cola in the 1980s. I say most because he's also a seasoned politician, serving as Governor of Guayas for a year from 1998-99, and in President Jamil Lahuad's cabinet as Super Minister of the Economy(a special post to tackle Ecuador's economic troubles) for a month in 1999. He joined some conservative movements before joining CREO on its inception in 2012. He's ran for president twice already, trounced by Correa in 2013, but only barely losing the 2017 runoff to Moreno 52-48. He's polling almost neck-and-neck with Arauz at the moment at about 22%, so third time could be the charm for him.

At his side, Dr. Alfredo Borrero is his VP. Borrero is a physician who's also Dean of Health Sciences at the University of the Americas, and he's also founder of the non-profit Salvar Vidas(Saving Lives), set up in the early days of the pandemic and raising over $12 million to buy ventilators for hospitals initially in Guayaquil and later nationwide. He's been a supporter of CREO since its founding and a follower of Lasso in particular since his '13 run.

Their 87-page manifesto lays out the entire four years, so here it is(damn thing can't be highlighted and easily translated like Arauz's manifesto): http://especiales.elcomercio.com/2020/09/presidentes/planes/plan_13.pdf

As I said, he's in a close second at 22%.

Pachacutik(MUPP-18) - Yaku Perez and Virna Cedeño(Left Wing With Focus on Indigenous Rights)

Perez is a full-blooded Quechua and has spent his life since 1994 fighting for indigenous and environmental rights. He was elected as a councillor in Cuenca Canton, Azuay, for Pachacutik in 1996, and served for quite a few years. In 2011, he took part in a protest against a mining project that led to him being charged with sabotage and terrorism for blocking the roads. In 2013, he was elected President of ECUARUNARI(Confederation of Peoples of the Quechua Nationailty of Ecuador), Ecuador's main Quechua civil rights group, continuing his activism all the while. He stood for president in the 2017 primaries(which took place in late 2016) but lost to Lourdes Tiban. Also in '17, he became President and General Coordinator of the CAOI(Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organisations). In 2019 provincial elections, Perez was elected Prefect of Azuay(Governor is more or less a figurehead title, the Prefect holds actual power in Ecuadorian Provinces) and carried out a promise to ban plastic bags and encourage the use of bicycles for commuters on top of a reforestation campaign and the creation of a Prefecture of Water for Azuay. He resigned in October 2020 to run for President. Not much can be found about his running mate except that she's a molecular biologist

Here's their manifesto: http://especiales.elcomercio.com/2020/09/presidentes/planes/plan_10.pdf

Perez is currently third with an average of 12%.

So, what's your horse? Do you prefer another candidate? Personally, I got to translate Arauz's manifesto(the only one I could), and I'd much rather have that. Their plans for a "Universal Decent Work" salary for homemakers and caretakes of nature and struggling artists(specifically mentioned in the section) is appealing alone to those of us UBI enthusiasts.

I'll go through Lasso's manifesto and post the basics.

Good Mexico.

indeed it is
now let's hope distribution goes well...

If you go through them, you'll see why I prefer Arauz.

[Kowani]

The CREO manifesto:

We believe that the people have fundamental Rights, such as the right to life, the right to work towards a better future, and the right to enjoy the goods honestly earned by that work.

As a consequence, we believe that the government has an obligation to protect those rights.

We believe that Democracy is the best system of government and that its values permit the development of a pluralistic, tolerant society. We believe in the Alternation of Democracy, as a mechanism to avoid the accumulation of power. We believe in representative democracy, in which legitimately elected functionaries should fulfill their mandates with honesty, loyalty to their electors, and responsibility to the country. We believe in Direct Democracy, as the greatest expression of the popular will. And we believe in Participatory Democracy, to promote the constant upwell of new ideas and leaders. We disavow entirely any form of caudillismo, Messiah or Personality-Cult Politics.

We believe in the State of Rights (cultural analogue to the Rule of Law), as a principle that reminds us that the laws should protect citizens from all aggressions, both private and public, and precisely for this, those who govern should submit themselves to the law and act within its limits. We hold that nobody, not even a majority is above the law.

We believe that political ends are only legitimate when they use methods that do not assault the fundamental dignity of persons nor democratic principles.

We believe that Ecuador is a country diverse in both its regions and peoples, and so we propose to respect the different ethnic and cultural realities. We rescue the importance of promoting respect towards the environment and sustainable development.

We believe in a free economy, entrepreneurial and full of opportunities for all.

We believe that material and cultural development comes from the initiative and creativity of people. We believe that Ecuador is a competitive and hard-working country, that should take advantage of worldwide economic development and technological advancement, not isolate itself from these opportunities.

We believe in Solidarity, not solely for its ethical value, but also because it is an expression of the generosity of the Ecuadorians consolidated across time. WE believe that the State has an indelible responsibility to pay attention to and solve the most pressing of needs, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable population. And we believe in the social responsibility of businesses and the people as co-participants in the search for real solutions to the problems of the Ecuadorians.

We believe in the union of all Ecuadorians, without distinction of any kind. We believe that all Ecuadorians are fundamentally brothers, that share a common conscience in the search for better days for all.

The commitment of the CREO Movement is to liberty and prosperity for every Ecuadorian, and to the construction of an Ecuador free from Injustice, Corruption, and Poverty, in which each individual shall be responsible for their own future and we shall all be responsible for the future of our country.

now i'm going to wash my mouth, it tastes like platitude

[Borderlands of Rojava]

The CREO manifesto:

We believe that the people have fundamental Rights, such as the right to life, the right to work towards a better future, and the right to enjoy the goods honestly earned by that work.

As a consequence, we believe that the government has an obligation to protect those rights.

We believe that Democracy is the best system of government and that its values permit the development of a pluralistic, tolerant society. We believe in the Alternation of Democracy, as a mechanism to avoid the accumulation of power. We believe in representative democracy, in which legitimately elected functionaries should fulfill their mandates with honesty, loyalty to their electors, and responsibility to the country. We believe in Direct Democracy, as the greatest expression of the popular will. And we believe in Participatory Democracy, to promote the constant upwell of new ideas and leaders. We disavow entirely any form of caudillismo, Messiah or Personality-Cult Politics.

We believe in the State of Rights (cultural analogue to the Rule of Law), as a principle that reminds us that the laws should protect citizens from all aggressions, both private and public, and precisely for this, those who govern should submit themselves to the law and act within its limits. We hold that nobody, not even a majority is above the law.

We believe that political ends are only legitimate when they use methods that do not assault the fundamental dignity of persons nor democratic principles.

We believe that Ecuador is a country diverse in both its regions and peoples, and so we propose to respect the different ethnic and cultural realities. We rescue the importance of promoting respect towards the environment and sustainable development.

We believe in a free economy, entrepreneurial and full of opportunities for all.

We believe that material and cultural development comes from the initiative and creativity of people. We believe that Ecuador is a competitive and hard-working country, that should take advantage of worldwide economic development and technological advancement, not isolate itself from these opportunities.

We believe in Solidarity, not solely for its ethical value, but also because it is an expression of the generosity of the Ecuadorians consolidated across time. WE believe that the State has an indelible responsibility to pay attention to and solve the most pressing of needs, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable population. And we believe in the social responsibility of businesses and the people as co-participants in the search for real solutions to the problems of the Ecuadorians.

We believe in the union of all Ecuadorians, without distinction of any kind. We believe that all Ecuadorians are fundamentally brothers, that share a common conscience in the search for better days for all.

The commitment of the CREO Movement is to liberty and prosperity for every Ecuadorian, and to the construction of an Ecuador free from Injustice, Corruption, and Poverty, in which each individual shall be responsible for their own future and we shall all be responsible for the future of our country.

now i'm going to wash my mouth, it tastes like platitude

This sounds like a copypasta of the manifesto of every party on earth.

[Shrillland]

The CREO manifesto:

We believe that the people have fundamental Rights, such as the right to life, the right to work towards a better future, and the right to enjoy the goods honestly earned by that work.

As a consequence, we believe that the government has an obligation to protect those rights.

We believe that Democracy is the best system of government and that its values permit the development of a pluralistic, tolerant society. We believe in the Alternation of Democracy, as a mechanism to avoid the accumulation of power. We believe in representative democracy, in which legitimately elected functionaries should fulfill their mandates with honesty, loyalty to their electors, and responsibility to the country. We believe in Direct Democracy, as the greatest expression of the popular will. And we believe in Participatory Democracy, to promote the constant upwell of new ideas and leaders. We disavow entirely any form of caudillismo, Messiah or Personality-Cult Politics.

We believe in the State of Rights (cultural analogue to the Rule of Law), as a principle that reminds us that the laws should protect citizens from all aggressions, both private and public, and precisely for this, those who govern should submit themselves to the law and act within its limits. We hold that nobody, not even a majority is above the law.

We believe that political ends are only legitimate when they use methods that do not assault the fundamental dignity of persons nor democratic principles.

We believe that Ecuador is a country diverse in both its regions and peoples, and so we propose to respect the different ethnic and cultural realities. We rescue the importance of promoting respect towards the environment and sustainable development.

We believe in a free economy, entrepreneurial and full of opportunities for all.

We believe that material and cultural development comes from the initiative and creativity of people. We believe that Ecuador is a competitive and hard-working country, that should take advantage of worldwide economic development and technological advancement, not isolate itself from these opportunities.

We believe in Solidarity, not solely for its ethical value, but also because it is an expression of the generosity of the Ecuadorians consolidated across time. WE believe that the State has an indelible responsibility to pay attention to and solve the most pressing of needs, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable population. And we believe in the social responsibility of businesses and the people as co-participants in the search for real solutions to the problems of the Ecuadorians.

We believe in the union of all Ecuadorians, without distinction of any kind. We believe that all Ecuadorians are fundamentally brothers, that share a common conscience in the search for better days for all.

The commitment of the CREO Movement is to liberty and prosperity for every Ecuadorian, and to the construction of an Ecuador free from Injustice, Corruption, and Poverty, in which each individual shall be responsible for their own future and we shall all be responsible for the future of our country.

now i'm going to wash my mouth, it tastes like platitude

Many thanks. At least UNES has actual tangible policies in theirs.

[Shrillland]

Meanwhile, in the Dumpster Fire of the Americas, the National Assembly voted to extend its term to the end of 2021 to try to keep PSUV from taking over: https://www.yahoo.com/news/venezuelas-opposition-held-congress-extends-211203240.html

[Kowani]

The CREO manifesto:

We believe that the people have fundamental Rights, such as the right to life, the right to work towards a better future, and the right to enjoy the goods honestly earned by that work.

As a consequence, we believe that the government has an obligation to protect those rights.

We believe that Democracy is the best system of government and that its values permit the development of a pluralistic, tolerant society. We believe in the Alternation of Democracy, as a mechanism to avoid the accumulation of power. We believe in representative democracy, in which legitimately elected functionaries should fulfill their mandates with honesty, loyalty to their electors, and responsibility to the country. We believe in Direct Democracy, as the greatest expression of the popular will. And we believe in Participatory Democracy, to promote the constant upwell of new ideas and leaders. We disavow entirely any form of caudillismo, Messiah or Personality-Cult Politics.

We believe in the State of Rights (cultural analogue to the Rule of Law), as a principle that reminds us that the laws should protect citizens from all aggressions, both private and public, and precisely for this, those who govern should submit themselves to the law and act within its limits. We hold that nobody, not even a majority is above the law.

We believe that political ends are only legitimate when they use methods that do not assault the fundamental dignity of persons nor democratic principles.

We believe that Ecuador is a country diverse in both its regions and peoples, and so we propose to respect the different ethnic and cultural realities. We rescue the importance of promoting respect towards the environment and sustainable development.

We believe in a free economy, entrepreneurial and full of opportunities for all.

We believe that material and cultural development comes from the initiative and creativity of people. We believe that Ecuador is a competitive and hard-working country, that should take advantage of worldwide economic development and technological advancement, not isolate itself from these opportunities.

We believe in Solidarity, not solely for its ethical value, but also because it is an expression of the generosity of the Ecuadorians consolidated across time. WE believe that the State has an indelible responsibility to pay attention to and solve the most pressing of needs, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable population. And we believe in the social responsibility of businesses and the people as co-participants in the search for real solutions to the problems of the Ecuadorians.

We believe in the union of all Ecuadorians, without distinction of any kind. We believe that all Ecuadorians are fundamentally brothers, that share a common conscience in the search for better days for all.

The commitment of the CREO Movement is to liberty and prosperity for every Ecuadorian, and to the construction of an Ecuador free from Injustice, Corruption, and Poverty, in which each individual shall be responsible for their own future and we shall all be responsible for the future of our country.

now i'm going to wash my mouth, it tastes like platitude

Many thanks. At least UNES has actual tangible policies in theirs.

That was…not fun

[Anatoliyanskiy]

Meanwhile, in the Dumpster Fire of the Americas, the National Assembly voted to extend its term to the end of 2021 to try to keep PSUV from taking over: https://www.yahoo.com/news/venezuelas-opposition-held-congress-extends-211203240.html

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Chavez would not be proud.

[Fahran]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Chavez would not be proud.

This is Chavez's fault. And I'm really tired of pretending it's not. *dabs*

The man never had a sound economic policy and was never going to be a champion for democratic rights. Maduro is literally carrying his torch and dealing with the consequences of what Chavez did for over a decade.

[Kowani]

Nicaraguan government cracks down on media, NGO's

[Anatoliyanskiy]

Nicaraguan government cracks down on media, NGO's

Yeah Nicaragua is basically just super-auth Venezuela. Or what Venezuela's gonna be like in 5 years or so. They're gonna have a very unfree election in 2021, I expect the SNLF to gain seats.

[Novus America]

On the subject of the corrupt nepotistic kleptocracy in Nicaragua (which definitely has similarities to Venezuela a self proclaimed “socialist” regime that became an exercise in the worst sort of caudillo rule) anyone remember the fake Nicaragua Canal? The ultimate piece of vaporware?

It was quite a big subject for a while. Of course it was never anything more than a combination of propaganda and corruption.

[Kowani]

Bolivia, interestingly, has taken on the Russian vaccine, buying up 5.2 million units, enough for 20% of the population

[Kowani]

Brazil has approved the importation of COVID vaccines, despite not having approved them for use

[Anatoliyanskiy]

Brazil has approved the importation of COVID vaccines, despite not having approved them for use

wait just a god darn second. *remembers Bolsonaro is President* Oh never mind makes sense now.

[Repubblica Fascista Sociale Italiana]

On the subject of the corrupt nepotistic kleptocracy in Nicaragua (which definitely has similarities to Venezuela a self proclaimed “socialist” regime that became an exercise in the worst sort of caudillo rule) anyone remember the fake Nicaragua Canal? The ultimate piece of vaporware?

It was quite a big subject for a while. Of course it was never anything more than a combination of propaganda and corruption.

Latin America is very much a battleground of the most interesting political ideologies, it’s kind of like how Central and Southern Europe was in the interwar period

[Shrillland]

Down in Argentina, farmers are complaining over the government's announcement that all corn exports will be halted through February in an attempt to bring beef and dairy prices down: https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/return-food-protectionism-riling-farmers-000000565.html

[ImperialRussia]

The carnival benefits a ever evolving virus as japans nuclear radiation ever mutates the virus faster

[Baltenstein]

Brazil broke, press to blame, Bolsonaro says.

With state subsidies to fight poverty now ended, Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday said his country is "broke" and he is unable to do anything about it, attributing the crisis to "the press-fueled" coronavirus.

The subsidies which have kept millions of Brazilians from destitution ended as the pandemic, which has killed almost 200,000 people in the country, only worsens.

"Brazil is broke, boss, I cannot do anything," the former army officer said, responding to one of the supporters who greeted him in front of his official residence in the capital Brasilia.

"I wanted to modify the tax reduction table, but there was that press-fueled virus that we have there, that press without any character," Bolsonaro said.

The reform he was referring to was a campaign promise for a raise in the level of tax-exempt income. Bolsonaro attributes the country's economic collapse to lockdown measures pushed by state governors to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite his country's soaring death toll, Bolsonaro saw his popularity rise thanks to emergency aid paid out for nine months to 68 million Brazilians, almost a third of the population.

But those payments ended this month under pressure from markets worried about the country's high deficit and debt.

Marcelo Neri, director of the Center for Social Policies of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), warned Brazil may be "on the edge of a social abyss."

"No matter how strong the president's words are, I see them as a rhetorical argument to politically prepare for cuts in emergency spending and trying to balance public spending," said Andre Perfeito, of investment group Necton.

"The situation is serious," said Perfeito, who noted that "the central problem is not the lack of money, but the lack of a clear plan" in a country that still does not have a start date for vaccinations against Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the number of new infections and deaths continued to climb.

In the last 24 hours, the South American giant logged 1,171 deaths and almost 60,000 new cases, numbers that should skyrocket in the coming weeks due to the massive celebrations that took place over the Christmas and New Year holidays, according to health officials.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2 ... y-is-broke

[Anatoliyanskiy]

Brazil broke, press to blame, Bolsonaro says.

With state subsidies to fight poverty now ended, Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday said his country is "broke" and he is unable to do anything about it, attributing the crisis to "the press-fueled" coronavirus.

The subsidies which have kept millions of Brazilians from destitution ended as the pandemic, which has killed almost 200,000 people in the country, only worsens.

"Brazil is broke, boss, I cannot do anything," the former army officer said, responding to one of the supporters who greeted him in front of his official residence in the capital Brasilia.

"I wanted to modify the tax reduction table, but there was that press-fueled virus that we have there, that press without any character," Bolsonaro said.

The reform he was referring to was a campaign promise for a raise in the level of tax-exempt income. Bolsonaro attributes the country's economic collapse to lockdown measures pushed by state governors to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite his country's soaring death toll, Bolsonaro saw his popularity rise thanks to emergency aid paid out for nine months to 68 million Brazilians, almost a third of the population.

But those payments ended this month under pressure from markets worried about the country's high deficit and debt.

Marcelo Neri, director of the Center for Social Policies of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), warned Brazil may be "on the edge of a social abyss."

"No matter how strong the president's words are, I see them as a rhetorical argument to politically prepare for cuts in emergency spending and trying to balance public spending," said Andre Perfeito, of investment group Necton.

"The situation is serious," said Perfeito, who noted that "the central problem is not the lack of money, but the lack of a clear plan" in a country that still does not have a start date for vaccinations against Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the number of new infections and deaths continued to climb.

In the last 24 hours, the South American giant logged 1,171 deaths and almost 60,000 new cases, numbers that should skyrocket in the coming weeks due to the massive celebrations that took place over the Christmas and New Year holidays, according to health officials.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2 ... y-is-broke

He always blames the press. God that man needs to get out of the presidency stat! He didn't even legitimately win the presidency mind you.