http://worldmeets.us/images/Guatemala-children-immigration_pic.jpg

Why are these children fleeing Guatemala alone in an effort to reach

the U.S.? Columnist Samuel Pérez-Attias writes simply: the iniquitous

concentration of power in the hands of a few. Sound familiar?

 

 

Breaking Power for the Few and 'Democratizing Liberty' (Prensa Libre, Guatemala)

 

"Many of today's problems arise from the concentration of power and wealth: slow economic growth, social exclusion, migration, violence, media manipulation, impunity, corruption, barriers to competition, and other negative conditions. An economy concentrated in the hands of a few, and democracy captured by the same, becomes a plutocracy (government of the rich). But concentrated power can be broken, democratically or violently."

 

By Samuel Pérez-Attias

                                        http://worldmeets.us/images/Samuel-Perez-Attias_mug.jpg

 

Translated By Acosta Florizul-Perez

 

August 12, 2014

 

Guatemala - Prensa Libre - Original Article (Spanish)

By reading different press reviews one notes an implicit consensus, even among antagonistic ideologies: the fundamental problem of Guatemala is the intergenerational concentration of resources and influence in the hands of a small number of people. In Guatemala there is an aggravating context: Indian women who are born and live in rural areas, as a rule, can expect to live with poverty, exclusion, discrimination, and a level of human development below the global average. I said to a friend who lives in the United States: "Here at least you know that with two jobs a day, and if you tighten your belt, you can live a little better than you could in Guatemala, regardless of whether you're a woman or Indian. Although rare, there are more opportunities than in Guate [Guatemala], and your children receive and education, and now, health care."

 

In Guate, although you work hard, if you are born poor and with certain characteristics (non-male, non-urban and non-Ladino), you are very likely to die destitute, uneducated, and unhealthy - if they don't kill you in your attempt to extricate yourself from poverty. You can work hard, wear yourself out cutting cane or picking coffee, gluing buttons into clothing, or risking your life carrying a shotgun, but emerging from poverty is a long shot. Even worse, with a salary that doesn't cover your minimum expenses for survival (the textile factory pays less than $300 per month, and the basic market basket is $605), and with a state that is incapable of providing for education and public health, these conditions are reproduced in your children.

 

Many of today's problems arise from the concentration of power and wealth: slow economic growth, social exclusion, migration, violence, media manipulation, impunity, corruption, barriers to competition, and other negative conditions. An economy concentrated in the hands of a few, and democracy captured by the same, becomes a plutocracy (government of the rich). But concentrated power can be broken, democratically or violently.

Posted By Worldmeets.US

 

It is possible to peacefully democratize access to opportunity through public services that equip excluded citizens with tools that enable them, through markets, to build their own lives: to undertake or create art, play sports, in other words: "Democratize liberty." That is accomplished through a system of progressive taxation and a fiscally strong and effective state, which arises as a consequence of a responsible citizenry committed to democracy and courageous enough to speak out and act against corruption. 

 

This is where we want Libertarians to explain how their idea of eliminating progressive taxation would break the structural concentration of economic power. In fact, the evidence points to the contrary: direct progressive taxation and efficient public spending reduces inequity, helps improve the distribution of opportunity, and democratizes the economy and access to the elements of production, including human capital, that is, economic opportunities arising from wealth creation o be transferred to the public. Do we want liberty? The let us break concentrated power. That is what this is about.

 

Samperez1@gmail.cOM

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Diario Co Latino, El Salvador: The Undeniable Power of Our Migrant Children
El Periodico, Guatemala: John McCain Bodes Ill for Central Americans
Diario Co Latino, El Salvador: Child Migrants: 'Promises and PR' No Match for Power of 'U.S. Myth'
El Universal, Mexico: The Mass Migration of Children Mexican Authorities 'Missed'
Excelsior, Mexico: Mexico Doing 'Nothing' as Migration Issue Spirals
La Jornada, Mexico: U.S. Republican 'Police Approach' to Crisis of Child Immigration is 'Aberrant'
La Jornada, Mexico: 'Not Since Slavery' Has U.S. Treated People Worse than Undocumented
La Jornada, Mexico: Pirates, Puritans and U.S. Immigration
Trouw, The Netherlands: Left and Right: Equal Opportunity Immigrant Killers
La Jornada, Mexico: Illegal Immigration: Cruelty, Xenophobia and U.S. Business
El Universal, Mexico: Influence-Flush U.S. Latinos Must 'Exploit Unprecedented Moment'
La Jornada, Mexico: Pirates, Puritans and U.S. Immigration
La Jornada, Mexico: Clueless Border Patrol Uses Intelligence to Study Recidivism
La Jornada, Mexico: Undocumented on Edge Before U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
La Jornada, Mexico: Undocumented are Again Caught in U.S. Power Struggle
Excelsior, Mexico: 'Comprehensive' Mexico-U.S. Integration is the Only Answer
La Jornada, Mexico: NAFTA Should Be Reopened to Protect Mexican Workers
La Jornada, Mexico: Mexicans in the U.S.: A Nation Within a Nation
El Universal, Mexico: Lawmakers Condemn Arizona's 'Racist' Anti-Immigrant Law
Diario Co Latino, El Salvador: Europe and U.S. Equally Cruel to Migrant Workers
El Periodico, Guatemala: Obama is Right: U.S. People Need Spanish Lessons!
El País, Spain: Tea Party 'Endangers Health' of American Democracy
El Universal, Mexico: U.S. Conservatives See Writing On Wall: Immigration Reform is Coming
Le Monde, France: U.S. Immigration Plans Set Example French Politicians Should Heed
La Jornada, Mexico: Clueless Border Patrol Uses Intelligence to Study Recidivism
La Jornada, Mexico: Undocumented on Edge Before U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
La Jornada, Mexico: Undocumented are Again Caught in U.S. Power Struggle
Excelsior, Mexico: 'Comprehensive' Mexico-U.S. Integration is the Only Answer
La Jornada, Mexico: NAFTA Should Be Reopened to Protect Mexican Workers

La Jornada, Mexico: Mexicans in the U.S.: A Nation Within a Nation

El Universal, Mexico: Lawmakers Condemn Arizona's 'Racist' Anti-Immigrant Law

Diario Co Latino, El Salvador: Europe and U.S. Equally Cruel to Migrant Workers

El Periodico, Guatemala: Obama is Right: U.S. People Need Spanish Lessons!
El País, Spain: Tea Party 'Endangers Health' of American Democracy

Estadão, Brazil: The Massacre in Arizona: Will America Ever Learn?

News, Switzerland: The Day Hope Was Shot, in America and Europe

Der Spiegel, Germany: Blaming Sarah Palin for Tucson Attack is 'Wrong'

Rheinische Post, Germany: America's 'Intellectual Instigators' of Hatred

Berliner Morgenpost: Mutual Respect: What U.S. Owes Itself, World

Polityka, Poland: America in Anger's Clutches

Salzburger Nachrichten, Austria: Massacre in Tucson: 'A Sad Day for U.S.

Guardian, U.K.: Arizona Shootings: Left, Right at Odds Over Effects of Toxic Politics

TLZ, Germany: America's Hate-Filled Rhetoric 'Unworthy of a Democratic Nation'  

 

 

 

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Posted By Worldmeets.US August 12, 2014, 11:59am