Meanwhile ZERO (0) investment in education:

LA VEGA, Dominican Republic.-in the rich province of La Vega, located in the center of the country with a President declared "father of education" by his wife wife and vice presidential candidate of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), thousands of students from 10 schools attend classes in dilapidated ranchetas, with dirt floors, and abandoned farms, without the slightest condition for the security and comfort to ensure a good learning for children.

In Jimayaco the students receive classes in the premises of a "gallera" a cockfighting ring. Teachers and neighbors must remove the furnishings Friday and accommodate them Monday, as Saturday and Sunday there are cock fights conducted there.

The "Lady" is even a bigger lier and more delusional than Lie-onel himself!


http://www.acento.com.do/index.ph....ranchetas-con-piso-de-tierra.html

Borrow. Borrow. Borrow.

Waste. Waste. Waste.

Steal. Steal. Steal.

Repeat cycle as often as is necessary to fill the politicians' pockets.

Ah but the METRO was the priority right LIE-onel!

"Representatives of the parents association explained that the Lyceum, which works since 2006 with 732 students, was built as an annex to the Spain school, but the work presents cracking and they fear the collapse of some areas. This was confirmed by visiting the second floor where high school courses are taught."

published in the conservative pro Lie-onel Listin Diario

http://www.listin.com.do/la-repub....-liceo-Manolo-Tavarez-Justo-si-no

Josean,

You have been missed on several threads concerning Educational matters. We would all like to read your take on Dready's theory on why education in DR is not functioning as it should.

And guess who is responsible according to the Dready? Why los pauperimos de la sociedad dominicana!!! Can you believe that!! I've had to defend your position for almost a full week, so now is the time to take on this vile and noxious lie concerning the true origins of our country's lack of educational achievement.

We await your take on this urgent matter. And my tocayo too in Santiago Juanb is also welcomed.

Words from Mark Twain for Atabey to live by:

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

I see you haven't changed Josean. I thought you interested in the education of the young and dispossessed in our land! Silly me. But there's still time to correct such matters; let's see your posting on the educational threads circulating. It will be interesting to see if all you do is talk hot air, and shy away when confronted with real debate. Or are we to think you agree with Dready's Theory?

Hipocresía?, now I'll have to await your reply on DT to get to that determination.

Let's see......

The only thing of value in your posting "Silly me"

"all you do is talk hot air" I think you have the market cornered on that commodity!

Josean,

Why don't you want to engage in the real debate on education? I mean, you have been tooth and nails on this subject since I arrived on DT over a year ago, and now that several of us are arguing the merits and who's responsible you shy away....no cojone*

What are you sooooooooooooooo afraid of? Don't worry about El Dready, he's toothless.

Time to put up or earn the moniker: Josean The Hypocrite

You are a purple PLD punk that came here to defend Lie-onel like he was the second coming of Christ for Dominicans; espousing all the neo-liberal mumbo-jumbo rhetoric of globalization and modernization that you were fed by FUNGLODE.

Now that Lie-onel's own “actions” speak louder than your distorted pseudo-intellectual arguments, especially after the negative exposure he received via the Wikileaks cables, and the “new world order of neo-liberalism” is being discredited all over the globe, you and the other clapping seals here at DT are running for cover championing education. A save face strategy to try and stay relevant.

When you and your little purple minions here at DT were advertising Lie-onel Fernandez's “Midas Touch” and that he walked on water, many of us here were advocating for education as the primary and fundamental strategy for development of the country must important resources its human capital.

Unfortunately you have arrived at the party too late.

cont

Hypocrisy, I suspect, is something you have more expertise in than most.

So the hypocrite my fiend is the guy you see in the mirror when you brush your teeth once a week, if that!

This is great! Let's finish up the second line soon. This will alleviate traffic and save ourselves billions in vehicle fuel costs.

Is a metro rail system the solution to our cities transportation problems?

by Aseem Rastogi on February 1, 2011

"If we see in totality, there are certain basic problems with the metro system. It is sadly never ever considered together in partnership with the other transport systems like bus, train etc. The reasons for implementing the system though good on paper actually becomes a means to start it at rather than discuss with the general public about implementing such a system.

The environmental sensitivity required while implementing such a project is rarely done with care and concern rather it becomes another activity in the entire list. The metro system in many cities has over-ridden the bus routes. But little or no justification is given for the same. It has also been seen that many a time the metro corridor has become property development routes rather than transportation routes.

continued:

Cities in Europe built metros in the 20th century because they had centralized business districts. Do we?

The cost estimates have escalated over the years with poor revenue collection. All in all the hurried planning of the metro system leaves a lot to be desired.

Until such issues are solved, the educated individual won’t be fooled into believing the happy headlines about Metro carrying millions of passengers every day."

Metro myths

Sujit John

20 October 2011

I remember reading about a survey conducted in the UK several years ago that asked people what they thought of the metro rail. The majority said they want the metro. But the majority wanted it in the hope that everybody else would take the metro, so that roads would be free for them to drive their cars comfortably.

Many in Bangalore today are in celebratory mode. The first stretch, of about 6 kms, of a long-time-in-the-waiting metro rail has been inaugurated. Bangalore is one of the most congested cities in the world. Covering a 6 km distance in peak traffic time could in certain stretches take 40 minutes to an hour. And you might spend another half hour looking for a parking spot.

So Bangalore’s desperate citizens naturally hope that the metro will provide relief. History of metro rails around much of the world, and Bangalore’s specific circumstances suggest it will do nothing of the kind.

continued:

Now, consider the history of metro rails around the world. Most cities with such systems are still struggling with road congestion. A friend from Kolkata tells me the roads remain as congested as ever, despite the metro. London, with one of the earliest such systems, had to impose a steep congestion charge in the city centre a few years ago in order to bring some traffic control. The simple fact is, most people are loathe to give up the comfort of their cars to get into public transport.

What the metro really does is to substantially increase a city’s capacity to absorb more people. The positive side of that is for industry. It makes more labour available to industry, and keeps labour costs under control. And this indeed may have an overall salutary impact on the economy.

continue:

"But for the quality of life of the urban citizen, the metro will at best have a marginal impact. Because over time, a lot more people will come into the city and take up both the road space and the metro space. (Those who hold up Singapore as an example of a great system should realize that the city-state can control the number of people coming into it; and it strictly controls the number of cars purchased)."

Read thefull article at:

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Tech-a-tete/entry/metro-myths

Josean advises homo erectus

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

it is not a matter of thinking he is a fool. that is certified information.

"Cities in Europe built metros in the 20th century because they had centralized business districts. Do we?"

Good point - Santo Domingo has no central core and has poor land use planning so people build where they like. Hence you need a PT network that provides routes to multiple destinations - i.e a bus network. Very little thought is given to new developemnt and transport impacts - look at all those new shopping malls with thousands of car parking spaces - how will they reduce congestion. Where are the links to public transport.?

"They deplore borrowing for second line of the subway construction"

"Around five new loans in the multiple of 100s of millions of dollars have made for the construction of the second line of the Metro, while the civil society deplores such borrowings, as they understand priority must be given to areas such as education, health and housing."

http://www.noticiassin.com/2011/1....truccion-segunda-linea-del-metro/

"Now, consider the history of metro rails around the world. Most cities with such systems are still struggling with road congestion. A friend from Kolkata tells me the roads remain as congested as ever, despite the metro."

Alright, then, Josean. Explain to me what you think is the best solution to congested streets.
What exactly, is the best alternative to a metro system?
Please spell it out to me in simple words so that I can fully understand what you're saying. OK? Thanks.

Josean,

The problem with you and those who support your position regarding LF is that you are in deep denial as to the happenings of this world.

When LF came into power he did so on the back of an arrangement made possible by the old two Cuadillos, Juan Bosch and Balaguer. Thus his mandate was from the get go conditioned upon this historical understanding that conveniently deprived P. Gomez his Presidential victory.

LF's first turn at the bat was in my opinion a rather successful one and saw the national debt of DR reduced by close to 300 million dollars! DR was coming from a long and bitter era of post-Trujillo rule by Balaguer that had not solved fundamentally the modernization process. Yes, there were some half-measures, but in the crucial overall picture, Balaguer failed miserably in moving forward the modernization, both politically and economically, of the DR. And even when the PRD moved into power, they too failed to bring about a sustained and pragmatic

overall plan to bring about the modernization of the DR. Corruption and political machinations largely took over and the people of DR paid the price once again during this period. Their failure was so complete that an aged Balaguer was able to manage yet again! to take over the reigns of power. Such was the PRD debacle.

So when LF came into the picture he was and still is a break from the old and tired trend we in DR have so often endured. Again, LF is no saint nor was he ever to be thought of as such. He was, however, a break from the old ways. Fundamentally, a political figure bent on moving the DR into modernity however difficult and zit-zag the process given the playing field he inherited.

NO politician comes into office with a clean slate unhindered by prior commitments. And LF's
tenure has had to maneuver over these and other sensibilities. Has he done so perfectly? No. Has he been better than Balaguer and the PRD, I think so.

And the reasons I do have basically to do with political realities and not taking notions that are way out in left field: what indeed were/are the possibilities for DR during the period in question, middle 1990s-present?

The Neo-Liberal model was the only game in town for DR. DR had no other viable alternative. Again, getting the internal arrangements or sensibilities to coalesce around the new model has not been a smooth and easy process. First you had the defeat of LF's man, to me a rather poor populist backlash largely motivated by the illiberal and political naivety of the largely unsophisticated populace. The Hippo was far better at manipulating the old and strong currents of the Entitlement Mentality, largely built up during DR recent historical era. Trujillo, Balaguer and the PRD were fundamental in creating and sustaining this arrangement that has so crippled our modernization and development.

So what to do in this in-hospital terrain?

I think that largely stemming from his Party's re-election defeat, LF took a page out of that political tradition and has gone about using some of its undercurrents to fashion a plan, that while not totally a refutation of the old system, still is fundamentally a break from the prior organization and sensitivities of the old regime. And in so doing LF has been able to 'manage' his way across the sensibilities of the terrain. Does this mean he is unfit to lead or that he made the wrong choices? History will judge him better than you think Josean. Sometimes half a loaf is better that a full loaf.

Remember, before LF came into power DR was fundamentally a waste land. Where were the real statistical and other modern systems of organization? Was there a National Educational System in place with dedicated fiscal obligations to meet the demands for educating the population? What about the dismal transportation system? The perennial unmet problems: electricity, potable water

sanitation, health, housing, etc.?

With such an enormous task before any politician, could we honestly say that given our countries' massive needs and limited near term capacities to pay for all that was needed, that his terms in office have, historically speaking, been the object failure you and others present here on DT?

That's how I view matters concerning LF. Have I been somewhat favorable in my assessment of his terms, yes in general I've been. But remember I do so based on the relative scale of DR history not some sueños de Hadas tales of a Messiah.

As for the Neo-Liberal model it would behoove you to read about the coming changes in European economic help, "EU changing its development strategy" by David Jessop.

DR needs to open its economy and strive to export more becoming a more integrated part of the world economy. Check also, the recent IMF report on conditions in Latin America.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/reo/2011/whd/eng/pdf/wreo1011.pdf

On a positive note you will be happy to know that DR now has surpassed Jamaica in GNP, PPP, with (US) 8, 740 dollars versus 8, 620 per head in Jamaica. This is the first time DR has registered a higher figure.

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/reo/2011/whd/eng/pdf/wreo1011.pdf

And can check for this and many other statistical summations in the IMF's report above, pages 70 and 71 have the stats.

The poverty rates are also rather interesting, too! It appears that DR is not as bad as we all are led to believe.

"Good point - Santo Domingo has no central core and has poor land use planning so people build where they like. Hence you need a PT network that provides routes to multiple destinations - i.e a bus network. Very little thought is given to new developemnt and transport impacts - look at all those new shopping malls with thousands of car parking spaces - how will they reduce congestion. Where are the links to public transport.?" -DomLon

Yes, a good point. But let's see if the actual Metro System precludes in any fashion the development of such above ground connection linkage? I don't think it does, do you? I mean why would it, if the bus routes can be fashioned to meet the needs of the Metro System clientele? Yes, you might say, but why haven't they been connected? Well, this is the second Metro line we're talking about, not a full system yet! If after building the system, these linkages are not instituted, then Josean has a strong-AND I WOULD AGREE WITH HIM-point.

Atabey reminds me that

Written by: Atabey, 26 Nov 2011 11:33 AM
From: United States
On a positive note you will be happy to know that DR now has surpassed Jamaica in GNP, PPP, with (US) 8, 740 dollars versus 8, 620 per head in Jamaica. This is the first time DR has registered a higher figure.

sadly, he has not surpassed the dodo bird in the level of his ¨intellect¨.

Dready,

Take me up on not making this personal, let's have the FACTS speak for themselves. OK.

I provided sources, not family connected ones, BTW, but sources, IMF and others. Counter them as best you can. Leave the personal out of it.

you are the one who started making things personal, remember?

let the facts speak for themselves, he says. you should have thought about that when you started this nonsense. it all started when i said that there is no uniquely Dominican Tourism model. an adult would have either agreed, or disagreed along the lines of

A.. explaining what the Dominican model is, and showing how it is unique to this country. if my observations serve me correctly, the preponderant proportion of the industry is based on the all inclusive motif, which was developed for the area by the ISSA brothers, of Sandals fame.

B. you could have disputed the assertion that the Issa brothers were the originators of the model in this area of the world

instead, the little infant in you reared its ugly head, and you chose to make this personal. really does not bother me one bit. the Issa brothers still develeloped the model, and the DR copied it. no ifs, ands, or buts. put that in your pipe, smoke it, and go to bed with a headache.

You made it personal Dread. Go and check the posts. It was you who went ballistic, not I. And for the record, that commotion you made about me being in on some of your posts and Josean being removed was a total fabrication on your part. You had no right to say such things without prove. And none was to be found since I had no part in that episode.

But you took it as some betrayal and have consistently been at my ankles trying to asunder me into your morass.

But as I've said, let's allow the stats to speak for us and the sources. Not the unsupported musings of either party. Let's see if you can stand that heat.

stand the heat? you bring heat, Atabey. i bring light.

says the man who is rapidly descending into a state of mental meltdown

And for the record, that commotion you made about me being in on some of your posts and Josean being removed was a total fabrication on your part

who said anything about Josean being removed? removed from what? show me the quote, or i will just have to conclude that you are LYING, yet again. then again, what else is new?

by the way, i see that the eternal infant in you could not wait to start your little feud with Josean, all over again. right now, i would say that he is kicking your raggedy ass, from pillar, to post. beware of what you wish for..you just might get it.

Look Dready you appear mentally challenged beyond repair. I was referring to the early, almost 1 year ago, on-goings! Dude, where are you in space and time?

"Well, I think that largely stemming from his re-election defeat, LF took a page"

Dread,

I feel I must be in early stages Alzheimer lately.

When was Lie-onel defeated in his reelection? I thought Miguel Vargas lost?

His party! PLD!

"Alright, then, Josean. Explain to me what you think is the best solution to congested streets.
What exactly, is the best alternative to a metro system?
Please spell it out to me in simple words so that I can fully understand what you're saying. OK? Thanks"


Ron,

I see you are member 8,712 and recently joined on15 August 2011. I am member 76 and joined13 December 2007, 8:56 AM although I was posting even before DT wet to this format. I brings this up not to pull rank or any such silly thing but rather to make the point that I have been posting for quite a while and my main point of attack, ad nauseam to most, has been the crazy wasteful non priority spending on the METRO to nowhere; Nowhere used as metaphorical definition for its lack of benefit rather than a geographic destination.

continued:

So what I mean to say is that I have written, most assuredly poorly but sincerely on many occasions on the alternatives to the METRO and decongestion. If you truly care to know my humble, simplistic views and proposals I suggest you try to look up those posting.

If you have difficulty let me know and from time to time I will try to look them up and or write new suggestions on decongestion, referencing various new urban planning strategies that are being marketed at the moment, which I think hold promise.

Ron,

Here is BLAST from the PAST;

Read the two comments, not mine but similar in sentiment

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/....e-construction-to-start-next-week

Josean, regarding the re-election defeat of Leonel. we are hearing from Atabey here. the guy with no information, whatsoever. he claims to have an advanced degree in history, but he cannot even remember the goings on in his own country, in the last 10 years. then he has the nerve to question what other people know.

says the chimpanzee brain

Written by: Atabey, 26 Nov 2011 9:26 PM
From: United States
Look Dready you appear mentally challenged beyond repair. I was referring to the early, almost 1 year ago, on-goings! Dude, where are you in space and time?

find it, in thearchives, and show it to me. do like i do. when i need a reference, i look it up. you just LIE, then hide behind some fifth grade wisecrack. as to space and time: can you tell us the time when Leonel lost the re-election bid?

Written by: Atabey, 26 Nov 2011 11:13 PM
From: United States
His party! PLD!

dread,

I am sure you are familiar with the Spanish phrase "La Ignorancia es Atrevida" o como dice por las calles ¡“La ignorancia no es atrevida, quienes son atrevidos son los ignorantes!”

"So what I mean to say is that I have written, most assuredly poorly but sincerely on many occasions on the alternatives to the METRO and decongestion.
If you have difficulty let me know and from time to time I will try to look them up and or write new suggestions on decongestion, referencing various new urban planning strategies that are being marketed at the moment, which I think hold promise."

Yes, please, Josean.! Since you've been posting in DT for much, much longer than I have, There's no question you must know more than I, in this matter, and must have an insider take on what the best alternative is, or could have been, for this metro.
I'd be extremely grateful, if you could let me in on stuff that I might have overlooked.
I eagerly await to read what your "new urban-planning strategies", might be.
I thank you so much, in advance, sir!

error

RonEvane

" Githersburg," Maryland


Ron,

I thoght it was Gaithersburg, Maryland you sure you know where you live?


Yes, please, Josean.! Since you've been posting in DT for much, much longer than I have, "THERE'S NO QUESTION YOU MUST KNOW MORE THAN I", in this matter, and must have an insider take on what the best alternative is, or could have been, for this metro.

Ron,

I never said that "I know more than you" or any one else. I said that I have suggested alternatives in my past posting on many occasions. I hope your quest for my views is sincere and not a poorly vailed attempt at mockery or ridicule.

As you can see by my posting I am, rightly or wrongly, a straight forward person and don't engage in subterfuge nonsense. Life is too short to pretend to be something we are not. If you think I am full of excrement tell me, but don’t play games; I would respect you more for being honest.

Continued:

If I am mistaken about your purpose, accept my apologies in advance.

Here are few inexpensive ideas that can be considered from a tropical island enviorment.

"Tweaking Traffic with Technology"


http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2002/01/TweakingTraffic.html

Possible future for Santo Domingo?

Drivers are taxed to shore up poorly perfroming light rail system.

http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/b....while-metro-delivers-less-service

Fighting Traffic Congestion with Information Technology

We now have the technical means to "solve" congestion. But do we have the political will?


http://www.issues.org/19.1/wachs.htm

" I see you are member 8,712 and recently joined on15 August 2011. I am member 76 and joined13 December 2007, 8:56 AM although I was posting even before DT wet to this format. I brings this up not to pull rank or any such silly thing but rather to make the point that I have been posting for quite a while."

Yes, you're right! You've been posting for a long time! Well, then, let me ask you, though. How old are you?Are you older than I? I'm 62. Does my age make me smarter or wiser than you? I don't think so!
Does it say say I'm superior, in any way, because of it? I don't think so! Do you think I know what I'm talking about? Not always... Logic says: Hear what the other say; conceive his meaning; deduce his point; and try to grasp his overall meaning. Talk or learn. What do you want? I choose the latter. And you?

" Githersburg," Maryland
I thoght it was Gaithersburg, Maryland you sure you know where you live?

Sir, I don't know where you live, but unless you live in "Githersburg", You couldn't possibly know the right spelling of my home town.
It is silly to try to gain the upper hand and make me look stupid by tweaking my profile. It goes to show the kind of person you are: A dishonest one.
Henceforth, I will not deal with you at all, in any way.

File this one under: "Figures don’t lie but liars figure!"

Wikileaks

US highlights the high cost and lack of transparency in the SD Metro

The US embassy in DR reviewed the battle fought by the journalist Luis Eduardo Lora (Huchi) so the OPRET would hand over documents relating to the subway, which the Government was refusing to surrender, also they highlight the work of Juan Bolivar Diaz in exposing the high cost of the work and the lack of transparency with which it has developed.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic.-A cable of the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo dated May 16, 2007, sent to the State Department in Washington, argues that President Leonel Fernandez and his technicians were not sincere in terms of costs of construction of the Santo Domingo Metro.

continued:

Cable, numbered 001166, projected the metro would begin to operate in the year 2008, stating the real expenditure and financing of Metro would be at least $1,290 million, nearly triple the informal initial estimate, and more than double the figure of US$ 550 President Fernández was using just prior to wining the primary elections in the PLD on May 6.

http://www.acento.com.do/index.ph....nsparencia-en-el-Metro-de-SD.html

fukcing morons!!!!!!!!