HE TALKS BUT DOES NOTHING | DICE PERO NO HACE NADA

By Oscar Antezana:

President Paz recently stated that one of the main factors behind the persistent fuel shortage is the “endemic illness” within YPFB’s structure.

Mr. President, you knew about the situation, and if it is still an endemic problem, it is because you allow it, because YPFB, like the entire state apparatus, is full of MAS party members. Don’t complain—do something. We are all waiting. It is your responsibility, isn’t it? Weren’t you elected for that? Or will we only get announcements until the end of your term?

An endemic illness of the country is running a demagogic and deceptive electoral campaign, recruiting people with pending legal cases and individuals who are utterly ignorant of what legislating actually means.

An endemic illness is that presidents lack the courage to solve the country’s problems—the very problems they were elected to address.

An endemic illness is failing to make decisions for the good of the country and instead putting one’s political future first.

An endemic illness is being shortsighted and failing to realize that the only way to ensure a permanent flow of dollars into the economy is by exporting more.

An endemic illness is resorting to the easiest option: cutting government spending without reducing the deficit, while relying on loans from other countries and debt from international organizations.

An endemic illness is not understanding that money is the greatest coward—it flees uncertainty, instability, lack of confidence, the absence of clear and lasting rules, lack of transparency… and it flees the COB, the Ponchos Rojos, and other similar groups.

An endemic illness is failing to enforce the law equally for everyone and not arresting those who have outstanding warrants. (And the Minister says they do not have the civic courage to turn themselves in—the pot calling the kettle black.)

An endemic illness is the arrogance of presidents who believe they know everything and can do everything, refusing to accept help from others.

An endemic illness is awarding themselves honors they do not deserve; an endemic illness is not caring in the slightest as long as they can boast to outsiders that they possess Bolivia’s highest decoration; an endemic illness is the poor example they set; an endemic illness is speaking without acting consistently.

An endemic illness is that presidents and public officials pay no attention to educating the population about liberal democracy and how it functions in practice.

An endemic illness of this government is its inability to solve the problem of poor-quality gasoline.

An endemic illness of this government is that fuel shortages will continue as long as there are no dollars—and there are none because they do nothing to promote exports, while stubbornly refusing to admit their mistakes and arrogantly refusing to recognize that they have no alternative but to turn to the International Monetary Fund.

An endemic illness of this government is talking and talking, announcing and announcing.

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