Message-ID: <199610032343.SAA05827@anditel.andinet.lat.net> Date: Thu, 3 Oct 1996 18:14:11 -0500 From: Reinaldo Vicini <mailto:interext@ANDITEL.ANDINET.LAT.NET> Subject: Intention vs. Reality To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear Santiago, Tom and friends:GENERAL AGREEMENT Societies should be more "collective". That means that inequalities still exist, however, there should be a minimum level, which should be, at least, where everyone has access to basic services, everyone has a job and can provide the basic needs to his/her family.
POSSIBILITIES - Government should be the one who handles that, providing employment and welfare. - Individuals should help others.
REALITY
**The Government is not perfect** In fact, in developing countries is *far* from perfect. The government is not perfect because:
Corruption The officers are not accountable -no hay rendimiento de cuentas, Santiago-, and government contracts, most of the time, are given to the most politically able and resources are lost due to one intermediary: the political party or the government officer.
Lack of managerial skills of government officers Appointed officers in many cases don't have enough managerial skills to handle a managerial post.
Politicians vs. Technical People Officers in most places are appointed because they belong to a particular political group. The share of public posts is defined by presidents and governors using "a milimetric ruler",. which means that everyone has to get their exact share according to their vote share given by last elections. On the other hand, technical people do not have much contact with the field. There is generally, a divorce among administrative government and planning bodies.
Therefore, the government spending is far from efficient. The percentage may vary in some other countries, but I believe that in this country, to execute a project with public funds given to outside contractors would cost 50% more, and directly executed by the government, perhaps 70-80% more than if the same project is executed by a private organization for a private mean.
*The people is not perfect* Yes, as Santiago warns, people first think on theirselves than in other people. If we leave the welfare to the "good will", we would never get anything important accomplish. We have see nthis in the past, perhaps during the times of the French Monarchy. A few rich and the others poor. It is something that perhaps we have grown with all over the world. However, as humans evolve, this is tending to change. Ecology, for instance, is a sign that people are beginning to interest in what is around it. This discussion shows it.
SOLUTION There is a grey area. The point is how close from one point or the other. I guess Santiago and others, like to get close to the government side. I am closer, as Tom and other are, to the people's side. It is important, as Santiago and Tom said, differentiate INTENTION from REALITY. I agree that the government SHOULD be the one to do this work. Unfortunely, REALITY tells us that current government structures in developing countries are INCAPABLE of doing it at the most productive way. And how is that the Government could intervene without affecting us much: REGULATION The Government should devote in this "side of the grey side" to regulate in order to avoid more an increase on inequality. No owning or managing companies. No direct execution. Perhaps concesiones -concessions-, which means that private companies build and charge regulated by the Government to avoid abusing.
Reinaldo Vicini mailto:interext@anditel.andinet.lat.net http://www.colomsat.net.co/rotarios.bogota
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Poema 15 - Fragmento Pablo Neruda 20 Poemas de amor y una cancin desesperada