Colombia: Porque lo que no se quiere se mata?
“Hay cosas en la vida
En que no encuentras salida
Y ante tus ojos se cierra el telón
Y tapas la boquilla
Del volcán que se hace lava”
–Shakira
Colombia’s Motto “Libertad y Orden” or “Freedom and Order” seems counter intuitive. Like saying to a bird, “You’re free to fly and sing, but only in a cage and when permitted.” Interestingly, US prides itself in enjoying its “Spirit of the Law” – Freedom of Speech and Assembly. But they as Colombia too must abide by the “Letter of the Law” or ORDER.
U.S. has Freedom of Economy or free to take part in spending what money they have or borrow. But the gap between wealthy and poor is getting larger. Real “Economic Freedom” is reserved for a small percent; be that in a developed or developing country.
Two critical factors influencing the lives and economic standing of Colombians: 1. “Plan Colombia – a tough drug eradication programme partly funded by the US” and 2. World Organizations, Multinational and Transnational companies.
Reportedly, since its inception, Plan Colombia, “has been criticised for destroying other crops cultivated by peasants and funding unrelated military operations…” No surprise US supports Colombia’s “strong defense” as American’s tax dollars for its military is in the billions.
Governments and Military “War Against Drugs” is a joke and would be funny were it not for the thousands of lives killed and imprisoned in the process.
Forced high taxes on the people for military spending is bad enough, but the “prospect of tax hikes on food, utilities and other essentials” is dangerous in an economic crisis as noted in NPR article “Protesters March In Colombia Against Plan To Raise Taxes In Pandemic-Wracked Economy.”
Bad tax timing can incite social unrest. According to Katherin Galindo of the Bogotá consultancy Colombia Risk Analysis, “In fact, it’s rising. The tax bill was the last straw that sent people back into the streets.”
Unlike US borrowing and incurred debt via bank credit cards and “check cashing” locales, developing countries are “assisted” by the World Bank and International Money Fund (IMF). US, on the other hand, has their Treasury easily print dollar bills circulating through their economy in times of crisis (2020 pandemic) or a recession (2008 financial crisis).
Facilitation of currency in North or South America attempts to promote spending where vendors from Multinational and Transnational companies are happy to take “your” money. Well, it’s not really yours if you borrowed it, is it. But they’ll find a way to make you pay it back in tax hikes for food, shelter, and keeping the power on.
If you’re borrowing, chances are there are no jobs because of the pandemic. Galindo says, “When people go to protest, it’s because they feel the government is not [listening] to them and they feel that the government is even worse than the virus.” With nothing to lose, protests can easily lead to revolution.
Galindo’s words resonate with many in the US and around the world as seen by protests against the actions of some who do not value the lives of those they do not want, exemplified by the killing of Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Muslims, Jews…. Amidst truths and lies, the reality is people are dead and dying.
People ignored by their governments left to starve, die, or be killed feel they’re not wanted. Why? Porque para algunos lo que no se quiere se mata.
Fuerza Colombia! Te escuchamos.
“We gotta rock it out and rock it in (hey-yeah)
From Brasilia to Medellin
Buscando un poco de amor”
-Shakira
Source: LyricFind