Job Discussion Forums

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[Guy Courchesne]

I've been waiting to see how Calderon would spin the cuts. Not very good planning to cut UNAM funding for example after the political turmoil of the summer and fall. I'm curious as to the why. PAN seems to want to allocate more resources to other sectors of education and cut in others, with an overall decrease in funding.

Melee, did you read some of the comments on the Milenio opinion page you linked? Interesting polarized perceptions there...

[J Sevigny]

It's interesting how transparent Dave and delacosta's general political viewpoints are in this virtual conversation. Dave looks like, well, a centrist Canadian, and delacosta, like someone who reads a lot of Narconews

I think de la costa's right when he says that AMLO has drawn more than a million to the Zocalo. I remember reading that myself in Publico-Milenio. Whether the numbers were exaggerated by a DF police force that may be PRD friendly, I don't know.

Whatever you think about AMLO and Calderon, I'm happy to see something like Democratic progress happening in Mexico. This is NOT a comment on the legitimacy (or not) of the election but rather on the fact that Calderon is obviously taking up some very AMLO positions in an effort to widen his support, (fighting narcos with soldiers, lowering, if only slightly, the wages of his cabinet members) and that's what Democracy is about.

[MELEE]

Guy,
It's not surprising that a Harvard grad would think people should have to pay for higher education, is it?
It is all the buzz around here because I actually work at a public university that charges tuition. Students sumit a finacial report and are then charged either 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% or 0% tuition depending on that report. They are asked to keep their grades up and do some other "extras" like attend physical education classes, read a novel each month or join a folk dance club, under the threat that if they don't do at least one of these extra things they will have their scholarship lowered a bracket. The upper administration obviously thinks this is a great system and would like to see UNAM adopt it. But many of the profs, who are where they are today thanks for free higher education are very against it. I'm just happy my husband got his two years as a CONOCYTE scholar in before Calderon, who I've head called the first true PAN president, Fox being considered mearly a transition president, got his hands on the budget.

[Guy Courchesne]

Dave? Is that LS's real name?

[ls650]

I assumed he was talking about you. No, Dave's not my real name - not even close.

[J Sevigny]

Should have said Guy, not Dave. All apologies to our favorit adoptive capitalino.

[Guy Courchesne]

Here's the one and only Dave...



Melee, take a look at Calderon's cabinet...stacked with ITESM graduates. I wonder if there's a rivalry at play? Because of that, I'm waiting to hear back from a fairly well-connected economics prof over at ITESM for an opinion.

[delacosta]

Here's a couple of links with the numbers of the July 16 march which wasn't even the biggest of the zocalo gatherings-just to show that I don't 'make things up', both estimating at 1.1 million, the biggest ever in DF.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/362713.html
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2006/07/17/index.php

[Guy Courchesne]

Delacosta, I apologize for saying you make the numbers up. I don't want that to be an issue detracting from the debate. I personally believe the numbers are inflated, based on what I saw here with my own eyes, from other estimates given by international journalists, and on suspicion of a DF government that I feel has abandoned its charge.

What isn't in doubt is that a very large number of people participated in the pro-AMLO, anti-desafuero, and anti-DF and Fed government protests all through 2006.

[J Sevigny]

It just seems to me that UNAM is something not to play with. It's an outstanding school. The idea that "those who can pay, should," seems a little strange.

First, where do you draw the line? You can easily end up with a situation similar to the United States where middle class kids often have the hardest time paying for university.

Second, why shouldn't government money go to make sure citizens receive a top notch education?

I think some of this flap may have to do with the perception, here in conservative Guadalajara, anyway, that UNAM is a bastion of machete-wielding, black-and-yellow liberalism.

[delacosta]

Apology accepted Guy. Call me misinformed, call me a fool if you wish, but don�t call me a liar. If you choose to be uninformed that is up to you but please don�t expect others to keep you abreast of what is out there by demanding proof of what is for the most part, common knowledge. I can understand how those who don�t live in Mexico might not be aware of what�s gong on here but you live in DF.

Most of what I read is from mainstream press, albeit press that is respected in journalistic circles in Mexico, such as Proceso magazine, La Jornada and El Universal. I rarely ever read Narconews, by the way.
We have lots of discussion about these topics amongst profs at the university as well, at least with those who don't prefer to keep their heads in the sand.

What is achieved by deception can only be maintained by deception -my take on the Gandhi quote that follows. The pressure that is being exerted on what little there is of it, the reputable press, by the new government and the outright lies as demonstrated by the absurd commentary on December 1st, in combination with the journalistic malarkey presented by TV Azteca and Televisa serve to prove that Calderon and gang are cognizant of the necessity of a massive and constant misrepresentation of the truth in order to preserve their ill-gotten and hence weak hold on power.

And just in case deception by itself doesn�t work they are hedging their bets with the old standby, brute force. As Gandhi said what is won by force can only be maintained by force-see Oaxaca. The massive display of state strength and its capacity for violence can only be to intimidate and cower the nation into submission.

The new regime knows exactly what they are doing. Their actions, beginning with the pre election treachery, Calderon�s refusal to set things right by recounting the votes and his recent acts which resemble those of a newly installed military dictatorship, hardly speak of anything resembling a democracy.

Where all of this will go,only time will tell. I hope that things dont get out of hand and that violence is avoided.

[Guy Courchesne]

[Samantha]

Delacosta wrote:

[gordogringo]

The border is suffering because of the drug war. We currently have in place here in Tijuana a mayor who's family has been in drug business for 3 generations. There is huge local pressure for him to not run for reelection. Especially since with a family that has decided to gun down any local police that are in thier way. 7 officers killed last month alone including two standing next to a tour bus loaded with day trippers buying tequila and cheap medicine. In the heart of the tourist district. A huge no-no. The border used to have a huge successful nightlife industry. Now people going to the club area eat dinner far from the district and then take a cab right to the door of thier favorite club. The sidewalk sellers get little business after dark.People are afraid to walk out to them or walk from club to club. Hopefully this will all change soon or there will be a revolt.