Stupid shit in Medellin

Do we really believe these leftists have integrity? I don't see leftists / socialists really doing anything for the people, while at the same time damaging any progress made on capitalism. I feel for the Colombian people, I really do. At lest with Obama, the poor bought into (and some received) free Obama cell phones! Jejejeje.

[QUOTE=JustTK;2710645]There is a growing solidarity in the region, which can only benefit all. If enough of them can elect presidents with integrity, I think there will be major changes, not just in their relationships with the USA, but opportunites for the people. .[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Gabacho;2710670]Relevent in a good way or a bad way? If the exchange rate goes to 4300 or 4500 that would affect us in a good way. What do you think is going to happen?[/QUOTE]I don't claim to have any special insight in to exch rates. But I imagine there will be a short term negative reaction by the establishment markets to the first left wing president of Colombia, which will be good for the mongering economic forecast. But after the initial resentment passes. Depends how the new party performs. Market shocks tend to pass quite qucikly, I imagine all the new party hope for is stability and support from its major regional and economic allies.

How about you. What do you think?

[QUOTE=JustTK;2710679]I don't claim to have any special insight in to exch rates. But I imagine there will be a short term negative reaction by the establishment markets to the first left wing president of Colombia, which will be good for the mongering economic forecast. But after the initial resentment passes. Depends how the new party performs. Market shocks tend to pass quite qucikly, I imagine all the new party hope for is stability and support from its major regional and economic allies.

How about you. What do you think?[/QUOTE]Well I don't think Colombia will ever be like Venezuela. There's a big difference between a left leaning socialist and a criminal dictator. As far as exchange rates go I'm hoping if he raises taxes and scares away foreign investment it will put the exchange rate more favorable for us. I don't think things will change much on the ground tho. México hasn't changed much since AMLO was elected except for taking cartoon characters of of cereal boxes LOL.

[QUOTE=Villainy;2710607]Seriously? You think a leftist like Petro who believes in alleviating poverty and corruption in Colombia is "like" a military propped up dictator who believes in lining his own pockets and the rest of the population of Venezuela be damned. I don't think they are even remotely similar.[/QUOTE]You are correct. They aren't remotely similar. I think the people who cry the most about the word 'socialist' can't even actually define the term!

I live on a Caribbean Island owned by the Netherlands. We have socialist Helathcare! OMG! We also have more rights, and more freedom than the USA!

There are differences in socialism, democratic socialism and being a 'leftist'.

Nothing much will change in Colombia outside of more candidates running in the future. If anything major changes it won't be until the end of Petro's term when we have the next peaceful transition of power--something today's republicans and the people who cry 'socialist!' the most don't seem to understand since January 6th, 2021 when the 'conservatives' in America tried to stage a coup against the US govt!. That trumpist fascist energy is a far greater threat to freedom and democracy than Petro!

[QUOTE=Gabacho;2710682]Well I don't think Colombia will ever be like Venezuela. As far as exchange rates go I'm hoping if he raises taxes and scares away foreign investment it will put the exchange rate more favorable for us. I don't think things will change much on the ground tho. Mxico hasn't changed much since AMLO was elected.[/QUOTE]The vice president is a black woman too. Not some rich privileged bltch, but a representative of the people. She could also affect life on the streets a lot. Poverty, women's roles. Interesting times. I just hope it all works out well for the poor people here. They have needed this change for decades.

[QUOTE=Gabacho;2710682]Well I don't think Colombia will ever be like Venezuela. There's a big difference between a left leaning socialist and a criminal dictator. As far as exchange rates go I'm hoping if he raises taxes and scares away foreign investment it will put the exchange rate more favorable for us. I don't think things will change much on the ground tho. Mxico hasn't changed much since AMLO was elected except for taking cartoon characters of of cereal boxes LOL.[/QUOTE]Colombia is the 2nd oldest democracy in the western hemisphere.

Colombia remains the longest-standing democracy in Latin America, and its constitution was inspired by the democratic principles of the US Constitution. There is no comparison with Venezuela. Petro isn't the last dictator's bus driver who claims the dead dictator can talk to him. He's just a left of center candidate--like, clearly, the majority in Colombia are.

Petro's campaign is rumored to have been heavily funded by narcos. That is not unusual for Colombian politicians at every level.

[QUOTE=JustTK;2710686]The vice president is a black woman too. Not some rich privileged bltch, but a representative of the people. She could also affect life on the streets a lot. Poverty, women's roles. Interesting times. I just hope it all works out well for the poor people here. They have needed this change for decades.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=JustTK;2710686]The vice president is a black woman too. Not some rich privileged bltch, but a representative of the people. She could also affect life on the streets a lot. Poverty, women's roles. Interesting times. I just hope it all works out well for the poor people here. They have needed this change for decades.[/QUOTE]The ruling class in Columbia is very corrupt and there is extreme wealth inequality. This likely will lead to increased stability over the long term, improve conditions for the poor and reduce crime. Columbia has a history of political violence and there have been large protests that got violent recently. The people are sick of it and that why the leftist won. The other candidate was part of the status quo. And the new guy was the mayor of Bogota and I believe there is still some mongering going on there. So hopefully this will prevent political violence like we have here in the US (Jan 6).

Petro won by a sliver. As I wrote earlier, he is said to have been funded heavily by narcos and right wing interests. During his victory speech tonight he swiftly moved to the center while pandering to the poor masses: "we support capitalism," "we will grow the economy to distribute it," "no more violence."

[QUOTE=AmorPorFavor;2710698]The ruling class in Columbia is very corrupt and there is extreme wealth inequality. This likely will lead to increased stability over the long term, improve conditions for the poor and reduce crime. Columbia has a history of political violence and there have been large protests that got violent recently. The people are sick of it and that why the leftist won. The other candidate was part of the status quo. And the new guy was the mayor of Bogota and I believe there is still some mongering going on there. So hopefully this will prevent political violence like we have here in the US (Jan 6).[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=ColombiaLover;2710675]Do we really believe these leftists have integrity? I don't see leftists / socialists really doing anything for the people, while at the same time damaging any progress made on capitalism. I feel for the Colombian people, I really do. At lest with Obama, the poor bought into (and some received) free Obama cell phones! Jejejeje.[/QUOTE]Nice myth though it has gained a lot of mileage. Lifeline phone subsides started under the Reagan administration. Jejejeje Wink.

[URL]https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers[/URL]

[QUOTE=ColombiaLover;2710675]Do we really believe these leftists have integrity?[/QUOTE]Do you really believe these "rightists" have integrity? Pick a side. Wink.

[QUOTE=Turgid;2710593]Colombia now has a socialist president like Venezuela. Is the US now going to sanction Colombia? What's going to happen to the economy of Colombia?[/QUOTE]How about visit Colombia sometime? There's next to know evidence that you've ever been.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxhZ2gJP4i8&list=PLRHSTehSy9NPdZ-rWiArWGLvr1WlsRzkC[/URL]

[QUOTE=AmorPorFavor;2710698]The ruling class in Columbia is very corrupt and there is extreme wealth inequality. This likely will lead to increased stability over the long term, improve conditions for the poor and reduce crime. Columbia has a history of political violence and there have been large protests that got violent recently. The people are sick of it and that why the leftist won. The other candidate was part of the status quo. And the new guy was the mayor of Bogota and I believe there is still some mongering going on there. So hopefully this will prevent political violence like we have here in the US (Jan 6).[/QUOTE]Some serious lack of objectivity here. Jan 6th was a storm in a teacup. A magnifying glass bein put on it to meet political ends. So transparent to any neutral observer. Colombia has a history of guerilla warfare and drugs and criminal gangs. Leftists may want to share the pie, but the history of Latin America is that there isn't much of a pie to share once they get in. Capital flees, no one invests there, US aid $13 B since 2002 will dry up, and if he implements any of his loonie policies, the peso will plummet and inflation will soar. Not a good recipe to encourage tourism or any other industry. Over 1/2 of Colombian forex comes from Oil / gas, how exactly is that going to be replaced? China might be the big winner here, as this new leader may gravitate that way. Will be interesting. The one good thing is that they too have a congress branch of gov't and that will temper many of Petro excesses.

[QUOTE=JustTK;2710686]The vice president is a black woman too. Not some rich privileged bltch, but a representative of the people. She could also affect life on the streets a lot. Poverty, women's roles. Interesting times. I just hope it all works out well for the poor people here. They have needed this change for decades.[/QUOTE]This change has been coming along though and I think Colombia is on the right path towards prosperity as a country. A lot of it has been actually getting in leaders that realized that if they weren't corrupt, they could actually bring a lot of good to the people. From my very superficial view of their politics, I'm happy Petro won because of his choice in vice presidents. Both candidates chose Afro-Latina women, but Petro chose an activist, someone who has a history in politics. His opponent asked for resumes and picked a professor that has never been in politics, a very odd choice.

As for the metro conversation, I spent a good amount of time on it and didn't have too much of a problem with it. The residents of Medellin take a lot of pride in it and it shows. It's just too fucking crowded at times and that's from someone coming from NYC. Getting out of El Centro any time between 5 PM - 7 PM was a nightmare. After spending time in a hotel in LA 70 and one in Poblado, staying in the Nutti made more sense for me given how much I enjoyed El Centro. I'm leaning towards just staying there when I go back next month.

Anyone know if the construction is still going on in Parque Lleras? Or when it's expected to be completed?

And Osteo, my last comment about phones was that if you're using an eSIM, you can't move that eSIM between phones easily for most providers. A physical SIM can bounce around phones with ease. It's generally not a problem for travelling I expect to run into for travelling.

[QUOTE=GeneHickman;2710724]Some serious lack of objectivity here. Jan 6th was a storm in a teacup. A magnifying glass bein put on it to meet political ends. So transparent to any neutral observer. Colombia has a history of guerilla warfare and drugs and criminal gangs. Leftists may want to share the pie, but the history of Latin America is that there isn't much of a pie to share once they get in. Capital flees, no one invests there, US aid $13 B since 2002 will dry up, and if he implements any of his loonie policies, the peso will plummet and inflation will soar. Not a good recipe to encourage tourism or any other industry. Over 1/2 of Colombian forex comes from Oil / gas, how exactly is that going to be replaced? China might be the big winner here, as this new leader may gravitate that way. Will be interesting. The one good thing is that they too have a congress branch of gov't and that will temper many of Petro excesses.[/QUOTE]You are sooooo neutral, LOL.