est. 2007

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A Grassroots Comparison of the Upcoming Elections In USA and Barbados: Facts Versus Fiction

Submitted by Austin In the U.S today: The Republican Party continues to live in there owe “bubble” detached from the many daily realities and struggles of everyday Americans. They are covertly using the fear of a blackbrownasian planet to get poor middle class republicans to fight for rich republicans, against their own middle class self…

, , ,
Submitted by Austin
Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart (l) President Barack Obama

In the U.S today:

The Republican Party continues to live in there owe “bubble” detached from the many daily realities and struggles of everyday Americans. They are covertly using the fear of a blackbrownasian planet to get poor middle class republicans to fight for rich republicans, against their own middle class self interest which is very interesting in itself.

The Republican Party in the U.S remains focused on resisting President Obama at each step of the way whether it helps struggling American families or not.  They are also very focused on distorting the FACTS and TRUTH about President’s Obama accomplishments.  The attacks on President Obama started from day one as he attempted to pull the U.S economy back from the brink of economic ruin due to the poor financial and regulatory oversight of Wall Street a problem created by his predecessor President Bush, not to mention the (2) wars Bush got the U.S into.

Despite of the FACTS and the TRUTH of Obama’s accomplishments, we get to hear the republican talking heads in the media continue to spread pure extra strength propaganda about Obama, and it gets worst every day.  Obama while not perfect in many areas “HAS” accomplished much for the U.S, let’s just list a few of his Economic”accomplishments in the U.S. (visit http://obamaachievements.org/list to see full list )

BROAD POLICY:

  1. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): a $789 billion economic stimulus plan. ref
  2. US auto industry rescue plan
  3. Start-Up activity now higher than it was during the dotcom boom
  4. Created task force to fight deficit
  5. Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009
  6. Temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958

FUNDING:

  1. Increased minority access to capital
  2. $26 billion aid to states package (Aug 2010)

TARGETED ACTIONS:

  1. Raised the small business investment limit to $250,000 through the end of 2009
  2. Created an Advanced Manufacturing Fund to invest in peer-reviewed manufacturing processes
  3. Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act – establishes a Federal “Do Not Pay” list
  4. Extended and indexed the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch
  5. Adopted Economic Substance tax doctrine
  6. Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits
  7. Economy grew 5.9% in 4th quarter
  8. U.S. Economy: Manufacturing grew by most since 2004.
  9. U.S. GDP up 3.2% in first quarter.
  10. Consumer spending showed biggest rise in 3 years.
  11. Orders for most durable goods rose
  12. Wholesale inventories and sales rose in March
  13. $26 billion state aid bill triggered a surge of private municipal investment.

Likewise in Barbados today:

The DLP continues to live in there owe unique Caribbean centric “bubble” detached from the realities facing many bajan families on a daily basis.  The DLP came into power with the motto of “we are building a society not just an economic” which when dissected is pure “sweet talk” and “rubbish”. First, to build a society takes money hence our ballooning national debt under the DLP …… in the current DLP provided budget estimates 2012-2013 Barbados revenue was reported as $2,656,139,783 and expenditure as $3,645,859,147 creating an estimated excess of total expenditures over current revenue of $989,719,364.

“HOW DA RAM GOAT CAN THE DLP KEEP SWEET TALKING BAJANS ABOUT BUILDING A SOCIETY”

To be fair the death of former PM David Thompson was a significant blow to the DLP that they CANNOT recover from with the current DLP cabinet, from the  PM down, subsequently it has created a leadership “CRISIS” and “VOID” in Barbados at the highest levels that has yet to be resolved.

The current PM just started talking to Bajans a few months after being criticized publicly for being so disengaged from national discussions, now Bajans are wishing he had stayed disengaged as he has “absolutely nothing TANGIBLE to say, on the core issues facing Bajan families.  What we are still getting from the DLP for 4 years now is the “LETS WAIT AND SEE” approach to our future which is a totally unsatisfactory way to lead a nation.

The current DLP leadership crisis has created a situation where the “school children” (his DLP cabinet) are running around the school yard keeping much noise while the headmaster (PM) is sitting under the bread fruit tree reading “PLATO”.

Interestingly the Republican Party in the U.S and the current DLP “share” their love for the “BUBBLE” detached from the reality of so much.
BU DLP supporters tell me and be specific:

  • Where are the IDEAS coming from the DLP on revenue growth as we are as a nation $989,719,364 in “DEBT”?
  • If the recent “Mooding Report” tell us that Barbados will be downgraded if the recent increase in debt levels is not reversed in the near-to-medium term, so why would the DLP be increasing nation DEBT?
  • Why are we placing more tax burdens on poor and middle class bajan families?
  • Why are we spending millions in failed tourism ideas and concepts for example we opened a new tourist route to Brazil one of the poorest countries in the world, huh?
  • Name the DLP 2008 manifesto promises keep?
  • Why is there poor participation in the DLP established constituency councils?
  • Why is the DLP not focused on both the revenue and spending sides of our fiscal challenges?
  • Where and what is the national economic fiscal strategy?

In closing this submission short and sweet:

It is my hope that the FACTS and TRUTH will set both the Republic Party in the U.S and the DLP in Barbados FREE in their next respective elections.

“busting BOTH bubbles”

With that said, President Obama will WIN a second term, and the BLP will WIN the next general election in Barbados.  If Obama is not re-elected the U.S will be set back 50 years or more by a President Romney.  Likewise if the DLP wins another term Barbados will surely WIN the race the a economic bottom and be unrecognizable to you reading this blog submission.

  1. balance Avatar
    balance

    mr austin i recognize that most black west indians in the usa and the majority of black americans rally around the party of slavery because of the mendicancy politics advocated by the democratic party since the sixties to capture the votes of these marginalised groups but the results of such policies have only served to keep these groups at the bottom end of the social ladder to the benefit of the democratic party. in my view the policies of the dlp in barbados more mirror those of the democratic party of the usa.there is some merit in criticising certain actions of the republican party for they seemed to have lost their way with no light at the end of the tunnel.obama should easily win reelection no matter the extent of the republican criticism. what i cannot understand is why commentators should feel that obama should not be criticised or why lump such criticisms as racial.is obama beyond reproach and aren’t criticisms of adversaries a part of the armoury of democratic institutions.

  2. austin Avatar
    austin

    Respectfully you got a few things a bit wrong.

    1. Obama “can” be critized for many things (who is perfect) BUT and a big BUT based on the FACTS … which is not the case “today” with the majority of the criticism being wages against him.

    2. Some of the social focus of the Barbados DLP does in some ways mirror the US Democratic party, but it not that simply of a comparsion (and very interesting comparision as you start to dig.

    Which is why we BAJANS need to get away from the “my daddy was a DEMS so I a DEM mindset, this form of political and socio-economic thinking is killing us as a nation” …. We need to start voting for WHO is BEST for Barbados PERIOD based on the FACTS and the TRUTH ABOUT NATIONAL AFFAIRS…

    Which is why we all need to vote BLP to end the MADNESS in the next general election.

    I am for who is best for Barbados (.) period

  3. austin Avatar
    austin

    Times are critical and Barbados under the current DLP administration is “falling rapidly behind due to our growing debt”, the DLP should have been more proactive about adressing our fiscal challenges, which require a fair and balance approach that is “independent of partisanship”…

  4. David Avatar
    David

    @Austin

    Some of us who profess to understand American politics know that Obama does not play the tune. You maybe interest in reading what Bill Cosby has to say about the Obama haters…lol.

    http://www.politicususa.com/bill-cosby-obama/

  5. Raw Bake Avatar
    Raw Bake

    Boss Man let me tell you something, the best thing for Barbados right now is a total ban on politicians taking part in the next elections.

    They have proven themselves to be incompetent at leading educated and progressive minded people.

  6. Observing (and questioning) Avatar
    Observing (and questioning)

    @austin
    Ya slip showing badly with this one. Leff out the american comparison where the politics concerned. Bring the facts AND an associated analysis, otherwise you may find yourself in the bubble you speak about.

    Could you please show me why the BLP is best for barbados based on evidence of a) reducing debt, b) increasing revenue and c) pulling the country out of a recession it found itself pulled into and not already in????

    just observing for objectivity.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    Those interestedd can watch the St. Thomas nomination, Mia is currently pelting some lashes in the government:

    http://www.ustream.tv/channel/blplive

  8. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    @David
    Do I hear perceptions and projections of unity, hatchet burying and “all for one???”

  9. David Avatar
    David

    @observing

    The sound is ‘cacophonic’, for the BLP that is …lol..

  10. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    cheese don David. Ya send muh for a dictionary now. lol. Agreed on all counts though 🙂

    Hey, school starts tomorrow for teachers…….wink wink

  11. austin Avatar
    austin

    @ Observing

    Observe this, so feel free to state you positions with FACTS as I try to do in my submissions and responses … just asking question for partisanship sake is wack:

    Poor DLP leadership repeating itself:

    In the early 1990s, the Barbados economy was in absolute shambles,
    declining in 1990 by 3.3 per cent, in 1991 by 3.9 per cent, in 1992 by a
    staggering 5.7 per cent and again in 1993. Investors had no confidence in
    DLP leadership or policies and the economy was shrinking. In fact, when
    that party left office in 1993 real Gross Domestic Product stood at $790
    million, just $3 million more than the $787 million of 1985; the country had
    stagnated under the Dems.

    By contrast, between 1994 and 2007, under the Owen Arthur Government,
    Barbados recorded only one year of negative growth and that was in 2001
    when the world suffered the 9/11 shock of the terrorist attack on the US.
    The contrasts between the first four years of the 1990s and the past four
    years are even more striking. Real GDP growth under the BLP exceeded four per cent every year except in 2003 when the growth recorded was two per BLP’s policies have led to sustained growth in the tourism and services
    sectors, which in turn generated significant foreign exchange. The BLP has
    created 30,500 jobs when we needed them.

    in closing:

    The BLP was not perfect but they fough the right fights and had accomplishment in tuff times …. The current DLP administration is taking a totally opposite “reactionary” “wait and see” approach to all our challengs which has to END…

    Barbados deserved better leadership than we are getting fron tghe DLP FACT.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @Austin

    The contraction in the economy for the period you cite was at the time of the Oil Crisis. When the BLP regained power, Sandiford had rolled the pitch by instituting austerity measures which coincided with the upside of the global economic boom which collapsed in 2007. Just to be balanced.

  13. ! Avatar
    !

    I really though that the BLP monkey had stopped climbing the tree but unfortunately he continues-
    Austin, with the sh**e that you write, we might have to get some more characters like “townman” and “townwoman” to hande the capacity.
    Is this the best that the BLP operatives can do to promote what is clearly the worst set of BLP candidates ever presented to the people of Barbados – C’mon surely”better can be done”.

  14. ! Avatar
    !

    @Austin said:
    “between 1994 and 2007,Barbados recorded only one year of negative growth and that was in 2001 when THE WORLD suffered the 9/11 shock of the terrorist attack on the US.
    Oh Lawd no Austin – you mean that under the BLP when there was a slight shock to the world economy that the Barbados economy suffered-
    Surely therefore, with the worst global recession in near a century that makes 9/ 11 look like a picnic, the Barbados economy should be blooming right? Joker!
    That my friends is the kind of blatant hypocrisy and lies that the BLP with the help of some in the media are pushing everyday- that the WORLD economy does not matter that much yet, still with 9 / 11 the BLP could not manage to get any growth in the Barbados economy that year.
    All who thinkl that the BLP got some magic economic solution and talent – Wake up and stop fooling yourselves,
    The BLP will fool those who allow themselves to be fooled.

  15. ! Avatar
    !

    oh by the way Austin, the man that was advising the Barbados government during the early 1990’s and left “the economy in shambles” according to you is the same man that is your party’s BLP spokesman on economic matters now – de coleader
    Be Careful how you spit in the air, it might just land in your face!
    The BLP will fool those who want to be fooled.

  16. austin Avatar
    austin

    Still a character (!) I see 🙂

  17. ! Avatar
    !

    About Moody’s and increasing debt – The Barbados government has taken a decision that it would not be prudent right now to slash thousands of jobs in the public sector – This could significantly reduce expenditure and make our books look better but it would also affect the same purchasing power in the economy about which the critics are complaining and cause much social ramifications and dislocation.It could also encourage some private sector enterprises which are holding strain to use an excuse to send home even more people.
    The massive public sector wage bill was not built up from 2008. Sir Courtney Blackman said that he warned the BLP government about the political job stacking in the public sector as far back as 2001.His warnings were ignored when back then was the time to make the adjustments.
    To try to eradicate thousands of public sector jobs now is not the answer but greater efficiency, productivity, serious reduction of wastage and duplication, attrition coupled with improvement in our foreign exchange earning sectors.
    Lastly, for those who thought that the rating agencies only recently focussed on Barbados,please remember that
    between 1999 and 2007, in the so-called “great years” of the last administration S & P downgraded Barbados no less than three times, moving the country from a high of AA to A- 1999 and all the way down to BBB+ by 2005 with a negative outlook.
    The BLP will fool those who allow themselves to be fooled.

  18. ac Avatar
    ac

    and austin if you dig deeper you will see all the garbage left at the bottom of the economic barrel by the BLP resurfacing

  19. Observing (and questioning) Avatar
    Observing (and questioning)

    @david
    Thanks for making the point I was going to re. Sandiford rolling the pitch (and getting cuss and voted out for it too). Many BLP “hacks” seem to forget that. Austin, uh gine sleep. I’ll revisit your “facts” early in d morning.

  20. balance Avatar
    balance

    it needs repeating observing. mr sandiford did not roll any wicket. the imf gave mr sandiford certain ultimatums to avoid devaluation which mr sandiford was forced to accept.the austerity measures which would have served to stabilise an economy wrecked by the illconceived policies of mr sandiford were not the brainchild of mr sandiford. matter of fact, mr sandiford did not even have the guts to see the policies through but handed over the finance industry to mr thompson. roll what wicket what

  21. David Avatar
    David

    !balance

    Say what you will Sandiford had options one of which was a devaluation and his administration took the other decisions. ask Arthur and he will agree.

    Here is a question for you: how many countries had to draw down from the IMF Stabilization Program in the 90s?

  22. austin Avatar
    austin

    @!

    That koolaid your mixing i strong boy …:) that propaganda you are attempting to put against the BLP that says that only way to lower national expenditures is by lashing public section jobs is FALSE, a nice DLP “distraction” … and a false point (standby some water for your koolaid coming)

    However …

    There will be pain to get us out of the mess the DLP has us in (FACT), the REAL question is on the backs of who? – poor people, the middle class, or bajan elites (the 1-2% in Barbados just sitting back watching us here on BU, you peddling classic DLP nonsense, and I peddling a better future for Barbados :), who’s only interest is who in government to send the next check too to make sure its not on there back?

  23. Observing (and responding) Avatar
    Observing (and responding)

    @balance
    So are you saying that the decision making leader should never be credited with making the “hard decision” if it didn’t originate with him???

    If that is the case then we’ll open a front for an entire debate on our leadership over the past decades. Talk all you want, that decision started the stabilisation (in your own words) of an economy which was then nurtured, groomed and grown by the next administration (which is the substantive point in the context of this article). We can debate “ill conceived” policies from pre-1991 another time. Point is, the BLP didn’t pull us out of that recession on their own.

    and for balance, the same can also be said of some of the DLP’s successes now…they played on the wicket left by the BLP.

  24. Observing (and questioning) Avatar
    Observing (and questioning)

    @austin
    Ya still aint tell we why the BLP is “best” able to deal with the current situation taken fully in context. Considering the economy, why should I vote for dem bees??

  25. ac Avatar
    ac

    And the BLP also tinkering with the idea of university students having to pay for their education .

  26. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ ac
    I see you back on en route….lemme ask you a question while you at it….how many people will want to pursue a degree from UWI, now in these times..if you not going to find work ….and if you are presently one foot in the grave ..the other in the poor house ..under Stuartie DLP administration ?
    The Backs of the Middle Class broken…remember…is that not what you all wanted ? The demand (will be down) .v.supply ….UWI will downscale..consequence of your lauded administration…You Happy ?

  27. ac Avatar
    ac

    RESTORE and REBUILD in other words Meaning CUT SLASH and BORROW High on the BLP manifesto but in an attempt to hide the TRUTH from the electorate the focus remains on CLICO and alexander and as of late Almond the electorate would never get the TRUTH from OSA a man in his twilight years with a insastiable appetite for becoming PM again

  28. austin Avatar
    austin

    @!

    I am pulling together the FACTS and TRUTH “yet again” about why the BLP is best for barbados in the next election so stand by, gonna do it yet again … as I dont want you to get it twisted, assuming you too are for what is best for Barbados beyong partisanship.

  29. ! Avatar
    !

    @Observing(and questioning)
    You are exactly right- Clyde Mascoll said for years that Owen Arthur never rescued any Barbados economy and that he was not even a good economist. Mascoll’s words,not mine!.Arthur took all the credit while making people beleive that he magically turned around the economy when all the evidence showed that the economic turnaround and trajectory were all looking positive by the time he came to office.
    The Global economy rebounded in the Mid 1990’s and most of the incumbents around during that time reaped the political dividend.Bill Clinton and Tony Blair were reelected beacuse our tading partners were growing.The long and short of it is that the BLP does not possess any superior talent to the DLP.
    That is why Owen Arthur tried so hard to get Donville Inniss and David Estwick to be “included’ in the BLP even though he would never admit it publicly- Remember his denials about Clyde Mascoll but some people still fool themselves that the BLP has some magic formula and magic tourists and cheap oil somewhere that the rest of Barbados aND THE WORLD CANNOT FIND.
    The BLP will fool those who allow themselves to be fooled.

  30. ac Avatar
    ac

    Did any body watched BLP tv last night when OSA hug and kissed Cynthia Forde it brought back memories of JUDAS! about 50 or so people tuned in

  31. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    Why you don’t kiss n kiss n kiss…..your beloved husband..and stop minding other people’s affairs and judases….lol

  32. ac Avatar
    ac

    but onions a picture is worth a thousand words and that picture said it all. even mia was blindsighted. but then again that is OSA way of capturing and cultivating the minds of foolish people

  33. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    @austin
    whistle whistle…still waiting…..

  34. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    i din see the picture….but you like you like nuff kissin…sometimes we become so engrossed and only see what we want to see…unity

  35. balance Avatar
    balance

    OBSERVING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I HOLD NO BRIEF FOR THE BLP BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BEE AND THE DEE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OF BARBADOS IS THAT IF AS YOU SAY THE BLP FOUND A GOOD WICKET, WELL AT LEAST THEY MAINTAINED IT BARRING A FEW QUESTIONABLE CRACKS HERE AND THERE FOR THE USE OF ALL; ON THE OTHER HAND THE DLP MASH UP THE WICKET AND PEOPLE COULD HARDLY PLAY.I REPEAT, MR SANDIFORD DID NOT RESCUE BARBADOS,HE STARTED TO SINK THE SHIP AND ADAMTLY REFUSED TO HEED THE STORM WARNINGS UNTIL LIVES WERE LOST. THAT IS HIS LEGACY AND WITH REGARDS TO SHERBOURNE CONFERENCE CENTRE THAT LIKE GREENLAND TO A LESSER EXTENT CONTINUES TO BE AN ALBATROSS AROUND THE NECK OF THE TAXPAYERS.

  36. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    @balance
    If indeed Sandi started to sink the ship, at least he made the call that plugged the hole. Fair is fair. I don’t think the DLP mashed up the wicket… I just think they didn’t roll it properly even though they had a 7-day weather forecast….and, now that the rain’s still falling, they’re dilly dallying with the quality of the covers needed and the amount of groundsmen that should be in place. As for Sherbourne…that has been indisputably used, highlighted and celebrated as a major conference center in the region (bar Trinidad). Financially rewarding, I don’t know.. but if it is a white elephant, it is one white elephant that has attracted many riders from BOTH parties since it was built.

    History has vindicated Sandi’s “final decisions” as leader. As I said earlier, we can debate his role in the lead up to the need for those decisions, but one discussion at a time.

  37. balance Avatar
    balance

    sandi’s final decisions ( tourist board fiasco/ proroguing parliament) almost led to the destruction of the dlp as an institution had not for the solid grassroots base implanted by the dlp academy of politics and the legacy of the mr barrow to hold on to. its healthy in a democracy where you can have your views and i have mine.

  38. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    @ balance
    You are correct about the political implosion. However, my focus was on the national outcome. We can agree on the good of a healthy democracy. Take care.

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