CUBA ES UNA ESCUELA

 

Publicado por El Nuevo Herald el 28 de Marzo, 2013

Cuba, la Perla de las Antillas, no sólo es un país que se destaca por la belleza de sus playas y paisajes, por la candidéz de su gente o la hermosura de sus mujeres. Cuba también es una escuela multidisciplinaria, donde sus habitantes se graduan en dos Universidades; en la Universidad de la vida y en una Universidad Académica Marxista.

Al principio de los 60' , el éxodo Cubano estaba conformado en su mayoría por profesionales y empresarios exitosos en muchas ramas; Médicos, Ingenieros, Escritores, Periodistas, Artistas y Deportistas de fama mundial vinieron a radicarse principalmente en la ciudad de Miami, contribuyendo con su pericia y talento al desarrollo cosmopolita de la ciudad. Empresarios Azucareros, Licoreros, Bodegueros, Radiodifusores y Teleproductores entre otros, aportaron su experiencioa y capital en la apertura de nuevos negocios generadores de empleos.

Con el transcurrir de los años y la consolidación en Cuba de un régimen comunista, la educación académica fué centralizada, la propiedad privada eliminada y las libertaddes individuales coartadas, entre ellas la libertad de expresión y las artes plásticas.

Todos estos acontecimientos a su vez, produjeron profundos cambios en la sociedad Cubana. La escasez y racionamiento de alimentos y combustibles, la falta de oportunidades de trabajo, el mísero ingreso mensual, la dificultad para obtener moneda extranjera, la negativa de acceso a la internet y el control en las salidas del país, entre otros, son aspectos fundamentales que han intervenido en la formación de la nueva sociedad Cubana.

En términos realistas, muchos cubanos creyentes Católicos en sus casas, han tenido que aplaudir discursos o asistir a reuniones políticas a pesar de estar en desacuerdo, so pena de recibir represalias o quedar sin empleo. Esta dura lección los ha llevado a ser obedientes en su futura vida laboral.

Muchos ciudadanos ante la falta de empleo, se las ingenian para tener ingresos. Algunos crian animales en cautiverios clandestinos, venden huevos a domicilio o reparan zapatos o colchones. Llegan a tener clientela fija y conforman los embriones del futuro emprendedor, una vez en libertad.

Otros en sus casas, con mucho sacrificio, logran acondicionar una habitación en su vivienda a fin de alquilarla a turistas. Algunos, a través de los famoosos cambios conocidos como 'permutas' logran tener varias propiedades registradas bajo otros nombres, siempre con el propósito de rentarlas. Estos no son mas que los futuros empresarios hoteleros en tierras de libertad.

Hay un sector de la población que trabaja en gastronomía turística. Estos servidores públicos devengan un mínimo ingreso mensual. Muchas veces ese trago especial que no se vende en el restaurant o ese plato exquisito que no se lee en el menú, son ofrecidos por los meseros, quienes obtienen previamente la mercancía por ellos mismos a fin de complacer a esos comensales. Ellos son los futuros dueños de restaurantes en una Economía de Mercado.

En las exposiciones de arte, pintura o esculturas, todo tiene su precio y nada puede ser alegórico en contra del régimen. Sin embargo, ese artista, calladamente puede ofrecer su trabajo en privado. Ese es el futuro galerista cuando libremente compita en el mercado.

En Cuba el Boxeo y la Pelota siempre han sido una tradición. La inclinación natural del Cubano hacia estos deportes, hace que se formen en las calles prcticando a diario los mismos. La lucha para adquirir fama y tener beneficios que otros no tienen, hace que la competencia por destacarse en esos deportes sea feroz. Ellos son, ni mas ni menos, que futuras estrellas en tierras de libertad.

Por supuesto, así como el Cubano se ha visto en la necesidad de superarse aprendiendo cosas buenas, también ha aprendido cosas malas. Por ejemplo, se han abierto investigaciones en EE.UU. por sospecharse que el régimen comunista en Cuba ha dictado clases a elegidos para obtener provecho del sistema de salud norteamericano, el cuál se ha visto estafado en millones de dólares por individuos que han tranferido dichas cantidades a Cuba.

En el Sur de La Florida, siempre se ha comentado que “el mejor mecánico es el Cubano”. Parece una exageración. Sin embargo, cuando vemos esos carros de los 40' y 50' aún rodando en Cuba, nos preguntamos, ¿ Y como lo hacen ? Es que el Ingenio del Cubano parece haberse agudizado antes una crisis de mas de 50 años. Por ello es mejor que les hayan dado recientemente la libre salida de Cuba. Si no el Cubano seguiría buscando las mil y una formas de escapar de allí, como lo hicieron hace unos años los famosos 'camionautas' quienes convirtieron un camión en lancha y lograron arribar a las costas de Miami.

Sin lugar a dudas, Cuba es una escuela. Y como en toda escuela, se aprende lo bueno y lo malo. Quedémonos con lo bueno, cambiémos al los malévolos directores de la escuela y sigamos siendo un ejemplo de superación para el mundo.

BENJAMIN F DeYURRE

Economista y Periodista

LAS MAQUINAS DE VOTACION VENEZOLANAS

 

Publicado por LOS TIEMPOS Newspaper en Febrero 2013

Venezuela parece un pais bendecido por Dios y la naturaleza. Inmensas riquezas silvestres representadas por la abundancia de aluminio, hierro, diamantes, oro y petróleo. Una envidiable condición climática que hace innecesario el uso de aire acondicionado en la mayor parte del país. Extraordinarios paisajes naturales que permiten elegir entre exhuberantes playas, caudalosos ríos, montañas nevadas, llanuras extendidas y fenomenales saltos de agua. Sin embargo, Venezuela, aparte de ser famosa por sus espectaculares mujeres y por ser el cuarto pais mayor productor de petróleo en el mundo, desde hace doce años es conocida también como una nación en la cuál el partido gobernante de izquierda ha permanecido en el poder trás la realización de numerosas elecciones.

Después que el Presidente Hugo Chávez fué elegido en 1998, todas las sucesivas elecciones y plesbicitos posteriores fueron realizados con tecnología digital, supuestamente más eficaz y segura que el método de votación manual previamente utilizado.

En el año 2004 el Presidente Chávez enfrentó un referendum para decidir su continuidad como jefe de Estado. Para conducir este referendum, el gobierno contrató los servicios de la novata empresa Smartmatic, quién para llevar a cabo este proceso tuvo que adquirir de la empresa Italiana Olivetti unas máquinas electrónicas previamente utilizadas para vender boletos de lotería. El gobierno Venezolano, a través del Fondo de Crédito Industrial, con anterioridad a esta contratación había adquirido el 28% de las acciones de Bizta Corp., que venía atravesando por serios problemas financieros pero era filial de Smartmatic. Para elaborar este jugoso contrato valorado en $91 millones, la hija del entonces Vice-Presidente de la República José Vicente Rangel notarizó la sociedad entre Smartmatic, Bizta Corp. y CANTV, la compañía estatal de teléfonos de Venezuela.

Cuando comenzó el conteo de los votos de ese Referendum, la firma de New York, Penn, Shoen & Berland Associates mostraban una derrota de Chávez 59% a 41%. Sin embargo, cuando vino el conteo final, el resultado fué 58% a 42% a favor de Chávez. Los únicos dos miembros opositores a Chávez en el Consejo Nacional Electoral Venezolano eran Sobeya Mejias y Ezequiel Zamora. Todavía están frescas las imagenes en TV cuando estos opositores protestaron energicamente porque se les prohibió la entrada al recinto de totalización de los votos, que es donde se hace el conteo final. Esto equivale a hacer una rifa y luego en solitario escoger al ganador de la misma.

Yá en una posición solvente y con la experiencia de la votación en ese Referendum, en Marzo del 2005, Smartmatic adquirió Sequoia Voting System con base en Oakland, California, la cuál tenía equipos de votación en 17 estados de EE.UU. y en Washington D.C.

El sistema de Sequoia Voting System fué utilizado en una elección primaria en el condado de Cook, Illinois, Chicago, en Marzo del 2006. Esto degeneró en un verdadero caos cuando en el cómputo de los sufragios, los votos tuvieron que ser recontados varias veces manualmente.

Recientemente Sequoia Voting Systems fué adquirida por Dominion Voting Systems. La programación de Sequoia fué utlizadada en una votación municipal en Marzo del 2012 en la villa Wellington del condado de Palm Beach, Florida. Dos concejales ganaron sus asientos. Sin embargo, en una auditoría posterior se determinó que habían perdido. El resultado de esas elecciones fué oficialmente sancionado por la corte después de un conteo manual y público de los votos.

Tal vez con objeto de minimizar el exceso de controversias en los venideros comicios de Venezuela, sería factible la contratación de un cuerpo experimentado de Ingenieros, ajenos al proceso, que certifiquen la confiabilidad del sistema, como ocurrió en EE.UU. en el año 2007, cuando el Secretario del Estado de California contrató a 36 Ingenieros de computación para un proyecto de investigación sobre las máquinas de votación. Matt Blaze, profesor de la Universidad de Pennsylvania lideró el equipo que investigó el sistema de Sequoia. Un ingeniero bien entrenado puede descifrar 100 líneas del código en una hora. El código de Sequoia tiene más de 800.000 líneas y está escrito en 10 lenguajes de programación diferentes. Tomaría más de un año leerlo, si no está mal escrito.

David Dill, profesor de computación de la Universidad de Stanford opina que “un código secreto como el de Sequoia Voting Systems es una forma de esconder errores”

Del 2004 al 2006, Smartmatic facturó $500 millones y contrató 17.000 empleados. Actualmente su tecnología también es utilizada en las elecciones Bolivianas y en la cedulación Mexicana.

BENJAMIN F. DeYURRE

Economista y Periodista

LET US RAISE THE DEBT CEILING

 

Published by El Nuevo Herald on January 18, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 If you say this month you owe $ 5,000 for your home, obviously you'll want to pay this amount to avoid losing it. However, if you don't have the money in hand, then you become creative and ask the bank to let you pay only the interest for three months until get that money.  After three months you do not have the money and the bank threaten to take away your house.  But you have a brilliant solution.

 

 As the total value of your home is $ 100,000 and you could not pay the monthly $ 5,000 for the last three months, you ask the bank to make a new loan for $ 115,000 to replace the previous $ 100,000.  The bank barely accepts, but requires you to pay higher monthly interest on your new loan. As you have no other solution, you take the deal even though your salary this year will be lower.

 

 Because now your income has dropped, next year you face the same situation. This time you ask the bank for a new loan for $ 130,000.  As your salary is decreasing and increasing your expenses, you have two alternatives: either you manage to increase your income or bank takes your house.

This hypothetical situation is very similar to the current debt of $ 16.4 trillion facing the great American nation, with one exception: over 90% of homeowners seeking to refinance your loan with any of the major U.S. banks, simply do not qualify.  And the reason is that usually the owners want to lower your monthly payment and the banks do not want to cut their collection, so they are opposing positions.

 

 In the case of the U.S. debt ceiling, there is no choice but to raise it to avoid falling into the debt default  . And to default, it would suffice to stop paying interest for about $ 38 billion that will accrue from February 15, 2013 and March 15, 2013.  Of course, for that period are expected about $ 277 billion in revenue to federal coffers in taxes mostly. In other words, there will be enough money to pay the interest, Social Security and the military salaries, but public spending from $ 452 billion will have to be controlled to avoid  raise too much the debt ceiling.

 

 Traditionally and for many years, the intrinsic behavior of the U.S. economy has been debtor, such as report the New York Times in 1981: "Although the  routine increase in the debt ceiling has been essential to meet public obligations, the vote in Congress has been delayed up to eleven hours, always with the opposition party demanding the party in power cuts in current spending. "

 

Of course, the most important thing now is to prevent a return to downgrade U.S. credit, which would further increase the interest that the country would have to pay.  Also financial markets could react adversely by the loss of consumer confidence, if not reached to raise the debt ceiling.

Logically, continued growing spending and declining limited income  lead to  inevitable bankruptcy.  So, there is no choice but to prioritize spending and increase income.

 

How do we increase revenue?  Intensifying domestic manufacturing, making return to U.S. domestic factories.  How do we reduce spending?  Hiring immigrant labor already established in the U.S., who accrue bonds instead of regular pay to compensate the national payroll for relocated factories now in the U.S.

 

!!! Let us raise the debt ceiling !!!

 

 Benjamin F. DeYurre

Economist and Journalist 

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WHERE ARE THE PUBLIC ASYLUMS ?

Benjamín F. Benjamin F. DeYurre DeYurre

    Published by El Nuevo Herald on December 28, 2012

In light of the recent slaughter of children in Connecticut, we ask what is the role of the national government in the prevention and treatment of mental illness.

 

In the U.S. there are excellent private psychiatric hospitals like McLean Hospital in Massachusetts and the Menninger Clinic in Texas.  But what are the government asylums?

 

 

 

 Perhaps the last known was St Elizabeths Hospital in Washington DC, on whose lands run from May 2013 the central command of the National Guard.

 

 The St Elizabeths Hospital, founded in 1855, came to own 100 buildings and treat more than 125,000 patients, including Richard Lawrence, who tried to kill President Andrew Jackson, and John Hinckley Jr., who shot President Ronald Reagan.

 

 Now we wonder: where are served the mentally unbalanced without financial resources?  The answer seems inconceivable: in jail.  For example, in Florida, 1,200 jail beds of Miami-Dade County are occupied by prisoners with serious mental problems and so this organism can be considered the largest mental health center in the state.

 

 The problem is that usually the Public Psychiatry confuses the terms when attending cases such as substance abuse, homeless, AIDS patients and extremely poor minority. Perhaps for this reason, private psychiatric hospitals received only 38% of public funds in 1988, compared with 62% of private funds, including insurance.

 

 Of course, in definition of  psychiatric diagnosis the doubts persist, as was established with Rosenhan experiment performed in 1972. The psychologist David Rosenhan began sending healthy patients to 12 mental hospitals, individuals masquerading as psychotic. All were admitted and diagnosed with mental illness. Even when fake patients argued feel good, hospitals refused to release them.

As we see, a true psychiatric diagnosis is not easy. The really important thing would be to find "a priori" patients with potential to threaten the lives of others or their own.

 

If we do not want to see other massacres, like Arizona, where he was wounded Congresswoman Gabby Gifford, the Columbine, the Virginia Tech or this horrendous massacre of children in Connecticut, we have to implement emergency measures. . And among them, surely, must be the creation of a federal mechanism led by the FBI, which issue permits to carry weapons after approval of a psychiatric examination specially designed to detect potential murderers. This is just one of many economic measures we can take to protect the innocent from many deranged swarming our streets.

Lets Go !!!!

 

BENJAMIN F. DeYURRE

Economist and Journalist

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CHANCE AND HORSES

 

 

Published by El Nuevo Herald on November 28, 2012

 

 

When it comes to gambling, many immediately think of the lottery and casinos, which effects come to be not only a promising game, but also a form of entertainment for adults. However, there are other forms of entertainment where the game is also present and the odds of winning are much higher. Particularly, the races are a prime example that illustrates this statement.
While the chances of hitting the Florida Lotto are one in more than 22 million in horse racing are one among only twelve competitors. That is, if just twelve horses run, only one will win unless there is a tie, in which case there are two winners. More contrast is the Power Ball, which has a chance to win the grand prize, chosen from a total of 175 million possibilities.

 

In addition, in horse racing coinciding a number of factors absent in the lottery. For example, while the chances of hitting the lottery in 99% depend on luck, in the races the jockey, the trainer, the track conditions and the blood of horses are involved in making betting decisions. Unquestionably chance is important, but knowledge is helpful.

The economic crisis that has plagued the country in recent years has affected the racehorses industry. The proliferation of gaming crowd who have come to compete in this sector has decreased the volume of betting on horses.

The three racetracks to compete in the Great Miami, along with greyhound racing and Jai Alai, have accepted the proposed installation of casinos on their land to supplement their income. The historic racetrack Hialeah Park, hopes to complete by mid next year the launch of a thousand slot machines Vegas style, as part of an initial investment of $ 1,000 million to revitalize all areas adjacent to the racetrack, impacting the city of Hialeah by creating 8,000 direct and indirect jobs.

 

For the same economic crisis, the number of horses produced has decreased. This has affected the public spectacle of horseracing, with few specimens entered in each competition. For this reason, the state of Florida should re-regulate horse racing. In this way each racecourse will have its operating fixed dates. Thus, Gulfstream Park, Calder Race Course and Hialeah Park will enjoy their respective seasons, with all customers and the same horse universe, rotating for each racetrack.

 

This regulation is not only in the interest of all parties but in the creation and maintenance of jobs in each area and in the spectacle itself of horse racing.
 

BENJAMIN F. DeYURRE 

Economist and Journalist.

BRAMAN FACTOR: Oracle of Miami

 

Published by "Los Tiempos" Newspaper on August 2012

 

 

 

 

With a fortune estimated at $ 1,500 million, a son of immigrant Jews of 79 years called Norman Braman, has been for the last 30 years the city of Miami financial guardian and in truth, it is hard to find an economical, political and social recipe where this factor is not involved.

 

Nominated by President Ronald Reagan as commissioner of immigration in 1981, whose candidacy later withdrew, Braman has never exercised public positions. In 1994 the Governor of Maryland designated November 1 as the day of Norman Braman. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Braman granted an award for having contributed to bringing Art Basel to Miami, an event that is currently considered as the most important art fair in the U.S. and among the most prominent in the world.

 

Braman, after a successful business career in Philadelphia where he became owner of the Philadelphia Eagles Football franchise, was established in Miami in 1975 within the field of car sales reaching 23 agencies and having a large collection of art. Despite his personal success, Norman Braman to achieved greater notoriety for its vertical position in the management of public funds and everything that affects the prosperity of Greater Miami.

 

In 1982 he led a campaign against a movement that sought to finance, with a tax increase, the remodeling of the Orange Bowl Stadium. Finally, Mr. Joe Robbie built his Dolphin Stadium with their own resources. In 1999, he once again opposed to an increase in the sales tax supposedly intended to improve public transport. Three years later, with the same purpose, Mayor Alex Penelas sought intervention Braman not to carry ballot boxes half-cent increase this time, which ultimately was approved from 7% to 7.5% we know today. In 2008, Braman opposes a massive reconstruction plan of downtown Miami in the amount of $ 3,000 million. It also rejects the construction of a tunnel from I-395 to the Port of Miami for $ 1,000 million on the grounds that according to the law "Florida Sunshine-In Government Act", any early recruitment should be subject to a prior public announcement. A circuit judge rejected this argument and now the construction of the tunnel advances expected that the work is completed in May 2014. In 2011, Braman finance a successful campaign to oust Mayor of Miami-Dade Carlos Alvarez for his proposal to increase property taxes.

 

Currently Norman Braman's crusade is against the mega-casino to be built in Miami. He has attended several media interviews on the Anglo-Saxons and Spanish radio, reporting which highlights irrefutable statistics that dethrone Miami to Las Vegas as the gambling mecca but also acquire all negative numbers as are national records in foreclosures, unemployment and crime. In addition, plans to create an "American Riviera" in South Beach would be affected by this mega-casino. It is true that the French Riviera is very close to the Casino de Monte Carlo. But the 'Charm' of this small but stately casino proposed differs radically from Miami.

 

Not everything is pink for Norman Braman. In December 2008 he was the victim of the Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Bernard Madoff. Like many banks, institutions and individuals, Braman lost a considerable fortune in the largest financial scam in U.S.

 

Norman Braman, defined as "a fiscal conservative but a social liberal as" is having a battle  still pending. For fans of Baseball, Braman's opposition to the construction of the Marlins Stadium was painful.

 

If something negative should occur, making the Stadium in another 'white elephant' of the city, fulfilling the predictions of Mr. Norman Braman, will probably be called from then on 'The Oracle of Miami'

 

BENJAMIN F. DeYURRE

 

Economist and journalist.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN EE.UU.

Published by "Los Tiempos" Newspaper, Julio 2012

One of the most important features that stand out in a down economy is a high rate of unemployment.

 

In recent months the rate has averaged 8.2% in the United States. However, for those aged between 20 and 24 years, that rate increases to 13.3%, which could be interpreted as an inability of the economy to absorb the young workforce recently joined the labor market. Obviously, if this trend continues, it could exacerbate unemployment in this segment which contrasts with ages between 45 and 54 years where unemployment is only 6.2%. From a demographic standpoint, this sector "aged" is the most productive and consequently is the largest generator of wealth. In other words, "old people is still supporting young ones"

There are two main reasons for the persistence of this sector "aged", medical advances that have extended the life of the worker thereby decreasing their mortality rate, and slowness of economy to create new jobs in the United States. Other factors are also involved. Very few new domestic manufacturing are establishing in USA due to comparative advantages, since is much more convenient to open factories in China and other Asian countries or in Mexico and other Latin countries.

Particularly in China, the wage gap is huge because in this country, hopefully, the employee earns the equivalent of a dollar an hour job.

Now comes the most interesting problems. We live in a market society where obviously the  entrepreneur seeks to maximize its profit. In this respect and because of freedom guaranteed by our system, the employer is free to build where he likes. But, who gives work to the U.S. labor force?

The army of pizza makers and gardeners are also filled.

If you pays to cut your lawn for your home or for pizza delivery, people who receive the money, are receiving an income but are not generating wealth. If you open a shoe factory, will need to buy the equipment and supplies, hire employees, bank loans and export handling if necessary. Around a factory, always set a series of wealth-generating activities. Therefore, it is necessary to manufacture in the U.S. This is important to arouse the interest of the businessmans, giving them wage and tax offset to be able to compete with foreign markets.

 

 

BENJAMIN F. DeYURRE

Economist and Journalist