Politics and Transportation

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Writing doesn't come easy in this country for whatever reason. Whether it's the circumstances, lack of quick access or the momentary feeling of complete apathy, at least it's not because of lack of inspiration. Maybe it's because it feels more personal here. Bringing out the inner anthropologists is a lot more difficult when you're living at home in a completely comfortable environment of equity and peace.

I could talk about the transportation system. How absolutely ridiculous it is to put traffic police on what is pretty much a highway to stop oncoming cars 10 minutes at a time in order to allow people to make illegal u-turns. Or the “metro” which is really just a conventional bus with air con, pre-paid cards and its own bus lane. Normal buses are huge privatized vehicles, decorated in the ghetto fabulous style of a latino gangsta; think tribal decorations, catholic paraphernalia, and ACME cartoons depicted on the tire flaps. I'm not sure I understand why the cartoons. Despite their flashy exterior, their shoddy interior and clouds of black fumes they trail behind them provide a more accurate description of the internal state of affairs.

The elections are coming up. Politicians are going wild. And when I mean wild I don't mean wild with impatience to demonstrate political adeptness or eagerness to relay proposed political agendas to bring this country out the slum of violence and corruption. No I mean colour crazy. Never have I seen such obnoxious and extensive displays of propaganda splashed all over a city in every colour of the rainbow imaginable. A glimpse upwards from the valley reveals not natural beauty of tropical rain forests and jungles, but mug shots of the rich, powerful and corrupt. Rocks, lamp posts, sides of mountains, strategically placed broken down cars are all used to relay the all important message “Vote for me”. The city's vaults would be overflowing with cash if the mayor would only install a tax on roadside propaganda. Did I mention there are about 30 political parties running for the presidency? I'm not even exaggerating. In the end what it all comes down to in order to determine the winner of the presidency is who has the most money to pay for the most propaganda.

Orange is winning at the moment.