Let's talk about official advertising (and exchange rate anorexia)

Let's talk about official advertising (and about an exchange rate anorexia)

If the constituents of the time when the Constitutions, which currently inspire those of the Western world, were drafted, had had a notion of the importance of publicity and understood its irresistible temptation for a politician, they would surely have established all kinds of limitations to the same.

Advertising is for a politician, like drugs for a drug addict, he cannot live without it. In normal times, under a fully current Constitution the Nation is administered by politicians. Hence, it would be impossible, like asking for pears from an elm tree, to ask those same politicians to generate effective self-regulation in advertising matters.

In a Constituent Assembly, since there is a greater possibility of a certain apolitical representation, it would be the almost unique opportunity to introduce the limitations on politicians that civil society believes are necessary.

What limitations can be proposed? Before answering, it would be helpful to illustrate what you want to avoid. The following are just a few examples, although, of course, readers will surely have their own list.

The fact that to “inaugurate” a small "green" space of 12 m2 with some nuances, awnings, chairs, sound equipment, gifts and other promotional material are hired, shows an absolute disrespect for the citizen.

Surely many have observed, when passing through some highway, crews of workers who are actually doing a good job of cleaning and maintaining the road, who, unfortunately, are forced to carry, like a cross, a sign that weighs more than than his work team and that only fulfills a promotional function.

We see throughout the country so many posters that announce, with the name and surname of the official on duty, the fulfillment or supposed fulfillment of duty, of the President, Minister, Governor and Mayor. All these advertisements, surely expensive, only serve to remind us why we are not politicians. Out of simple politeness, we would be embarrassed.

To avoid abuses such as those expressed above, I would love to include in our Constitution, within a chapter entitled "Limitations for officials in the use of advertising", the following articles:

1. Advertising expenditure related to the execution and start-up of any civil work is prohibited, exceeding 1% of the cost of said work.

2. Any public servant is prohibited from using, in relation to any official activity, any adjective intended to give a favorable connotation to the way in which said activity has been carried out.

3. In any activity that can be classified as promotion, advertising or information, and regardless of the origin of the funds for payment, whether public or private, the use of one's own name, photo, or any other element that, directly, can personally identify a public official or a political organization.

To the extent that in our next Constitution we manage to introduce some type of limitation on the shameless self-promotion of the politicians in power, to that same extent we will be able to say that we have achieved a new Constitution, with real possibilities of producing results. Only in this way can we have, at least the hope, that the politicians of the future will have to dedicate themselves to achieving real fruits of their management, instead of spending resources and time trying to sell us imaginary fruits. Does that seem little to you? This alone would almost justify the Constituent Assembly!

Another different matter. [An exchange rate anorexia that can plague a centralized oil-revenues cursed nation] 

A respectful question to Mr. President. Just for my historical archive.

The rate of the bolivar against the dollar should be at 900, but it is at 600. As a result, a hotel, when converting the 40 dollars it obtains from a tourist, receives, instead of Bs. 36,000, only 24,000 and goes bankrupt. If you try to obtain the Bs. 36,000 you must charge 60 dollars, then the tourists go to another destination and you go bankrupt. The disaster affects everyone. Today we read about a small gypsum plant that had to close because it is cheaper to import gypsum from Spain. 

Even postgraduate degrees (the paid ones, not the free ones) are cheaper abroad. It is true that a devaluation, by itself, does not remedy anything, but I believe there is more than enough evidence that anorexia would change if it kills

I have no doubt that if I were responsible for the country's economic policy and had to face uncertainty regarding exchange rates, if I sinned, I would always, always prefer to do so in favor of the national producer and not the foreign one. Since, upon reviewing my files and finding that the first date, on which I got on my knees begging for a greater rate of devaluation, was in July of '98 and since then, I have cried out for it, "so many hundred" times, I know , that they didn't pay attention to me.

Mr. President: Who was it? Who was it that convinced you to continue with Dr. Kevorkian's exchange rate policy? Was it Casas? Was it Natera? Was it the International Monetary Fund? Was it a military man? Was it Kelly? Was it Alfaro? Was it Emeterio? Who was? Don't you remember? - With respect, I recommend you remember - Many others are going to ask you... and very soon.

Translated by Google from an OpEd published June 15, 1999