Thoughts

Recently I have been thinking about how things are going in my life. Mainly how things have been changing and how I view what it's happening.

One of the things I've come to realize, is how I prefer to move on the public transportation system rather that in a car. I find the former to be far more convenient way for move around the city, specially since most of the time I'm by myself. And when I do go with someone else, the places where we go have easy access to public transport.

Not only it's easier, it's also considerable cheaper than a car. There is a $150 pesos average difference per week, which is pretty much for me.

Also, I've found myself downtown Cuernavaca or at Tepoztlán most of my time. To be honest, I'd move to Tepoztlán if I could. There a few things I enjoy about living where I'm currently living at, but I don't feel as comfortable as I used to be.

There are a lot of things I've got to think about. I want to change a lot of things I want to change in my life, but at the same time there are a lot to consider. Life it's not easy, but I really don't expect it to be.

Challenges are part of life, and I do enjoy facing them; even though sometimes I get frustrated by them. But at the end, who I am is the result of the challenges I've faced so far.

Tepoztlán

The more I visit Tepoztlán the more I like the town.

It's really calm, but at the same time it has all what's to be expected from modern life. And it's close enough to Cuernavaca and Mexico City to make the trip in one day if there is the need.

I do see me living here quite comfortable, and I'd love to be able in the short term.

To be honest, I never imagined that I'd be passing so much of my time at Tepoztlán. Let alone getting to know it as well as I've in the last year. Guess that one of my mayor objectives now is being able to move here soon.

Succees

I don't really understand how comes that for many people the idea for someone else has to take advantage of them in order to succeed.

It's hard to grasp that the success of others can actually be beneficial to everyone?

Even if it's not beneficial for you, it doesn't mean that it has to be detrimental. Not everyone who succeed does it at the expense of someone else. We need to get rid of the idea that success comes along when you act in a way that hurts the interest of society.

Lesson wasn't learned

It seems that the municipal government of Cuernavaca hasn't learned it's lesson about listening to the people. And the people hasn't learn to negotiate when it's voice it's heard.

What I find most frustrating is that Mexican society doesn't seem to be able to make it's arguments heard without affecting the rights of others. I mean, they expect to step on the rights of others, and still have them supporting them. And when the affected party denies said support, everyone acts surprised.

It seems that people believe that they don't have to respect anyone's rights, but everyone else have to respect theirs. Of course, if we want to move forward as a community, it doesn't quite work that way.

We need to stop blaming others for what happens, and stop thinking that any change will be bad. Up to this moment, I haven't seen anyone asking for details or analyzing what's been proposed before saying that it can't be done. It seems that no is the default answer to any proposal that comes, it doesn't matter who, or how, the proposal comes along.

Instead of moving to the future, while living in the present, many want to live in the past. For me, that's the best way to die a slow death.

Bad moves

Just when politicians seem to have gotten what people want from them, they just have to get out of their way and prove the thought wrong.

Last week the tax on houses was brought to last year levels, after it increased up to more than a 100% in some cases. Of course, everyone was happy about that. But, when those who already paid went to get the amount they paid extra where confronted with several things meant to make it difficult to do. From only opening one cash register, to being told to come some other day because there wasn't enough money.

To make matters worse, this week the city was filled with propaganda by the political party PRI, on how the municipal president was with the people by bringing the tax down.

It's just sad to see how they try to deceive the us so badly. Do they actually believe that no one would see trough it?

To be honest, the president has been doing some great things for the city. But, at the end it's disappointing to loose faith in him by this mistakes.

Open source

I really like the idea of open source software. I do believe that it's the best way to drive innovation and healthy collaboration.

But lately, I've been wondering if the philosophy of FOSS can be applied to government. In essence, it would help to make government a lot more open, and could encourage the community at large to participate much more. And, since it would make it all more transparent, it could help individuals within the society to choose in what they want to help to build a better government.

The way government is run now, it's a pretty closed system. Which is bad, since it power springs from the people it governs. So, for the benefit of the people, it should be easier to help, make use, and make the government officials accountable for their actions.

As a society, we should push for a kind of government that is easier to participate in. I don't believe there should be a reason why one should be part of a political party to run for office, or why getting information about how it work should be so complicated to get.

The rules now, make it easy to anyone at the government to dodge any claim that any part of the society makes just because they don't like it, or it isn't politically convenient at the moment. That is urgent to change.

There are good signs that some people are making progress, but more need to be done. And more importantly, more people need to get involved.

System overhaul

The more I see how the current political players at state level can regain the trust from the electorate without a mayor overhaul, but sadly I don't see said overhaul happening.

The three mayor parties seem to be blinding themselves to the fact that they are losing the support from the majority of the society. The leaders seem to automatically dismiss the fact that the population is dissatisfied with how they are representing us at all levels of government, and forget that their power comes from us.

What I find worst, is that elected officials tend to heed more readily what ever line is given to them by the political party, than the given by the people they represent or govern.

More often than not, the line given by the political parties doesn't match needs or wants of the population. Which only brings anger and resentment toward the both, the party and the official. This has been going for so long, that it has generated a high level of distrust and apathy on society.

It seems that even when people wants the system to change, more often than not we don't believe that it can be done.

To be honest, I have seen some signs that society seems to be flexing it's muscle to make changes happen. One example is with the tax on property at Cuernavaca, where the authorities are being made to back paddle the excessive hike on this tax. Granted, the battle hasn't been won yet, but no authority can actually dismiss the protests easily.

If this works, it gives me hope that the change the political system need in Mexico will come sooner than later. It might be a little thing, but we have to start somewhere.

Ubuntu

It has been almost 6 months since I started using Ubuntu as my primary OS.

During this time, I've come to really like and enjoy using. I've found it really reliable and easy to use. It covers all my needs, and has all what I look for on the software side.

I just go back to Windows when I've no way around it, which it isn't that often.

I had been thinking about using a Linux distribution for quite a while now, but until I got my current laptop I had some problems getting it to work. Finally, when Ubuntu 10.04 came out, I was able to get a fully work. And now, I don't want, or will, go back to Windows.

Pressing for change

Even though there has been progress in the levels of civil participation I've seen at Morelos, there is a room for a lot of improvement.

On the society side, there is the need to make an effort to educate people that they have the right to express they opinions and demand they right in any form that doesn't affect the rights of the rest.

We all have the right to use the streets to as a forum to make our opinions and needs know, but not the right to take them hostage.

And there are other forums where we can make them known, like the media and the social networks on the Internet. Most importantly, we should be open to discuss our points, and negotiate to reach our goals. No one holds an absolute truth, so we most be open to listen to the input offered by other people.

On the part of the authorities, I feel that they lack the will to actually come close to the people that elected them to ask for their input. What's worse, there seems to be a phobia to admit they are wrong in any way, shape or form.

As soon as someone points out something that is not done correctly, instead of starting a dialog or explaining why it isn't the case, they go to say that all is said as a form of political attack by a special group interest.

Negotiation is seen as something that should be avoided at all costs, not as the tool it is. We live in a diverse society, with many different view points and problems. If we are to solve them, and move forward, negotiation is a tool that'll bring us to a solution.

We all need to participate more, but we should learn to do it in a manner more efficient and respecting the rights of everyone.

Society and government

It's rather hard not feel disappointed on how things seem to be working out. For the looks of it, most of the leaders at city and state level seem to be more interested in their personal gains, than actually helping build a better place.

Add to that, the lack of interest of the society at large and it's hard to see how to make things work out.

I get the feeling that most people just don't care enough to actually do something for themselves. The most you get out of them are laments about how all is getting worse, and how no one does anything to fix things. Don't they realise that the solutions begin with ourselves actually doing things?

What most be understood, is that no great actions are needed from everyone to make a difference. What's needed, is that each of us does what we do the best we can. We need to start respecting laws, and acting like true citizens.

We shouldn't need anyone to act or do the right things. At the end of the day, the ones who'll benefit most of acting like that is ourselves. The quality of life in general would greatly increase if we do, and at a certain level, would force the people at power to act accordingly. I don't believe that any government has any incentive to change, if the society of which it comes from doesn't change first.

At the end of the day, the government is only a picture of the people who elects them and puts them in power. Not the other way around.

So, if we want our government to change, we much change as a society.

Discontent

All seems to point that people in Cuernavaca are feed up with how the municipal president has been handling the most important issues of the city.

So far, the hasn't been a satisfactory solution on any of the most pressing problems that the people are asking him to resolve. The tax on property, which is up by more of a 90% in some cases, is still not even addressed directly by the authorities.

There has been some talks about capping the raise to 10% by some social organizations, but government officials say that it isn't an option. What's worse, is that while on the part of the society there is the will to negotiate how much the tax should go up, on the government side there isn't such will. This attitude only adds to the anger, which could lead to more friction.

Other issue, is that the works at Morelos avenue are virtually stalled. Which is unacceptable, since this is one of the main arteries of the city and it's one of the main economic centers of the state capital. About 1500 direct people are at risk of losing their jobs. With the economy as it is, this blow is only going to be magnified.

So, it comes as no surprise that the anger and dissatisfaction with how things are coming to tipping point. Several organizations have started the petition for the president of Cuernavaca to quit.

One wonders if the president actually realizes how much discontent society has.