Last night my Wife informed me that one of the Presidential Candidates, Gustavo Petro, has announced his manifesto, and it is an out and out Communist manifesto.
The main one that would effect us personally, is that no one can own more than one house or property, anyone owning more than one has to sell it, and if they can't, the Government will buy it at rock bottom price, the same goes for plots of land.
This means that because I bought the house my Mother-in-law lives in, that would effect us, as both homes are in joint names of my Wife and myself. The 'logic' behind this announcement, is that every person in the country should have the same opportunity of ownership and wealth.
The frightening part is that this former Terrorist is the front runner in the Campaign, and it could realistically happen, if that were the case, I would definitely think about leaving the country, and I think it would drive many people to leave, as well as foreign investment.
For now I will just keep my fingers crossed that his popularity wains.
The next President of Colombia?
I haven't read those particular policies of Petro, it would be helpful if you would provide links to his stand on personal property rights. If your links don't show up in your post you could provide the search terms and let people find them for themselves.
His short bio in Wikipedia bears out what you say - he is not a "leader" who is likely to implement pro-growth, pro-capitalism policies but instead advocates socialist policies closer to the Venezuela model.
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Petro
This 8 minute video shows what many think about him - although he's a charmer, an ex-senator of the Republic and an ex-mayor of Bogotá who says all the "right things" (or perhaps I should say the "left" things) about how he wants to improve peoples' lives, help the poor, preserve the environment etc., many have him pegged as someone who at heart believes in el chavismo as the answer in spite of its track record of complete failure:
http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones-colo … 018-175308
He has been called "the Uribe of the left". If the Colombian people fall for him...they get what they deserve. And may God help them, they'll need it.
As I said in my post, my Wife informed me, I have no reason to disbelieve her, she keeps herself up to date on all things to do with her Country on a daily basis, I have no links, I just gave my personal thought on the matter, and if he is elected and brings this in, I will be seriously considering leaving.
Saying that, I have just checked his Twitter account, and he has obviously seen the same reports, which he is denying, quote " El Centro de calumnias por redes ha dicho que voy a expropiar apartamentis, casas, negocios. Solo vamos a comprar latifundios improductivos para entregarlos a quienes quieran producir alimentos y así despegar la industrialización de Colombia. No se deje engañar. Haz RT" In other words he is saying he will take unproductive businesses and give them to those who wish to work.
Time will tell, he has to get in first.
My spouse is very concerned with Petro as well. Our plans were to move there at the end of this year or early next, but she says we will not be able to if he becomes president. We have some property down there now and are concerned about what will happen.
We have several Venezuelan friends who lost everything they had because they were living in the US and renting their properties in Venezuela for income. Some of them were rented to family members too. The gov't just took it and gave it to 'someone in need'.
He was the Mayor of Bogota, and didn't destroy the city...at least to our knowledge. But, that's how Chavez started as well. Very popular, excellent speaker, vilifies the wealthy and capitalism...it's easy to do with such a large poorundeducated population.
Give up the struggle.
Put the property on the market .. and choose peace of mind.
There will always be something going on in Colombia for the "foreseeable" future. Trying to read the tea leaves will only get you to tomorrow .. if then.
cccmedia
As a dual American/Colombian citizen, my advice is:
If Petro becomes President, don't move to Colombia. I will move back if he wins the elections.
You will hear the "sucking sound" as everyone, and all the money leaves...
Well, could be worse , could be living in the Communist Republic of British Columbia..
Is this the same guy who was head of the rebel group M19? Or it the same German Colombian who was mayor of Bogota and then ran a campaign for President? I get these names mixed up.....I thought Petro lost an internal party election here a short while back and was no longer a candidate? Uribes guy won, didnt he?
dumluk wrote:Is this the same guy who was head of the rebel group M19? Or it the same German Colombian who was mayor of Bogota and then ran a campaign for President? I get these names mixed up.....I thought Petro lost an internal party election here a short while back and was no longer a candidate? Uribes guy won, didnt he?
You've jumped the gun a bit, yes it's the same Guy you refer to, Petro was in M19, and Mayor of Bogota, but he is still hoping to be President, it depends which poll you look at as to whether he has any chance!
In my limited experience traveling throughout Colombia from the Venez border in La Guajira to the Ecuadorian border in Nariño.......no canditate sympathetic to socialistic or communist principles even has a whisper of a chance........so I say let it rip........let em run......let em think they are part of the democratic process........only way they could ever win is if the election was rigged.......And that of course never happens anymore in the civilized world does it?
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