I don’t buy boledo. I have never bought a Lotto ticket. I will not engage in any gambling until the profits off my losses go one hundred percent to the government, for all the people.
My philosophy on gambling comes from my church. Everyone participates in the games of chance at my church’s fairs. Everyone is happy because the profits go toward the upkeep of our school’s buildings and grounds, and the purchase of school supplies.
He supports clean water
Not too much pity here for our bogus local economists. You won’t find me laughing in anyone’s face, mind you, but on the sly I am gleeful to know that those buggers quaver in their shoes whenever they hear the name of Mr. Bill Lindo. They had their huyayai when the evil IMF was squeezing spending in Belize, and dictating privatization of BTL (that we built), BEL (that we built), and WASA (that we built). Those days they used to sit around the fire chewing chips, drinking kool aid, and spitting insults at Bill. Times change. Now just the mention of his name and they are scurrying like rats do through tunnels and holes when they hear the master returning to the house to check on the state of his Dutch cheese.
Bill’s victory over those economists who thought they knew, and knew not that they didn’t (a certain world famous poet lashed these types severely), has given him “capital” to burn. He’s an adult; he’s got the license to spend.
Now, I have noticed that we Belizeans very quickly, on gaining public acclaim or respect, become swellheaded. It’s like we can’t handle success at all. You can understand Mr. Lindo feeling a little heady, though. Think back…Remember when they used to say he sounded like that horrid chicken that went around screaming off his head about strange happenings in the heavens? Then the sky fell in. I ask you, where are those economists who couldn’t see the storm clouds now? Who are they now? They are nothing. They are less than nothing. It is a lesson for all of us who are on a good run, who think we know it all.
I don’t know for sure that Mr. Lindo is all puffed up with his success, but his latest piece in the Amandala (#2317), titled Increasing Animal Production in Belize, sent caution flags racing up the flagpole.
The meat of his story, that a new technology (raising highly productive cattle in water cooled houses, and feeding them on cut grass) could do wonders for our national economy, is not of itself out of line. Indeed, this is very important technology. By employing this technology we could easily increase the national herd to 300,000 head, as he suggests.
There is a drawback to expanding Belize’s animal stock fourfold (our national herd he estimates is 80,000 head) however, and that is, even if we grow pasture on good soil, it would mean putting a quarter of a million more acres in grass. If marginal soils are brought into the equation, we could be talking half a million acres! More acres in pasture means chopping down more trees.
Mr. Lindo did not consider a serious consequence of chopping down trees. His passing comment: With the fossil water running out (except in Belize), hints that he might have some concern about the supply of water. Forget man-made carbon dioxide and global warming, grass in place of trees means less available fresh water.
A better proposal, I believe, would be to employ the new technology, and maintain the current herd. The new technology will reduce the demand on land. The bonanza for us will be less pasture needed to maintain our national herd. We could actually return pastureland to forest!
No, Mr. Lindo’s disrespectful play is not in the meat of his piece, the proposition that we increase our animal stock to 300,000 by employing a new technology developed in Malaysia. The real beef here has to do with him exploiting the potential of his article to take an insensitive swipe, a mean cut at those meek ones who protect the earth.
It is so that a man, having conquered his enemy, will seek out new adversaries to fight. Or, having vanquished his primary enemy, he will turn on lesser forces that cause him grief. Mr. Lindo has never been friendly with people who sweat fever for trees. His latest attack falls in the realm of, personal. My, it is beastly to glory that with this latest innovation from Malaysia to raise livestock, Science…has out-greened the greenies! Oof!
I say, sir, the world does not think kindly of big men who beat up on helpless old ladies. Maybe in other countries, but we don’t do that kind of thing here in Belize!
Bill sure has a lot of capital, a lot to spend, but he is playing real loose if he thinks that because of his splendid victory over the traitorous IMF loyalists, Belizeans will allow him to trample Ms. Matola, Ms. Toy, the Audubon Society, and all the other nice little Greenies that frolic about here. Mr. Lindo will find that the shine on his feathers will dim to a shadow in next to no time if he does not rein in his anti-green agenda. My stern advice to him is that he drives his boat a little more slowly, so as not to fluster the manatees.
I suggest that cool is the name of the game when you are riding high in the saddle. Look, even if the mortal enemy is the big, bad wolf, show kindness when you have him throttled. Yap, when you done smack them, and you have the trophy in your hands; butter them up. Tell them how worthy opponents they were. Tell them you are glad you won this year because you are sure they will have their way with you next year. Soothe any one who is smarting. And don’t be stirring up nests of people who love to see pretty birds in trees.
No, rubbing salt in open wounds, and smacking the less able about, should not be our way. We must never come out in public and bruise feelings with malicious words like, Science, it seems, has outgreened the greenies. That language is way, way too inflammatory.
Braa, your enemies can smell the coffee, they know they are vanquished. You don’t have to shout it off the rooftops. The vault economists have been trumped. They are done, finished, don’t have a stick to fight back with. Still, go softly, with a sly smile on your face.
The little Greenies might have been dealt a fatal blow. Tell them you really support clean water.