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Regionalization: myth or reality?

* Columna publicada hoy en el diario La Segunda ( si quieres ver el original, haz click aquí ).


Un lugar común de los recent years concerning the need for mechanisms of decentralization. All political sectors in all the forums, have ranted to the four winds the desire "regionalized." But is that enough?

There are certain basic premises that we must take into account when it comes to issues such as decentralization or, quite simply, a redistribution of power. The key first step is to assume that decisions, whatever they are, should be taken about those affected by them. Whether in public policy or some other political process, it is important to approach the victims and to incorporate their apprehensions, aspirations and concerns.

A second element relates to the effective control that can exercise the public about the actions of their representatives. The decisions taken centrally, without clear responsibilities for implementation or design lead to problems and obstacles such as the Transantiago. SUBDERE 2007, caught the warning light to say that 90% of decisions on public policies applied at national or regional level were taken in Santiago. Under that scenario, are we really building a correct address regionalization?

Therefore, we believe a good first step toward real decentralization it passes through the inhabitants of each region to select, understand and control the members of their regional governments. Today, those responsible for approving the regional budgets and investment projects that affect all inhabitants of the region, are elected by Council. This brings us to the question Do we know who are responsible for our money and how investing in our region?, Do we like to control the correct use of these resources? We call, therefore, to approve the project that is pending in the Senate today proposed direct election of Regional Councillors. But the road to the redistribution of power does not die in a mere election act, but this corresponds to a first step toward true representative and regional governments with high degrees of autonomy.

If we like citizen participation, then we need a courageous and resolute political class. Reforms like these involve large withdrawals of power, in order to return it to the public: these are the politicians that Chile hopes.

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Face & Seal: Do they require special treatment politicians? Part II

* This is my column published in Revista Capital, owned by a comparison with the political scientist Kenneth Bunker. ( If you want to see the original, click here )

The issue of subsistence "wages" of parliamentarians has been on everyone's lips in recent weeks. The decision of the tragicomic MPs allowances increased benzene is not only lacking in discretion, but shows a lack of reality of our representatives. But one thing is how little common sense of the honorable and quite another is to think that wages in the public service should resemble Franciscan poverty.

One of the main aspirations of our country is to have a diligent and responsible political class, which protects the interests of the public and held in a true sense of right common. We are constantly looking for those who, full of sound vocation, with the impetus to put their hands in the muddy world of politics. But we can not pretend that all this activity is fed, only, of the goodwill of those involved. We need, then give them in this case, parliamentarians, the necessary resources to enable them to make fitness work.

Lately, the image of empty boardroom merely our opinion lead to believe that the country pays an army of drones who spend their time playing football. But the reality is far from that. While there will always be bad elements prefer personal gain or benefit to the sincere service, we can not carry that moniker to a majority of parliamentarians lead at every day, to its work and district policy. How do we expect a deputy or a senator pay level advisors to support it in its legislative work, if we do not provide those resources? How do we expect those whose districts or constituencies parliamentarians are flown vast territory and gather the concerns of their constituents if they do not facilitate the process? Propose, therefore, a system to ensure the proper use of public resources, which follow different mechanisms for allocating money according to the needs of parliamentary and its territory or constituency. An example to follow is that of the Library of Congress, which provides experts in various subjects to the deputies and senators, for the nurture of content and analysis. Another possible reform is to implement an adequate system of accountability, whereby all citizens can know where and how you spend your money. None of these procedures, or others who can create, involves a reduction of resources to this important branch of government, but a proper redistribution of the same. If we follow a wave of cheap smear, which tells us that all our representatives are bad and that everyone should go home, just do not bring anything to the construction the country. Democracy costs, and long, but worth it.

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Face & Seal: Do they require special treatment politicians? Party I

* This is the first part counterpoint in Capital magazine published between political scientist Kenneth Bunker and server. This is the first column ( if you want to see the original, click here )

elections embody a mechanism for direct representation, in which each person elected recognizes the responsibility translating the preferences of citizens in public actions and policies. Now, in his capacity as representative, are implicit certain benefits and privileges that set them apart from everyone else. But how justified higher wages than the average? And, under what set method without being an area within the invisible market competitiveness? But more importantly, why are people considered most significant?

The preferential treatment to legislators is not a new topic. Aristocratic and oligarchic circles have expressed since the time of independence. While social and cultural differences have always been the most notorious enclaves, economic data are more terse. While it is natural to expect that legislators have extraordinary profits are the special benefits and the magnitude of these sums to those who call attention. For example, unnecessary and frequent trips abroad and the neat free tickets to attend the stadium and are common themes. And last but not least, the figures of the famous diets eventually lift the argument that lawmakers have excessive profits. In this vein, the central problem is that the amounts allocated as salary and various allowances, the parliamentarians are defined and approved by them. So, could increase indefinitely because they can not be compared with what is considered a reasonable salary, or ethical-adjusting to the common market.

However, normatively How should set such high salaries? The point is to observe the rates of participation of legislators in their own work, which should be directly proportional to salary. That is, if they participate in 100% of its statutory tasks, deserve the total salary. Unfortunately, the situation in Chile is far removed from that proposition. In the last litter of deputies, only 6 out of 120 have 100% attendance at meetings. Something similar happens in the Senate, where only 5 of 38 have participated in all sessions. Although there are laws that punish these absences, remain ineffective in its purpose.

While you can justify the hype innumerable forms of parliamentary allowances and the extra profits with legislators, we must not forget the substance of these people, their representative character. But beyond that, they should not forget them, who are provided with power have the power to legislate on their own future. Ergo, part of their responsibility is also to be emphatic to apply common sense and restraint when making decisions.

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The convenience of not taking risks

* Column published in www.elmostrador.cl on August 27, 2008. ( to see the original, click here )

Después de meses de discusión y trabajo, después de promesas y compromisos, después de acuerdos ocultos y transacciones políticas, finalmente el proyecto de ley que incorporaba la inscripción automática fue rechazado en la Cámara de Diputados. Los parlamentarios, no obstante el alto porcentaje de personas que marcan las encuestas, que se muestran favorables a esta opción, han decidido, una vez más, desoír el clamor ciudadano y proteger sus estáticos y conocidos feudos electorales.

Es cierto que el proyecto, que presentó el Gobierno, no convertía en voluntario el voto, sino que quitaba las penas por no concurrir a las urnas, pero todos aquellos que proclamamos and defend a right to vote as we understood it was a first step in moving around a higher voter turnout in the country.

The current system has too many shortcomings to allow us to continue as is. Not only is the fact that these elections are those that have fewer registered in the country's recent democratic history, but that adds to this that in this election we have the oldest voter in years. In addition, the largest number of people enrolled in Chile are in higher socioeconomic levels, which would deepen inequality, economic and power structures that exist in the country.

few weeks ago, we watched perplexed as the Alliance candidate, Sebastián Piñera, mortgaged part of their presidential choices for the mere fact of being good neighbors with the UDI. An agreement had been kept secret not only prevented the adoption of the bill, but goes against the electoral claims that sector. CEP In a recent survey, the flagship of the Alliance obtained the best results in those who are not registered, especially young people. It is therefore incomprehensible, who has taken this strategy if you actually want to win. It seems that the right has a strong vocation for minority, feeds into position on the morning after pill and other issues.

The coalition, meanwhile, is square in a disciplined manner with the orders of La Moneda. While there is a greater belief within the ranks of the DC, have been forced to renounce their apprehensions to meet the commitments they entered. No doubt the ruling will take this vote as a tool of attack on the alliance, increasing the level of belligerence that we have seen in recent times. An attitude like that will not bring anything to the debate, but would maintain the status quo suits them both.

What most worries es el miedo que pareciera producir en algunos parlamentarios una modificación al sistema de elección. Es imperativo que nuestros representantes comprendan que la competencia trae beneficios para toda la ciudadanía, pues impulsa y obliga a quienes quieran postular a algún cargo, a mejorar sus ofertas al país. Lo ocurrido esta semana denota un egoísmo político adverso a poner en riesgo sus propias posibilidades electorales y plantea la duda de cuánto está dispuesta nuestra clase política a renunciar a algo de poder y devolvérselo a la ciudadanía.