Politics

I am not a terribly political person. Sometimes I think I should be but I just can't muster up the energy. Oh, I vote in all the elections and I have very strong views an one or two issues but I just don't care enough to get all hot and bothered about it. So, despite the blog title, don't be expecting any heavy duty, in depth analysis of Belizean politics. I just have a few items that, I hope, will be of interest and a picture that I love.
Everyone knows there is an election pending in Belize. I don't think it's actually been called yet but it should happen around March sometime. Were I in any other Central American country, I'd probably be getting out about now. Last year during Guatemala's federal election process, 50 candidates, family members and campaign workers were murdered. Scary!! Luckily Belize is less politically volatile and I feel quite safe.
The election process here is much like Canada's. The exceptions seem to be in the campaigning rules. Although the election has yet to be called (unless it has been called in the last week or so and I missed it), posters and lawn signs started going up about 6 or more months ago. There are two basic parties in Belize and then a few fringe ones, like in Canada. The main parties are the People's United Party (PUP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP). The PUP are blue and the UDP are red. Don't ask me their political platforms - I have no real idea. I know that the current government has been in for about 12 years and are totally corrupt. I know that the expectation is that they will be voted out and the other party will take over. I know the new government will also be corrupt but it will take a few years before the people care too much. I also know the UDP got into some serious hot water for painting all the power poles red in Belize City because they didn't have permission and BTL (the power company) doesn't want to be politically aligned with any party. I know that the cops in Hopkins went around to all the druggies in town and asked them to take a weekend vacation about two months ago because the PUP was coming to town for a political rally and having druggies all over town looks bad. And I have to laugh because all the outward 'political correctness' doesn't even begin to fool anyone. It is crazy because there are so few people in Belize that everyone knows the political candidates personally or knows someone that does. Consequently, the life story of each candidate is public knowledge. There are no skeletons to uncover because there are no closets. Those skeletons just sit out in the living room with everyone else and their grandma. It is almost like children playing make believe. They all know what they are doing and saying isn't true but they choose to believe it for the time being. I guess that could be said about all political activity in this world, by the cynics if no one else, but it seems to me a little more blatant in Belize. I have been enjoying the campaigning - probably because I can't vote so I don't have to take it seriously. The following poster is hanging in the ladies bathroom of the Pickled Parrot Bar and Grill in Placencia. I think it contravenes all copyright laws but Belize in general contravenes all copyright laws in all areas of life anyway. I thought the poster was great and definitely pays tribute to the Belizean sense of humour!
Gotta love Belize!