I Smell Smoke
Sep 4th, 2007 by Don Ray
This is one thing I HATE about Panama. I am currently recovering from a cold and I start smelling smoke. People in Panama have no concern for their neighbors when it comes to burning trash. If you don’t shut your windows quickly, then you will have a house fill of smoke.
I can understand some burning in the country, but burning in the city should not happen. Well that’s my opinion anyway!
This is currently going on one house over from me.
Different times, different places, different customs. I often remember how things were in my little hometown in the ’40s and ’50s. Folks would pile stuff into an old fifty gallon barrel with holes at the bottom and then light it up to reduce it. The smoke was usually welcome after the stench. Eventually they’d call the trash man to come empty out the cans, bottles and ash–a lovely job indeed. The state and federal governments started curbing open air burning in the sixties, as I recall. Maybe some of the smaller countries will eventually do the same.
In the same vein I wonder how the per capita income (adjusted for inflation) around 1950 in the States and now in Panama would compare.
In answer to my own speculation, it appears that the adjusted per capita income in the U.S. in 1950 would be about $12,000 or thereabouts, compared to about $8,000 in Panama today or about 50% higher in the U.S. in 1950. So I’ll have to delve a little deeper to see when the per capita income was about the same as in Panama today.
A good guess might be that today’s per capita wealth in Panama would have been about what it was in the U.S. about the time WW2 ended. Of course, this doesn’t take into account any differences in the distribution of wealth.
I saw in the news that Jimmy Carter was present with El Presidente for the ceremony to begin the Canal expansion. What a great speculative enterprise it is–with half the world betting for Panama and half against. I’m not confident that this will be a case of “a rising tide lifts all ships”, but the metaphor sure would be apt if it works out. If it all works out, could Panama benefit by plowing some of the benefits into education; that is, is the general culture ready to promote education and, if so, how?
The other piece of international news that might be of some concern is the friction between Panama and the U.S.due to the selection of Señor Gonzalez to head the National Assembly. Anybody noticing any change in the general atmosphere about Americans?
Hi Frank. Thanks for taking the time to leave the comments.