Why does Panama have so many poor?
Nov 22nd, 2007 by Don Ray
Maybe because I posted the piece on “Food For Thought”, or possible for some other reason, I received an email, with an attachment from a well known developer’s blog, entitled, “Why does Panama have so many poor?”
The quoted piece was authored by Michael J. Bonnell, and provides a list of reasons that “clearly” answer the question for the title of the Post. I am not posting the URL to the blog, because I take very little, that is written by any real estate, profit motivated publication, as valuable information.
Normally, I would pass on even commenting on such a article, but this one struck a nerve.
The manner in which the article “Why does Panama have so many poor” is written, gives the impression that it is from an authoritative source. When I write something, you know that I am a “nobody” and my thoughts are my own. Sometimes I am dead on and sometimes I am off target. The comments I receive, usually help balance out my lack of understating. If you want to believe, what I write, that is fine with me. If you don’t, that is fine too. It is only my opinion, and we know what is said about opinions.
If I quoted someone, and wanted it to be taken as authoritative, I would give the author’s credentials to make any fundamental statements that reflect on the character of the country. I had hoped, when I did a Google on “ Michael J. Bonnell”, that I would find that he was a well known economist, historian, or something along those lines. Maybe, I am a bad Googler, but I found nothing.
If my Google search was valid, then he is a “nobody” also. When I receive an email, that I think contains worthwhile information, I usually credit it as coming from a reader. I felt when I read the subject post, that I was supposed to believe that it was all facts, because the author was a “somebody”. I am not trying to besmirch the author of the post. I am just trying to clarify how it hit me when I read it.
Now let me focus on the article content. Everything before the numbered items is very general and I can’t argue too much with what it says. I don’t think it cuts enough to the root of the problem, which I think is more global. History plays some part, but the entire world is beginning to be more one of the “haves” and the “have nots”.
When you belong to the “haves” you have every advantage. You can go to any school you want, both here or abroad. You can work in your family business and avoid working yourself up the ladder to a reasonable salary. You never go to bed hungry. You never worry about being sick and not having money to get medicine.
If you belong to the “haves”, then your family will have connections in Panama, and possibly around the world. If you belong to the “haves” then a governmental leadership position is within your reach.
Unfortunately, the “haves” that are in politics, can easily forget that they can really improve life for the entire country (the majority being the “have nots”), and focus more on how their position can benefit themselves. You don’t have to look to Panama to see this. You can look to the US government. They make speeches, to get elected, that imply that they work only for their constituents, but the proof is in the pudding. When most leave office, they are richer and their constituents lot in life will not have improved.
I would have to agree that there is a social stratus in Panama that is based on power and money. Knowing that, and using some of my experiences, while living in Panama, I have my opinions of the listed reasons of the post, which I will include, Following are Michael J. Bonnell’s reasons as to why Panama has so many poor. His statement is that the majority of Panamanians do not have these characteristics. For me to give that any credibility, I would like to see some statistics and there are none. Therefore, I take this as his opinion.
- Ethics, as a basic principle
- Integrity
- Responsibility
- Respect to the laws and rules
- Respect to the rights of other citizens
- Work loving
- Strive for saving and investment
- Will of super action
- Punctuality
I am going to take these, one at a time, and tell you what I have seen and what I think.
Ethics, as a basic principal. - Is this supposed to be a problem with the entire country? I know enough people in several different status levels in Panama. I know some in several in the different levels, that have and several that don’t have ethics.
But what is the fundamental reason for “having” or the “lack of having” ethics. It is the same as in any society. It is what a person learns from his/her mother or father. It is the influence of his/her peers, who are probably in the same social stratus. Many times this is also affected by the level of education you are afforded. However, being the most educated, will not guarantee an ethical person. How well I know this from working in the US.
Having ethics and losing ethics is a slippery slope. Once you make that first step to doing something unethical, the next step is easier. Many in power in Panama, and other parts of the world have fallen victim to this slippery slope.
I have no conclusion, except to say, if the statement was meant to imply, that the population is without ethics, then I disagree. I do agree that there is a problem with the lack of ethics in too many people. The ones with the largest impact are in power or have wealth.
Integrity _ This is another character trait. Strong positive characters, tend to have integrity. Weak characters tend to not have integrity. I have seen maids that will take a dollar off the dresser, when cleaning a room, if it was left out. I have seen maids that would not take a penny, Again. if the article was to imply that all the people in Panama are without “integrity”, then I disagree. But, I would agree that you need to be careful who you do business with and that doesn’t mean just Panamanians.
Responsibility - This is another character trait. I see bag boys working in the local supermarkets solely for tips. If you don’t give them something for bagging your food, or pay them something for carrying your things for the car, then they will have nothing to contribute to their family’s support. The super markets do not pay for these positions. Now I would say that these young men are being responsible.
I have seen young families take care of their elderly parents, when many in the US might push them off into an old folks home. Family is very important in Panama. I consider that a trait of responsibility.
I have also seen lawyers that said they would call me on a certain day at a certain time, and they never called. It was not because they didn’t have the money. They just were not responsible. I consider this an individual characteristic an not a characteristic of Panama. I will have to admit, that I have had less calls returned while living in Panama, than I did in my entire life in the US. Maybe I am having to deal with too many lawyers. 
Respect to laws and rules - If you have enough power and money, then you get to write the laws and make the rules. If you have enough power and money, then you can choose who to enforce the laws and rules on. If the laws and rules were enforced fairly and unbiased, then they would receive more respect. Some people do what they have to do, which may mean bending the law. Others do what they can do, because the have the ability to ignore the law. I have seen this outside of Panama as well.
Respect to the rights of other citizens - This falls back to the character issues. One of good character respects the rights of others. I have met Panamanians that fall on both sides of the fence. I have met business men from other parts of the world that did the same. I do feel that many, of the powerful and wealthy, are afflicted with the disease of thinking that what applies to others, does not apply to them.
Work loving - I don’t know about you, but I do not like work. I worked in the US, because I liked the money that came from work, and therefore I worked. I liked being able to buy anything I wanted. I was fortunate enough to work for a long period of time in a profession that was rewarding. Not everyone is as lucky as I have been. In Panama the majority of Panamanians have to bust their butt to make a $1 an hour. Why should they love that. A better educated population, could improve their ability to make more and work in a profession, that they would come closer to enjoying.
However, I have seen Panamanian craftsmen. that had pride in their work. I would think that a person that has pride in what he makes, has to enjoy his work.
Strive for saving and investment - Come on now, you can’t save any money, if everything you make goes into buying rice and beans and paying your $13 electric bill. Many in Panama have nothing to save, not because they lack the desire, but because they happened to born to the wrong parents. I know a lot of middle class, that save money and they save it to cover things such as Christmas gifts. The wealthy always have money to save or invest. Is that because of desire or because of circumstance?
I know a young lady that has a small job and she saves every penny she can. She is saving money to cover English education, so she can have a good professional job. She considers herself fortunate to be able to do that. Maybe with that education, she can get a job that will allow her to save for her future.
Will of super action - Now what the heck is that? Without an explanation, that just helps the list’s count go higher. Panama has several major league baseball players. Does that count? I give. I can’t identify with super action. I admit, I have not met a Panamanian “Batman”, “Wonder Woman” or “Superman”.
Punctuality – Okay. I will have to agree 100% with this one. While this is a personal characteristic, it is one of the easiest to develop. There is no penalty for punctuality in Panama. I don’t know if the schools deduct for tardiness or not. They should.
In summary - So why did I write this post? Do I think the other writer was wrong, in all that it says? No. I just think that it is too general and implies that the average Panamanian lives as he does because he made that choice. I think there is corruption and I don’t think that there are stiff enough penalties for it. If you could improve the legal system, and apply the laws fairly for the rich and the poor, then I think that Panama would have a rapid attitude change. That might be nice in other parts of the world also.
Don,
Great observation. I read that article as it was posted by that author. Fully agree with your comments!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Day.
2wheels
Hi 2wheels. Thanks for dropping in. My day has been good and the Cowboys are currently winning.
Don, I too think you have made some great observations. After reading both the original article and your comments, I agree that that the author was painting Panama with way too wide of a brush. I know many hard working Panamanians with good ethics. It is a tough vicious cycle here in Panama for poor people to get out of. The only way I know is by getting a good education working to one’s full potential. But that is easier said than done.
Hi Ron. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi, Don
Many thanks for your perceptive comments. I do wish you had posted the URL, because I would like to read the article. Posting it is not an endorsement.
People in Panama, like people everywhere else in the world, are not fungible. The differences between the Panamanian Caribbean and Pacific coasts are great. We have met a few jerks in Chiriqui, but they are in the minority here. Many are foreigners, who came with the belatedly obvious purpose of ripping off others. Our bad experiences have tended to be with foreigners rather than with Panamanians. With very few exceptions, most of the folks in our rural area resemble rural mountain folk we have known elsewhere — Virginia, Venezuela, etc. There is a strong work ethic, and honesty is rampant. It is not uncommon to see local people out filling potholes and cleaning roadside ditches on a Sunday morning. They are doing it because it needs to be done, for their own good and for the good of the community as a whole.
It is just as difficult to be a thief in a small community as it is to be a thief on a small island: everybody knows everybody else, and bad people are soon recognized for what they are.
There are things to which one must become accustomed to be happy here. Punctuality is uncommon. In law school, one of the professors commented, every time someone was tardy, that “punctuality is the courtesy of kings and the obligation of gentlefolk everywhere.” I haven’t seen this precept honored here to any great degree. Many attorneys here are horrible; physicians tend to be at the other end of the spectrum: competent, caring and responsible. I have yet to figure out the basis for the dichotomy.
If one makes a genuine effort to become a part of the community, things are much better than if one remains aloof. Try to communicate in Spanish. Grammar is not too important, and thoughts can be conveyed adequately even in ungrammatical Spanish. People don’t mind; they seem to appreciate the effort. Don’t flaunt your wealth — and most Gringos are wealthy by local standards. By pulling out a wallet full of money and leaving a tip far beyond that which is locally customary, Gringos further the perception that they are rich and stupid. Paying an employee substantially more than the going wage furthers the same perception. The keys are to accept what is here, to try to make a small difference (help a family pay for school by contributing uniforms and books, for example) and not to try to create a new society modeled on that which we left.
Dan
Hi Dan. Thanks for taking the time to comment. With your qulifications in mind, here is the URL for the post.
http://primapanama.blogs.com/_panama_residential_devel/2007/11/why-does-panama.html
Just read your post. I am currently anchored in the middle of NY harbor. I lived in Panama for over two and a half years in Punta Paitilla to be exact and even on occasion went to the Union Club there. So I saw both sides and the truth is money has nothing to do regarding character. I have known some very moral rich and conversly some very noble poor. I also lived in Haiti for four years and there was far more ethical poor there than ethical rich. It is the family beliefs that structure ones future behavior unless there is some sort of life changing intervention.
Anyway I left Panama in 2001 and this sunday will be returning for the first time since then so I am really interested in seeing what Panama is like today. I will be checking your blog every couple of days and look forward to the next one.
Hi Tim. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and welcome aboard, mate.
Carlos Alberto Montaner has written about this subject. His article is entitled “What’s Latin America Worth?”. His website is at
http://www.firmaspress.com
Thans for dropping in. I will check out the website.
Read your post and bounced over to the “source blog”.
Much of what Mr Bonnell states seems to consist of rather broad generalizations that could be applied to just about any society. It just depends which lens you are viewing things through. One’s paradigms color one’s perceptions.
I see much of the same problems here in the U.S., more and more each year, especially under the current administration. It is sad and frightening, and a very disheartening time for many of us living here. And it will be some time before the damage is undone. There seems to be an attutude in the U.S. among those currently in power that, (to put it in simple terms), “if you can’t afford to live, well then, just go ahead and die.” A lack of concern except for the bottom line. It’s not just for Panamanians, or Latins, or the “third world”.
My husband and I are leaving the U.S. and moving to Panama because of the corruption in high places; because of he lack of affordable healthcare; because there is ess and less opportunity for a decent life as one ages. We see indifference to, and in fact the creation of more and more working poor due to current U.S. government policies. The reality of having to, as one friend puts it, “work till you die, cause you can’t afford to retire” is in our current environment, not a joke. We love our country, but we also love the vibrancy of the Panamanian people, and look forward to viewing the world from another perch on the planet. I’m sure we’ll run into all sorts of political and social situations and problems there as well. Again, that’s the way the world goes round.
Sounds to me that comments like Mr. Bonnell’s spawn confusion because they are painted with such broad strokes. Leaves lots of empty places to fall through, and assumptions to respond to.
I’ve met wonderful Panamanians, as well as hustlers and grifters - (many non- native). Again, I just think this is just how the world goes round. Same story in the U.S.
If you’re just an everyday person, you just hang in as best you can, and you makes yer choices as you go.
The majority of us are just trying to live and breath, and survive. We seek some comfort and understanding, and a warm place to rest our heads. Very few of us will ever be in positions of power to affect the collective. But we do have the power to do the right thing within our own small circles. To touch one another, even if it’s simply with a kind word. It all matters. The world’s a rough place, and we’re the roughest toughest walking on it. Some of us will go under. Some of us will prevail. Some will be so damaged as to be beyond reach.
So while you’re around, why not reach out your hand to someone who’s hurting. Educate someone who is uninformed. Appreciate the fascinating variety of people who have made, and will continue to make this world such an fascinating ride. And cling to your ethics as if your soul depends on them. What else can a human do?
And never assume that you will never end up in as bad a circumstance as those “less fortunate than you”. A fall is just a slip away. I see it around me every day.
Well, hope I’m adding to, and not detracting from the discussion.
On that note, a slightly belated happy Thanksgiving, Don Ray.
Thanks for being out here in cyberspace.
(I’m as always, a bit verbose. Yo siento.) Hasta Luego, amigo. Charlotte
Hi Charlotte,
I thought you made several good points. I debated before even writing this post, but I thought the other post was just too general and taking shots and not all were justified.
I appreciate your taking the time to comment.
Hi Don.
I dont know mr. Bonnells, but I know my country Panama, and I lived in U.S., for many years, so to may a comment like that is a sore point for me, because, these problems are not solely of Panama, are EVERYWHERE you go, is true, we have all those problems and more but what country doesnt have it, and is he is a panamanian then do something about it, and dont just talk, if you are not panamanian then go back to your perfect world or country. We are proud people that do their best, people that had been suffer since before we were a Republic, because they took advantage of us. These is NOT an excuse for our fault,mistake or not having puntuality,will of super action, saving account, work loving, responsability, respect, ethics, and integrity. So what country has all these. But what we are is, -PANAMANIAN, that they will open their heart and house door to complete stranger,offer their help. So maybe you are, MR.Bonnells, a person without lack of all these principles. Because I know for facts that not all panamanian are like these.
So next time Mr.Bonnells do better reaserch .
G.Patino-H.
The scary thing about Mr. Bonnell’s comments was the number of people who answered the blog and agreed with him. As you said, Don Ray, Mr. Bonnell did not display any credentials; neither did any of his supporters. It is almost amusing that people, who have not studied a situation, have full confidence in explaining the problem whereas scholars, who have spent their careers on the subject, admit that they do not have the answers.
Hi G.
Thanks for checking in and giving your point of view.
Hi Tom. I thought the same thing when I read the comments. Most were not willing to leave their name.