A few days ago, the Ecuavisa channel offered a survey of how much some of the people elected as members of parliament pay in income tax, and it was not a big surprise because some do not pay anything. Nobody likes paying taxes and many try to avoid them. We hope that they are honest and that this quality of “chirez” does not determine their behavior or their talents. In the Assembly that was killed by President Laso, there were unworthy people who took part of their advisers’ salaries. Perhaps their poverty did not allow them to find out that they were committing a crime called concussion, punishable under Article 281 of the General Penal Code. It is shameful that someone would exploit their followers in this vile way.

In Peru they are called “mochasueldos”, because it seems that the species is not unique to our country. “I feel a strong cough, Catalina,” said the old people. We have no reason to be very optimistic about the next Assembly because the party owners presented us as candidates people who are not known to have great abilities. We had to choose between them, and this lack of freedom is a serious shortcoming of our democracy. It is not a failure of the democratic system, but of those who appoint them and who do not choose well.

Another serious disadvantage is the lack of knowledge and a minimum of common sense to not line up like sheep and obey. I will remind you of the image of Panurg and the lambs described by Rabelais in his famous novel Gargantua and Pantagruel. The rams go in the boat, Panurge, “without saying a word he threw his ram into the sea, crying and bleating; (…) all the other rams started jumping into the sea with screaming and bleating in a similar composition (…). It was impossible to keep them, because you know that it is natural for them to always go after the first. That’s what Aristotle says… because it’s the stupidest and most incompetent animal in the world. (Editorial Aguilar SA, Madrid, 1967, p. 537).

We are in a hurry in the campaign for the second round, which is inevitable, but we also have to worry about the composition of the Assembly that we have elected. We need them to be efficient, to behave patriotically, not to oppose just because the boss orders and to use their judgment. If you don’t know a subject, kindly ask those who do. It will not be easy for the president we elect, he is not a miracle worker. Neither she nor he works miracles. They have to work with the little that the budget that they didn’t make and that is running out gives them. No money from Yasuní.

No one has all the wisdom. No one can rule alone. There must be a patriotic union. Let legislators and members of other positions know that we are fed up with the bickering in all government agencies, we want security and that criminal gangsters and murderers are defeated. There are too many unemployed people and it would be good if, along with a tough and firm fight against crime, the opportunity to create jobs was created especially for young people who have to start their lives with the certainty that their efforts will be rewarded and that they will receive decent wages.

The historic moment calls for humility and common sense. (OR)