... in response to Time to worry, posted by Michael B on Jul 22, 2001Unless things change, Colombia is headed for an even rougher time as the economy continues to deteriorate and violence increases IMHO.
In the early part of this century, China went thru a similar period.. it was called the 'Era of Warlords', where certain warlords.. some aided by outside nations.. fought each other over the opium trade and ideals.. but mostly over opium & money, and the government was little better than another one of the warlords. It was a period of extreme violence, displacement & poverty, and it lasted for decades. The end of it came when one party.. the Nationalist Party, headed by Sun Yat Sen, preached & practised honesty, integrity in government, reducing taxes, and an end to outside interference. His areas became magnets for the dispossessed, and the people were willing to work & fight hard for him & the movement as a result. He launched the 'Northern Campaign', led by Chaing Kai Shek, and this campaign had the active support of the vast majority of the people. The opium warlords were defeated; many of the soldiers of the warlords simply joined the campaign without a fight. Then Japan invaded, but getting back to the moral of the story..
I beleive that the answer for Colombia will only come when one of the current (or a new) faction genuinely has the people's interests at heart AND successfully improves their lot. This faction will unify the country as the people will, as in China, fight hard for a faction that can bring them peace and prosperity.
