The second plank........ "Under normal circumstances, monetary policy is a more potent and useful tool for stabilization than is fiscal policy."(posted 8756 days ago)In this times and moments, and having the Ecuador experience, very fresh. Us inhabitants, of what we call the thirld world, and after a profound dominance, within our very questioned authorities and policy makers (they are always some big shots relative), of what is called keynesianism, this is: the state is god. Believe, more and more, that the heart of the dilemna is within the second plank. Because down here, it is religion. We are irrational, and contrary to what Professor Lucas discovered, we (our authorities) still believe that printing money, and financing the ink, through more and more taxes (government spending), will lead to prosperity. Here is a hypothesis, that would appreciate your comments: "dolarize", minimize the risk of burecratic creativity, and tax consumption, as opposed to wealth (remember Hobbes ?). Because we suppose that the wealthy, do create employment, which down here, is much needed, when you consider unemployment rates, of an average of 18%. Contributed by Juan M. Carrasquilla (janmacar@hotmail.com) on January 25, 2000.