latitudnueva has left 3 comments

latitudnueva comments on Colombian music

some suggesstions CUMBIA:
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Colombia#Cumbia

It is worth pointing out that the "classic" cumbia known throughout Colombia is the Cumbia Cienaguera. This song reflects a uniquely Colombian feel known as "sabor" (flavour) and "ambiente" (atmosphere). Arguably, this song has remained a Colombian staple through the years and is widely known as Colombia's unofficial national anthem. Some cumbia artists are: Los Hispanos, Los Graduados,Los Black Stars,Los Golden Boys,Los Teen Agers,and Los Corraleros De Majagual.

http://www.amazon.com/Cumbias-Colombianas/lm/1XLFCYJL15SMQ/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_2_rsrsrs0/002-5623124-2432842

Cumbias Colombianas -- A Listmania! list by "cantante77"
1. Carmelina by Toto La Momposina
"Toto La Momposina is one of the people keeping the Colombian musical flame burning, and this album is loaded with great dance music."

2. Cumbia Cumbia: Colombian Cumbia Recordings by Various Artists
"This compilation is a great introduction to Colombia's rich rhythmic tradition."

3. Colombia Tropical by Colombia Tropical
"In spite of the cover, this compilation includes some of Colombia's finest singers, including the legendary cumbia diva, Leonor Gonzalez."

4. Musica de Colombia by Various Artists
"Another lovely Colombian comp."

5. Reyes De La Cumbia De Ayer by Various Artists
"Excellent old school cumbia comp, from the 50s and 60s."

6. Colombiano De Raca Mandaca by Various Artists
"Nostalgia and patriotism at its best: cumbias, bambucos, and more."


SALSA:
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Colombia#Colombian_Salsa

Salsa music was born among Puerto Ricans and Cubans, and soon spread to Colombia, popularized by Fruko y sus Tesos. Artists like Joe Arroyo followed, inventing a distinctively Colombian form of salsa. Though it is salsa, all the same one can hear the difference between Cuban salsa and Colombian salsa. Other influential Colombian salsa musicians include Cristian Del Real "Timbal Genius", Grupo Niche, Alquimia, La Misma Gente, Los Titanes, Los Nemus del Pacífico, Orquesta Guayacán and Grupo Galé.

http://www.amazon.com/Fierce-Colombian-Salsa/lm/35J7X7ZBQX4O3/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrscs0/002-5623124-2432842

Amazon List: Fierce Colombian Salsa
1. Heavy Salsa by Sonora Carruseles
2. Grandes Exitos de Salsa, Vol. 1 by Fruko Y Sus Tesos
3. Grandes Exitos by Joe Arroyo
4. Antologia by Grupo Niche
5. El Tumbao del Coronel by Coronel, Juan Carlos
6. Con Todos Los Hierros by Sonora Carruseles
7. 16 Grandes Exitos by Orquesta Guayacan


--
Procura lo mejor, espera lo peor y toma lo que viniere.

latitudnueva comments on Does Colombia Economic Grouth Increase Happiness ?

response In response to dw's last post -- I apologize that my earlier post was too general to seem relevant. I can't make specific comments about Colombia as I don't have first hand knowledge of Colombia, as you do. But I do know a bit about development economics, and about some other Latin American countries.

The "let them eat cake" attitude dw reports among the overclass of Llano Grande is not unique: you will find the same apathy in the affluent neighborhoods of Quito or in San Isidro, Buenos Aires (although in the latter case, there is less apathy than before 2001's economic crisis). Does this make the rich "bad" people? Well, does "callous" = "bad"?

I'm glad Leeroy brought up _The Economist_ story. The point about income distribution is reflected in, among other things, an econometric called the Gini coefficient, which measures income distribution. On the Gini scale, 0 = perfect income equality, 1 = perfect income inequality.

Per the 2006 UN Development Report, the Latin American countries with the highest inequality measured by the Gini coefficient were Bolivia (.601) Colombia (.586), Paraguay (.578) and Chile (.571). The countries with the lowest inequality in the region were Nicaragua (.431), Ecuador (.437), Venezuela (.441) and Uruguay (.449). Mexico was .495. The U.S. was .408 (and this has increased steadily towards inequality since 1950). Canada was .326.

This simply captures numerically one of Leeroy's points: to the extent that it can be captured and measured, Colombia has relatively a great deal of income disparity. And I agree: disparity is definitely a component of "economic unhappiness".

Significant economic disparity + awareness of the disparity + resentment over the disparity = unhappiness?

As for people flashing narco-cash, I'm reminded of "The Cosby Show Theory of Why the Berlin Wall Fell": that East German workers watched "The Cosby Show" from splashover TV signals from West Berlin and couldn't understand why they weren't far better off than the Cosby family. This bred discontent, which bred revolution.

The question posed at the beginning of this thread, "Does Colombia Economic Growth Increase Happiness" targets Colombia, but it really is a general question. Does economic growth equal more happiness? As _The Economist_ article Leeroy cites, yes -- but only to a certain (modest) extent. Then the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

For anyone other than a philosopher, Joe's anecdote about the girl from Barrio La Milagrosa who worked 30% less hours for *more* money indicates that, although the rich will get a lot richer and the poor won't, some *will* see tangible benefits from economic development. Until a universal definition of happiness comes along, I'd say working less for more money (and let's face it, in a market economy money is a form of both positive and negative freedom) will do.

I'm not a believer in trickle down economics, either, but my earlier point is relevant: Palo Alto's wealthy homes make due with alarm systems; in Houston the wealthiest neighborhood also has a private police force; in Quito the wealthiest homes also require barbed wire and armed security guards. Increasing levels of security suggest (arguably) increasing levels of ambient resentment, suggesting (arguably) increasing levels of (some form of) unhappiness.

So yeah: although economic development itself won't solve income disparity (probably the opposite), it probably will create at least pockets of greater ambient happiness.

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Procura lo mejor, espera lo peor y toma lo que viniere.

latitudnueva comments on Does Colombia Economic Grouth Increase Happiness ?

"El dinero llama (al) dinero" There is a Spanish proverb, "El dinero llama (al) dinero" -- basically, money goes where money (already) is.

While there is some truth that there are always poor people, "poor" is a relative term, right? I mean, "poor" in the U.S. is a far cry from "poor" in, say, India.

There is always economic disparity within a society, but it's a question of degree, both relatively and non-relatively. Some societies create more "invisible" infrastructure due to ambient wealth. Walk around Palo Alto, California and you may see windows with security company stickers. Walk around an affluent neighborhood in Delhi, India and you will see 40 foot walls and armed guards.

I think better questions than "is there poverty?" are "is there justice?" and "is there hope?"

Last time I checked, Nature is not handing out free lunches -- but then, sharing what we have with those who lack is one of the fundamental aspects of society, right? It's a constant balancing act, even in the developed world.

I appreciate what dwmte7 says above; I have also found in my travels that it is often those with the least who are the most generous.

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Procura lo mejor, espera lo peor y toma lo que viniere.