Compare and contrast paper - Essay Example

The Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) under Dr. Juan Bosch has been a long-standing opposition to the dictator Rafael Leonides Trujillo. When the latter was assassinated in 1961, Bosch was groomed to become the next leader of the country. He was inaugurated in 1963 but was overthrown in a military coup on September of the same year (state.gov). Joaquin Balaguer, Trujillo’s long-time top aide became president. It was during this time or after that Bosch separated from PRD and formed the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD).

It should be noted that both PRD and PLD were founded by the same person, Dr. Bosch. During the course of time, the PRD successfully raised three presidents. Antonio Guzman was its first president who defeated Joaquin Balaguer in 1978, Salvador Jorge Blanco in 1982 and Hipolito Mejia in 2000. The latter was soon to become the close political rival of Leonel Fernandez, PLD’s pride and the two parties that were originated by one person fought for power through political positions from then on.

Both claim to consider the good of the nation and the people, however, their motives are still to be seen in their management of the government. Leonel Fernandez is perhaps the epitome of PLD’s vision. . The proceeds from the sales were used by the government to improve municipal services and to fund education (Marxists.org). In 2004, he was elected again as president, defeating PRD’s Hipolito Mejia. This time, he promised to promote fiscal austerity, fight corruption and support social concerns.

This is an ideal change that all Dominicans might have wanted had they been implemented for their welfare. However, there is quite an argument to this. It is claimed that the “fiscal austerity” means further attacks on most people’s standard of living. The people were not satisfied with Fernandez and he soon faced protesters against unemployment, price hikes and electricity blackouts that begun in 1997. These were coupled by strikes from the working class. Things were not different when Mejia was elected into office in 2000.

He championed the cause of free trade, signing a free trade agreement (CAFTA-DR) with the United States and five Central American countries in August 2002. The government sponsored and obtained anti-trafficking and anti-money laundering legislation, sent troops to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom and ratified the article 98 agreement. Despite the actions taken for changes and improvement, difficulties presented themselves to the Mejia government because of massive bank frauds and constant power shortages (state.gov). Therefore, instead of progressing, the country’s economy deteriorated.

This caused many strikes and protests during Mejia’s rein, ones that were worse than those that occurred during Fernandez’ term. The government used all means to pacify the people and stop the protests through military involvement.