Kyle Hepp

January 11, 2010

The Presidential debates in Chile. Posted by Seba. Spanish version first, my English translation to follow.

Acabo de terminar de ver el debate presidencial entre Pinera y Frei. La verdad, ni un brillo. No se si sera el formato del debate, los periodistas que estaban a cargo de las preguntas, o simplemente que cada candidato respondia lo que queria responder, menos lo que se le pregunto. A ratos parecia que los periodistas eran claramente imparciales y atacaban a un candidato, mientras que a otro lo trataban con clara deferencia. Lo menos que esperaría en un debate presidencial es que los periodistas encargados de realizar las preguntas demuestren un minimo de profesionalismo e imparcialidad.

La politica me hace pensar en algo que me paso en el Lider cuando estaba comprando champagne para la Kyle el otro dia (como siempre). Resulta que tuvimos una discusion por el precio de la champagne con la cajera, asi que fui con la supervisora a mostrarle el precio al que estaba etiquetado. Cuando llegamos, llamo a un reponedor para preguntarle el precio. El reponedor me dijo:
Ah si, lo que pasa es que este precio es el del moscato, no el del moscato dulce.”

Entonces le pregunte:

Y el precio del moscato dulce donde esta?”

A lo que nuevamente me respondio:
Lo que pasa es que son diferentes, el moscato dulce y el moscato no son iguales.

Le respondi:
Si se que no son iguales, he comprado los dos y se la diferencia.

Como respuesta, me quedo mirando con la cara en blanco. Despues de unos segundos de silencio y de darme cuenta que al parecer el tipo habia dado por terminada la conversacion le pregunte de nuevo: Y el precio?”

Ah si, lo que pasa es que este lo colocamos recien.

Ya con menos paciencia le dije:

No te pregunte cuando lo colocaste, te pregunte donde esta el precio.

Finalmente me contesto: Ehhh.No esta.

Mire a la supervisora (la cual lo estaba asesinando al pobre reponedor con la mirada) y le pregunte: Entonces ustedes no le colocan el precio a los productos en el local o lo hacen asi para enganar a la gente?

Mirada en blanco, media vuelta y se va caminando rapido hacia la caja.

Al ver el debate no pude dejar de pensar que los periodistas eran como yo y los candidatos como ese reponedor de Lider. Definitivamente esto es lo que mas me carga de la politica y de los debates — nunca responden lo que se pregunta, se dan vueltas por mil temas y despues de 5 minutos, cuando el tiempo se acabo, ni idea cual fue la respuesta de la pregunta. Votaria por alguien asi? En mi caso no, definitivamente no, a mi me gustan las respuestas claras y directas, si o no.
Y es en momentos como estos en los que pienso, “Ah estoy tan feliz de que soy uno mas de esos casi 2.000.000 de chilenos que con menos de 29 anos que no vota.”

Independientemente del tema politica, dios mao, que tipo mas fome Frei, si yo fuera su asesor lo mandaria a clases de oratoria o a que pasara unas 2 semanas con Obama para que aprendiera a hablar en publico y desarrollara un poco mas de carisma.

En fin, las elecciones son este fin de semana, supongo que me enterare por el diario quien gano, confieso que despues de tantos anos tengo curiosidad de ver como lo haria un gobierno de la derecha.

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My translation:

I just finished watching the presidential debate between Pinera and Frei. The truth is, there was nothing spectacular about it. I’m not sure if it’s the format of the debate, the journalists that were in charge of the questions, or maybe just that each candidate responds whatever he wants to respond never giving an actual answer to the question asked. Sometimes it seemed like the journalists were obviously biased and would attack one candidate while they’d treat the other with respect. The least one could hope for in a presidential debate would be for the journalists in charge to ask questions with a little bit of professionalism and impartiality.

Politics make me think of something that happened the other day in Lider when I buying champagne for Kyle (like always). It turns out, I got in a fight with the cashier over the price so I ended up going with the supervisor to show her the price that was marked. When we got there, she called a stocker to ask him the price. The stocker said,

Well, you see, it’s just that this is the price of the moscato, not the moscato dolce.”

So I asked:

Then where’s the price of the moscato dolce?”

To which, he answered me again:
“Well, it’s just that they’re different. Moscato and Moscato Dulce aren’t the same.”

I responded,
I know they’re not the same. I’ve bought both and I know the difference.”

In answer, he stared back at me blankly. After a couple seconds, when I realized that he had given up the conversation as finished, I asked again, “And the price?”

Oh yeah, well, you see, we just put it out.”

Then with less patience, I said,

“I didn’t ask you when you put it out, I asked you where the price is marked?”

He finally answered, “Ummm, it’s not marked.”

I looked at the supervisor (if looks could kill, the stocker would have been dead) and I asked, So you guys don’t put out the price of the products in the store, or do you do that on purpose to cheat people?”

Blank stare, half turn and she went back to the cash register quickly.*

After seeing the debate, I can’t help but think that the journalists are me and the candidates are the stockers at lider. That’s definitely what I hate the most about politics and the debates — they never respond to the question asked. They talk circles around the topic and after 5 minutes, when the time is up, you have no idea what the answer was. Would you vote for someone like that? I know I wouldn’t. I like a clear and direct answer — yes or no.

It’s in moments like this that I think, “Ah…I’m so happy that I’m one of the almost 2 million Chileans under the age of 29 who doesn’t vote.”

Independently of all politics, jeez oh petes, Frei is boring! If I were his political advisor, I would send him to public speaking classes or have him spend 2 weeks with Obama so that he learned how to talk in public and developed a little more charisma.

In summary, elections are this weekend and I guess I’ll find out who wins by reading the newspaper. I will confess that I’m a little curious to see how a government from the right would do after so many years.

*They gave him the lower price for the champagne.

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Kyle speaking:

I know very little about politics. My only two impressions of the candidates are really that Frei came across as desperate in the debate because he tried to interrupt Pinera every two seconds and he seemed very out of touch. And Pinera, on the other hand, seems totally full of himself, and arrogant. I could care less who wins, I doubt very much will change either way. Anyone else catch the debates?  Who do you think is going to come out on top?