However, there are two important caveats. One is that it’s NEVER been any different. Chamoro wasn’t, Aleman wasn’t, and while Bolaños kind of was, the country was really run by the pact between Ortega and Aleman during his term. Prior to the Somozas, it was the same shit with different flies too.

The other caveat is that I believe you are mistaken in your other comment about American investors and retirees eventually getting ripped off. Some might (and most who do will deserve it) but Ortega is actually doing an outstanding job attracting investors and otherwise goosing economic development. There are definitely areas of dictatorial concern, but in most areas Ortega is hands down the best dictator Nicaragua has ever had.

Nicaragua is the kind of case that ought to be in civics textbooks but isn’t. The choices isn’t between pristine democracy on one hand and dictatorial thugs on the other, but between which group of dictatorial thugs you want.

Personally, I think Ortega is going too far, but since I’m acquainted with his reasoning and tend to credit it, I know that he carefully calibrates his authoritarianism. Many years ago he concluded that Allende in Chile made the mistake of being too democratic, but simultaneously decided that Nicaragua didn’t need an authoritarianism as tough as Cuba’s. Since then he has tried to carve out a middle path of soft authoritarianism. I’m hard-pressed to say he is wrong.

And we can look at the bright side. If Ortega isn’t reelected the next time, odds are his looney wife Rosario Murillo will be. Believe me, he’s doing Nicaragua and the world a favor to keep her from ascending to the presidency.

PS. The real problem with the constitutional reforms the Sandinistas are pushing through is not the absence of term limits or allowing military types to serve, but that they will institutionalize Murillo’s neighborhood committees. It’s spooky authoritarian stuff when every neighborhood has an appointed guardian of morals reporting to the daffy First Lady.

The Who said it best….”Meet the new boss, same as the old boss!”

Ortega must be doing something right.

http://www.tradegood.com/en/insights/viewpoints/made-in-nicaragua.html