12 months of technological bombardment

A  successful Barack Obama election strategy will play a big  role in Panama’s upcoming elections.

When he first ran for president Obama's techie wizards set up an electronic communications program able to directly target potential voters with personalized messages, including millions of new young voters who thought a land line was something thrown from a ship. For them the cell phone was more important than three square meals a day. 

The messages they received  were  based on analytical data showing  their personal preferences, donating habits, social networks, educational background, likes and dislikes and more and more, all calculated to determine what turned them on and which hot button to press at any  given time to get the right instant reaction to current situations, from global warming to overseas wars. The program   even brought in millions in cash donations.
The techniques continue to be finely tuned and are an ad man’s dream or a vindication of the Orwellian Big Brother prediction. Goebbels, Hitler's evil propaganda genius would have loved it.
Panama, already becoming an Americas data center will be sure to use every technological device and networking technique from Twitter to Facebook and beyond during the next 12 months. 
Nothing so simple as those giant  army ghetto plasters used in Panama in 1989 to help drive Noriega from hiding in the Papal embassy.
Those who have replaced ears with cell phones, or carry their touch pads under their arms like a proselytizing pastor with his bible and the mantra: “It’s In the Book”, will get the message from all quarters. They will be bombarded with manipulated tweets, doctored truths, half-truths, lies and misinformation on a scale previously unattainable.
Those running for office will have the electronic wizardry largely paid out of the public purse, while they strive for a guaranteed income and perks, including a gas allowance, for the next five years. Some of them will also be funded by private interests seeking to get their share of the pot of gold when the next government is elected, and the wise financial donors will be hedging their bets by spreading the Balboas to outstretched palms on both sides of the political spectrum.
That’s why judges, of the Electoral Tribunal, present and past, have issued warnings to the over two million eligible voters to beware of the propaganda bombardment over the next 12 months and to look instead at the credentials of the candidates .
Some of those seeking re-election will already have paved the way with gifts in the way of preferential treatment in getting local facilities upgraded, plus numerous photo-ops or, more directly. by handing out goodies like Christmas hams (paid out of the public purse also ,with ample photo ops).
None of this is new in the world of politics, it’s just more technological and faster, and like those eternal selling messages that move from Facebook to your inbox will help wear out your delete button.
Meanwhile, for political junkies there will be lots of fun in Panama as the politicos get caught up in overweening ambition (just look at the list of those who want to be mayor), self-delusion, shifting sands or verbal crossfire.
And then there’s the question of party loyalties. How easily those can be changed, by threats, cash or political postings)
As a sampling of what’s to come, La Prensa reported May 5, that Jose Ramos, secretary general of the Partido Popular (PP), accused PRD presidential candidate Juan Carlos Navarro of leaking information related to the alliance negotiations between the parties.
Ramos said the situation was created by Navarro's relationship with PP Vice President Javier López. López apparently sent a a counterproposal to the PRD while the party was negotiating possible alliances with the PRD and Panameñista parties.
PRD official Rogelio Paredes said the note did not appear to be real, López has authenticated it. "He definitely abused our trust," said Ramos.
Meanwhile, Panameñista legislator José Blandón who, among other things wants to be mayor, said that the PRD will lose 7.5 percent of its votes due to the lack of support by the PP.
"If Navarro thinks that he will win with only the votes of the PRD, he is wrong," said Blandon who is a standard provider of quotes for unimaginative political reporters.
In the letter that was leaked, the PP set up conditions for a possible alliance with the PRD that included demands for support for PP candidates from certain districts and for vice mayor positions.
And then of course there are “dirty tricks” with lots of US political advisors ready to sell their poison pills to the highest bidder. There is no David Murcia Guzman around this time to cast a shadow on donations, but as Mr Micawber so rightly said: “Something will turn up”
Stay tuned, just 12 months to go.