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thfarrell

Feb 23, 2008, 5:02 PM

Post #1 of 3 (3044 views)

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gatopardismo (gatopardo)

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Hi...

In today's "la jornada", there's a headline that reads:

La reforma judicial, “atrocidad” que alienta el gatopardismo

and the body of the article contains this text:

Soberanes Fernández le respondió que ante el incremento de la delincuencia se aumentan las penas. “No se combate a la delincuencia, suben las penas. De cada cien delitos se sancionan tres. Vivimos un engaño del Estado hacia la sociedad. Dicen en el gobierno: ‘sí estamos preocupados’. Es gatopardismo. La delincuencia sube, la sanción no se aplica y vivimos en el engaño”.

Can someone please give me a translation of "gatopardismo"?

Thanks,

Tom

(see:
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2008/02/22/index.php?section=politica&article=011n1pol
for the complete article)
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"Beauty is in the i of the Beholder"
(Julia Mandelbrot)

travisdyer

Feb 23, 2008, 10:07 PM

Post #2 of 3 (3028 views)

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Re: [thfarrell] gatopardismo (gatopardo)

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This is a created word that comes from the story "El Gatopardo", which was written by Giuseppe Tomaci Di Lampedusa. It basically means that there is an apparent change in political realms without the effect of a real change. It's kind of like when the government passes a law with so many loopholes that it, many times, becomes easier to accomplish that which it is meant to abolish.

see: http://www.paradoxportal.com.ar/...ia-gatopardismo.html

(This post was edited by Rolly on Feb 24, 2008, 5:53 AM)

thfarrell

Feb 24, 2008, 9:50 AM

Post #3 of 3 (3008 views)

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Re: [travisdyer] gatopardismo (gatopardo)

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Hi Travis...

Thanks for the helpful reply - much appreciated.

And an interesting link, as well!

Tom
---
"Beauty is in the i of the Beholder"
(Julia Mandelbrot)