Farmer's Strike resumes and this time it will get worse..

[perry]

Remember RWS just 6 months a majority elected her in Argentina and she had over 60 percent positive support in this country. Now this has dropped incredibly to below 30 percent . Will this change quickly you bet it will .

 

[rmartinbuenosaires]

As usual I completely disagree with the Pericles. The "victory" that was won by Sra Kirchner was rigged. The votes were paid for by the Venezuelan government to help them attain yet another left wing government in South America which "claims" to support the poor masses. The illiterate poor will vote for anyone for 100 pesos. Even official government reports, however inaccurate they are, claim she didn't win any major cities in Argentina and certainly not BA. I have never encountered anyone who supported her.People are definitely fed up with the current administration and the damage they have done with their greediness to secure higher taxes and "redistribute" the money to the poor. Just like the money that the Kirchners made in Santa Cruz Province which they sent to a Swiss bank account for "secure" keeping. I understand the money is now in some account in the U.S. and is actually frozen but you won't hear anything about that because the Kirchners are thieves. Meanwhile, the country will continue to slide into economic chaos and they will have enormous trouble trying to get international loans this time since they screwed over the IMF during the last debacle. Foreign investment is not pouring in as you may believe and the Italians and Spanish, among others, are still not happy with the worthless bonds that they invested in here.No it will all come falling down and the cycle will start all over as usual. Hopefully the Argentines will wake up and smell the coffee once and for all but I doubt it.

 

[RWS]

My question is not so much what will happen to the present government -- it's unpopular, it'll be discredited, and it will pass away -- but, rather, why the Argentine people as a whole continue to support the harmful Peronist policies.
After three generations (going back to the decade before Peron came to power, to the beginning of significant socialism in Argentina) of economic stagnation and frustration, why do most Argentines continue to believe that their governments and their policies are the best they can have? Is it because of class envy ("better that you and I should both be poor and miserable, than that you should be rich and I just middling") or because of -- what? Some deep-seated fatalism?
I really don't think that it's some sort of resignation that impells the majority of Argentines to support these failed policies and accept the corruption which those cloak. Else, why would those millions of Italian and Spanish immigrants have come in the first place? But, after a dozen years of spending time in Buenos Aires, I'm baffled.

 

[perry]

Agree or disagree Christina Kirchner won the vote and had a support ratimg at over 60 percent after the elections. Now her support has dropped substantially due mainly to the farmers strike. Do I see that her support would rise once agin you bet I will because of the simple fact Argentines will change their minds at a drop of a hat if everything gets back to normal.
I suggest that you all look at Argentinas History and see tremendous evidence of their nature . Remember in the 1950s Peron was exiled from the country due to the country virtually falling apart in his last years of office. But many years later he was relected as the President again . How many societies do you know that would do this and have done this RM Buenos Aires?
The only thing to Expect from Argentina is the unexpected

 

[steveinbsas]

I think it is great to analize what is going on here, but one should be careful not to scare everybody and make them think that the end is coming, especially other fellow expats that are not used to these protests and the crazy events that take place in this country, as most might get terrified.

But in yesterday's International Herald Tribune: "The Global Edition of the New York Times"http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/17/business/LA-FIN-Argentina-Farmers-Strike.php
"BUENOS AIRES, Argentina:
Thousands of Argentines poured into the streets Monday, banging pots
and honking car horns to demand the government resume talks to end a
100-day farmers strike that has blocked grain exports and emptied
supermarket shelves of food."I think the NYT has a lot more power to scare or terrify "everybody"
than anyone who posts on this forum, and the IHT is a primary source in English for the news in Argentina.
Perhaps the reporter who wrote this story didn't actually go into any of the supermarkets, which, as of yesterday (at least in Recoleta), were still pretty well supplied with almost everything except pork, chicken, lettuce, and milk. Of course this could change drastically in a few more days.

 

[rmartinbuenosaires]

Pericles-How do you suppose the "economy is going to roar back" shortly after this crisis is settled?Are you not aware that neighboring countries like Brazil are already looking elsewhere for produce they used to get from Argentina? Are you not aware that the entire world is in an economic meltdown with high oil prices, inflation in Europe and the U.S., food shortages, natural disasters, etc. Do you possibly think Argentina can rise above it all? C'mon. If the U.S. and Europe are in dire straits do you really think a "developing" (its been developing for the last 60 years) country can withstand the current economic situation? Lets be realistic, Argentina is but of miniscule importance in the big picture. They will surely not be better for it. As I always tell you, Dear Pericles, take off those rose glasses and get a new eye test.

 

[nikad]

I think it is great to analize what is going on here, but one should be careful not to scare everybody and make them think that the end is coming, especially other fellow expats that are not used to these protests and the crazy events that take place in this country, as most might get terrified.

But in yesterday's International Herald Tribune: "The Global Edition of the New York Times"http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/17/business/LA-FIN-Argentina-Farmers-Strike.php
"BUENOS AIRES, Argentina:

Thousands of Argentines poured into the streets Monday, banging pots

and honking car horns to demand the government resume talks to end a

100-day farmers strike that has blocked grain exports and emptied

supermarket shelves of food."I think the NYT has a lot more power to scare or terrify "everybody"

than anyone who posts on this forum, and the IHT is a primary source in English for the news in Argentina.
Perhaps the reporter who wrote this story didn't actually go into any of the supermarkets, which, as of yesterday (at least in Recoleta), were still pretty well supplied with almost everything except pork, chicken, lettuce, and milk. Of course this could change drastically in a few more days.

Steve, I didn´t mean to accuse you, it is just scary for any foreigner the idea of not being able to take a flight and leave if they want to. Not being able to buy some items is not nice either, but for an expat the idea of being trapped and being unsure of what is going on here ( let´s face it, not even us locals fully understand what is going on! ) can be terrifying. I am all for being cautious, but just thought that was a little bit too much. Hope I haven´t offended you.
nik

 

[steveinbsas]

Steve, I didn´t mean to accuse you, it is just scary for any foreigner the idea of not being able to take a flight and leave if they want to. Not being able to buy some items is not nice either, but for an expat the idea of being trapped and being unsure of what is going on here ( let´s face it, not even us locals fully understand what is going on! ) can be terrifying. I am all for being cautious, but just thought that was a little bit too much. Hope I haven´t offended you.
nik

Nik, No, I wasn't at all offended. I was actually afraid (though not yet terrified) that I would not be able to get to the airport if there was a severe nafta (petrol) shortage, and I did not know that GNC (which fuels most of he taxis) was piped directly to the service stations. My post was based on my own fear and ignorance. I am happy and relieved to know this isn't likely to be a serious consequence of the strike! Steve

 

[nikad]

Steve, I didn´t mean to accuse you, it is just scary for any foreigner the idea of not being able to take a flight and leave if they want to. Not being able to buy some items is not nice either, but for an expat the idea of being trapped and being unsure of what is going on here ( let´s face it, not even us locals fully understand what is going on! ) can be terrifying. I am all for being cautious, but just thought that was a little bit too much. Hope I haven´t offended you.
nik
Nik, No, I wasn't at all offended. I was actually afraid (though not yet terrified) that I would not be able to get to the airport if there was a severe nafta (petrol) shortage, and I did not know that GNC (which fuels most of he taxis) was piped directly to the service stations. My post was based on my own fear and ignorance. I am happy and relieved to know this isn't likely to be a serious consequence of the strike! Steve

And I am sure you are not the only one that feels relieved

 

[perry]

RMartin Buenos Aires I find your tone always doom and gloom and also patronising to other members .. If you feel that Brazil or Chile is better it is not difficult to move there as they are our neighbours.
I am very realistic about Argentina and Argentines and do not have any misconceptions about the society here. I do not share the opinion of many that this is a start of something bigger. This crisis will blow over and this country will bounce back quick simply for the reasons that the world needs what Argentina has to offer. As much as people say that they have lost their clients from all this the simple fact is the prices and quality of the merchandise greatly favours them buying from us.
In one year lets have this conversation again and see who is right and if I am wrong I will publicly acknowledge here that I am wrong . I hope that you do the same RMartin Buenos Aires