How Argentina Embarked on the Road to Ruin

[Iznogud]

Sorry, but no. Capitalism is the problem. Jeff Bezos has $2500 (5 months salary) for every man, woman, and child in Argentina. There's plenty for everyone everywhere in all parts of the world, especially with the population peaking at 9.5 billion in 2040. Just like slavery was "okay" at one time and now it's wrong, capitalism has to die. It got us to a point but it's time for our species to evolve out of it. It's objectively immoral and only leads to wealth hoarding.

 

[Rich One]

Public Health care is a safety net for the Public, not a boutique service for the rich and powerful. In Argentina, one of the problems is definitely the Dynastic Politicians from wealthy families. I am not aware of the personal details of every politician in Argentina, but I would imagine that in the Provincias, there are plenty of lower level politicians who use public health care....?
But the whole point of government services like Public Health care is to give EVERYONE a chance to be healthy.
Obviously, the rich are free to spend more for pampering, not just in health care, but in transportation (Mercedes) in education (Private Universities, or Harvard) in housing (Gated communities) and so on.
The existence of more expensive options does not somehow invalidate the need for public services.

Your many guesses are as good as anyone's ..!

Government Provided Public Health for Everyone, should be of an acceptable Quality NOT, (as you say) a SAFETY NET for the Poor. Who can't afford Private Health Care, where Politicians thrive......! Your analogy is perfect... In Argentina people say "He fell into the Public system" It's a Fall for sure..!

What the rich and super rich do with their money is their concern , BUT the government leaches paid by taxpayers money , need to be Pampered in any possible way..! People servants are not above the People.... ! As someone said..!
I rest my case..!

 

[Iznogud]

Feudalism, check.
Nepotism, check.
Parasitic government clerks ad nausean all over the administrations, check.

We're getting close to a decent description/diagnose, guys. Keep it up!

The heath care is a non-issue. A waste of time and oxygen IMO. Find a more suitable subject, if you please.

Iz

 

[on the brink]

https://moneyweek.com/519101/how-argentina-embarked-on-the-road-to-ruin/

Can't access the article. Could anyone copy and post it, please?

 

[camberiu]

Exactly- the only real "socialist" country left is Cuba.
China is single party capitalist, North Korea is hereditary Monarchy, with added torture, and Russia is a dictatorship with ogliarchs owning everything.

The range of possibilities for the Argentine economy includes many democratic, capitalist options such as the ones in Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and many more. All of which are somewhat "leftist", and none of which are Venezuela.

"Somewhat leftist" when compared to what? Certainly not Argentina. According to the Fraser Institute, Argentina ranked 160 out of 162 countries in its 2018 Economic Freedom Index, just ahead of Libya and Venezuela and dramatically bellow ALL the countries you have listed. So if you are looking for an example of where "unhinged capitalism" crippled a country, Argentina is certainly not it. So whatever range of possibilities you pick, be it Norway, South Korea or Singapore, they all have a LOT more economic freedom than here. Hell, Norway does not even have a legal minimum wage. Neither does Singapore for most professions.And Singapore's government budget is stricly balanced and operates on a surplus. And none of the countries you listed have price or currency controls, and their labor laws are dramatically simpler, less intrusive and less cumbersome than Argentina's. So whichever "somewhat leftist" example you pick, they would all be considered ultra-neo-liberal to most leftists Argentines and even many right-wing ones.
And there lies the crux of the problem.

 

[Rich One]

Roberto Cachanosky a leading economist states in Infobae

Distributing Other People's Wealth isn't Solidarity it's Populism​

Repartir lo ajeno no se llama solidaridad, se llama populismo

El político argentino, en general, piensa más en aumentar la presión tributaria que en preocuparse por la eficiencia del gasto público

www.infobae.com

Google translate..

"The Argentina political leadership tries to make us believe that they have a monopoly on solidarity and the rest of the inhabitants are people with bad feelings that we can only be solidary by force. That is, the State, charging us more taxes, to distribute among those who politicians believe should receive the fruit of our work, is supportive and the rest of us are a lot of bad people".

 

[camberiu]

She nails it.

 

[Rich One]

For details search the Article... The Economist cover says it all The Arg flag on center stage (curtain half drawn), plus a benchmark or printing press or Guillotine? ready to chop the ?emerging Sun?

The Economist criticó la "opaca política monetaria" del BCRA

La revista económica citó además a un economista argentino que comparó el rol de la entidad con el de "una imprenta de la Casa Rosada".

www.cronista.com

 

[JeffR]

She nails it.

I think this is true for most countries, not just Latin / South America or "communist" countries, it just appears in different shapes and forms. Politicians become more entrenched and detached from the real world (Chile is an excellent current example, not only Piñera but the entire political class regardless of how they label themselves) while the business models of large corporations morph into rent seeking.

 

[sergio]

Your many guesses are as good as anyone's ..!

Government Provided Public Health for Everyone, should be of an acceptable Quality NOT, (as you say) a SAFETY NET for the Poor. Who can't afford Private Health Care, where Politicians thrive......! Your analogy is perfect... In Argentina people say "He fell into the Public system" It's a Fall for sure..!

What the rich and super rich do with their money is their concern , BUT the government leaches paid by taxpayers money , need to be Pampered in any possible way..! People servants are not above the People.... ! As someone said..!
I rest my case..!

I find it interesting when I read newspaper reports of titled people in the UK who are taken to hospital due to accidents, surgery etc. They almost always go to NHS hospitals. I doubt very much that politicians in Argentina go to public hospitals - but it's true that in poor provincial areas there may be limited private care. If it's not an emergency I am sure they come to Buenos Aires for treatment. I agree that public hospitals should offer quality care and not be a mere safety net for the poor.