I was born/grew up in places where 'free' stuff was everywhere. None of it really worked well or was actually free. But it was often used as a political tool for indoctrination and manipulation. So I'm pretty sure I know the price of 'free' pretty well.
I'm pretty sure you wouldn't know what national free healthcare and education looks like being a product of dumbed down 'merika. I suggest you watch Sicko and then get back to me when you know what you are talking about.
All I know is I won't be here to know if my country will be rebuilt. Unfortunately, I will die knowing I was among the baby boomers who took what the Greatest Generation gave us and systematically and intentionally destroyed it. A sad way to die.
The "Greatest Generation" were mostly big fans of FDR and his "New Deal" which set the stage for later government size and influence. They also allowed the soviets to infiltrate US institutions, pretty "great" of them...
Most boomers carried the socialist baton from them, but the millennials have definitely carried on the dream of a "socialist utopia". They're just mad because they're near the end of the Pyramid scheme. That anger will be manipulated to destroy their own society.
I spent a fair amount of time in Argentina, probably 30-40 trips in the early 2000s when the Peso got down to 2.75:1 as compared to the dollar. Nestor Kirchner had recently been elected, and it was obvious to me that things were about to change. There was already trouble. I believe the country had de-pegged from the dollar. Pensions were nationalized soon thereafter. Argentines already were familiar with inflation. At least in Buenos Aires, all real estate was denominated in dollars, not pesos. So, anyone with any capital put their money into real estate. This is what gave rise to all the "Palermo" suburbs outside of microcentro (downtown) Buenos Aires.
While the Kirchners' continuation of Peronista policies was undoubtedly ruinous, I think the stage was set for a marked divergence with the US -- in terms of GDP -- at Argentina's founding. The country emerged from a Spanish land rights tradition, while the US emerged from an English land rights tradition. When Argentina separated from Spain, there were already huge land grants (estancias) to a relatively low number of "noble" families. They would hire people to work the land, but there was no incentive to break up these large tracts, or even maximize their efficiency. By contrast, the US migrated West, where any citizen with a little ambition could frequently claim 40 acres and have their own tract of land, so long as they promised to work the land.
That gave rise to a middle class in the USA, and efficient land use. In Argentina, my experience even in the early 2000s was that there was no middle class. There are the rich and those who live paycheck-to-paycheck. There is no in between. I suspect the Kirchners' perpetuation of Peronista policies helped cement this in place. The rich can always find a way to protect themselves from inflation. But, I think the seeds were set for this two caste system long before Juan Peron.
That could fill an entire book! I’d need to think of a specific (and relevant) angle. But I was actually thinking of writing about our experiences with healthcare there. My wife recently had an appendectomy. But off the top of my head, the biggest issue is the hot weather and humidity (unpleasant in both winter and summer).
I'd be interested in articles about healthcare/health insurance abroad. In a country I'm looking at visiting, I can get a premium health insurance plan for less than the cost of a basic plan in the US. The hospitals are modern have the latest technologies, and the doctors are experienced (for minor and major surgeries).
FWIW, one historian I can definitely recommend is José Ignacio García Hamilton. He’s written extensively on Argentina’s authoritarianism and unproductiveness, covering figures like Alberdi, Perón, and others. I’m not sure if any of his works are available in English though. Unfortunately, many other historians (I don't know all of them, of course) who cover Argentina are rabid statists, so you often get a warped view of what really happened.
Ha, I was able to resist, because in socialism (I was there before VLLC) everyone should be equal, but they wanted foreigners to pay more entrance fee! So I went for a smoke with Carlos Gardel instead
Nice take Lau. If you think the US is heading down the socialist path then chekc out the policies in countries such as Canada the UK, & even Australia (but we are always a few years behind, copying what we see abroad).
If you measure Argentinas GDP at the exchange rate that reflects reality in the economy (blue rate) you get a figurer which reflects close to a typical salary in West Africa - then run that number against USD GDP per capita - it's horrendous.
I'm hoping Argentina can keep faith in Milei in the mid-terms next year. He currently has minimal congress support but everyday the kukas (kirchnerists) keep torching themselves with scandals and it's the media is fully exposing them.
Stay tuned for the next episode shortly - currently they're going through the kirchnerist ex-presidents phone and finding some very concerning events which is killing their public support!
You shit the bed with this US indoctrinated belief that two important services being free lead to destruction. "free medical care, free college,"
I was born/grew up in places where 'free' stuff was everywhere. None of it really worked well or was actually free. But it was often used as a political tool for indoctrination and manipulation. So I'm pretty sure I know the price of 'free' pretty well.
I'm pretty sure you wouldn't know what national free healthcare and education looks like being a product of dumbed down 'merika. I suggest you watch Sicko and then get back to me when you know what you are talking about.
Them being free is a lie. Nothing is free, ever. The money is taken from the productive citizens.
All I know is I won't be here to know if my country will be rebuilt. Unfortunately, I will die knowing I was among the baby boomers who took what the Greatest Generation gave us and systematically and intentionally destroyed it. A sad way to die.
The "Greatest Generation" were mostly big fans of FDR and his "New Deal" which set the stage for later government size and influence. They also allowed the soviets to infiltrate US institutions, pretty "great" of them...
Most boomers carried the socialist baton from them, but the millennials have definitely carried on the dream of a "socialist utopia". They're just mad because they're near the end of the Pyramid scheme. That anger will be manipulated to destroy their own society.
That's a sad thought indeed. But don't beat yourself up too much about it. We don't believe in collective responsibility:)
I spent a fair amount of time in Argentina, probably 30-40 trips in the early 2000s when the Peso got down to 2.75:1 as compared to the dollar. Nestor Kirchner had recently been elected, and it was obvious to me that things were about to change. There was already trouble. I believe the country had de-pegged from the dollar. Pensions were nationalized soon thereafter. Argentines already were familiar with inflation. At least in Buenos Aires, all real estate was denominated in dollars, not pesos. So, anyone with any capital put their money into real estate. This is what gave rise to all the "Palermo" suburbs outside of microcentro (downtown) Buenos Aires.
While the Kirchners' continuation of Peronista policies was undoubtedly ruinous, I think the stage was set for a marked divergence with the US -- in terms of GDP -- at Argentina's founding. The country emerged from a Spanish land rights tradition, while the US emerged from an English land rights tradition. When Argentina separated from Spain, there were already huge land grants (estancias) to a relatively low number of "noble" families. They would hire people to work the land, but there was no incentive to break up these large tracts, or even maximize their efficiency. By contrast, the US migrated West, where any citizen with a little ambition could frequently claim 40 acres and have their own tract of land, so long as they promised to work the land.
That gave rise to a middle class in the USA, and efficient land use. In Argentina, my experience even in the early 2000s was that there was no middle class. There are the rich and those who live paycheck-to-paycheck. There is no in between. I suspect the Kirchners' perpetuation of Peronista policies helped cement this in place. The rich can always find a way to protect themselves from inflation. But, I think the seeds were set for this two caste system long before Juan Peron.
I'm not sure if I'm fully on board with this but thanks for the nuanced take!
Ditto
Could you please write about your history in Paraguay and the pros and cons of the country in your view?
That could fill an entire book! I’d need to think of a specific (and relevant) angle. But I was actually thinking of writing about our experiences with healthcare there. My wife recently had an appendectomy. But off the top of my head, the biggest issue is the hot weather and humidity (unpleasant in both winter and summer).
Thank you. I’d read it. The article could say why do you choose to live there among all the other options.
I'd be interested in articles about healthcare/health insurance abroad. In a country I'm looking at visiting, I can get a premium health insurance plan for less than the cost of a basic plan in the US. The hospitals are modern have the latest technologies, and the doctors are experienced (for minor and major surgeries).
I am headed to Argentina on my third trip in a year.
I will bring my niece for her introduction to the family.
This time our corporation is established as a SRL. The baby is released from the hospital to live a full life.
We are headed to Mendoza during the stay for a wonderful experience.
The open step, curious mind seeking new experiences.
What is the best book you can recommend on the history of Argentina?
FWIW, one historian I can definitely recommend is José Ignacio García Hamilton. He’s written extensively on Argentina’s authoritarianism and unproductiveness, covering figures like Alberdi, Perón, and others. I’m not sure if any of his works are available in English though. Unfortunately, many other historians (I don't know all of them, of course) who cover Argentina are rabid statists, so you often get a warped view of what really happened.
Let me get back to you on that. I’ll check in with my Argentine friends and see what they think.
No chance of ever running into you at "El Perón Perón" I guess :-)
Ha ha. Hardly. Though I'm shallow enough to visit his wife's tomb. Missus insists:).
Ha, I was able to resist, because in socialism (I was there before VLLC) everyone should be equal, but they wanted foreigners to pay more entrance fee! So I went for a smoke with Carlos Gardel instead
Nice take Lau. If you think the US is heading down the socialist path then chekc out the policies in countries such as Canada the UK, & even Australia (but we are always a few years behind, copying what we see abroad).
If you measure Argentinas GDP at the exchange rate that reflects reality in the economy (blue rate) you get a figurer which reflects close to a typical salary in West Africa - then run that number against USD GDP per capita - it's horrendous.
I'm hoping Argentina can keep faith in Milei in the mid-terms next year. He currently has minimal congress support but everyday the kukas (kirchnerists) keep torching themselves with scandals and it's the media is fully exposing them.
Stay tuned for the next episode shortly - currently they're going through the kirchnerist ex-presidents phone and finding some very concerning events which is killing their public support!
I feel like, in the UK, we're more probably destined to become like Brazil as opposed to Argentina. An even more severe cautionary tale!
Depends on the metrics you're using:) but, yes, in some ways, it def is.