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Protesters
I'm frankly amazed that none of you guys have mention anything about last nights demonstrations or the reasons why.
The whole city was out banging pots & pans together, one very impressive show of force. These people are not happy down here and theres going to be bloodshed.
Exon
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[QUOTE=Exon123]I'm frankly amazed that none of you CockSuckers have mention anything about last nights demonstrations or the reasons why.
The whole city was out banging pots & pans together, one very impressive show of force. These people are not happy down here and theres going to be bloodshed.
Exon[/QUOTE]I was fucking in an hotel last night and I was scared thinking that her boyfriend discovered us and hired a lot of mob to punish our love. Switching to the news while making love it's definetly a turn-off. So she turned it off, I never found the reason why people were protesting but I had a juicy blow job, because I kept concerned about the protest and she was trying to answer the reasons while sucking. So if protest equals juicy blow job, Viva la revolucion!
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Protest
Apparently the protest is in favor of farmers who oppose government (usually blaming the Kirchners) interference in the food commodities markets. There is a delivery slowdown or stoppage going on, and the capital has been low on beef as a result.
The farmers object to government control of pricing and / or limits on and taxation of exports. The government threatens to stop meat exports to keep prices down for domestic consumption. That is prior Kirchner move and part of the effort to keep the 'basic food basket' inflation rate down. They know it is bad economics but defend it at times as necessary; Argentines cannot and will not suffer austerity indefinitely.
The government reported inflation of 1.4% for the first two months of 2008 (under 10% per year) and everyone I have talked to thinks it is much higher.
The latest round of protests started with a large export tax imposed on soy and sunflower oil. Prices are way up and the government wants part of the "windfall."
At least one Argentine I talked to told me that a lot of the protest is generated by wealthy agri-business types who have brand new $ 50,000 cars, adding that a lot of the difference between the limited amounts that they receive for beef and what it sells for in the supermarket ends up in government hands. He added that there is a general anti-inflation sentiment in the protest, even though it is a ultimately a protest against inflation control policy. Kind of a "its all messed up" theory.
Anyone have stronger information? This is chit-chat from the street and web-blogs.
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The Argentine Way
Find a sector of the economy that's working just fine (in this case Agriculture) then find a way to kill it. I think most of the people are supporting the strike as more of a general "we're sick of this" than really understanding the implications for the economy as a whole. If the economy were deregulated, prices would skyrocket. In the short run it would hurt a lot of people, but in the long run it would benefit the whole economy. But still, I think it may get ugly and there may be minor bloodshed before it's done. In the meantime, does Ramiro still have meat?
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If this keeps up, the will be little meat left even in the restaurant. I was in the supermarket today, only thing they had was sausage and chicken. So I brought a lot of chicken, and froze it. Also brought rice and stuff that can keep a while.
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[QUOTE=Tessan]If this keeps up, the will be little meat left even in the restaurant. I was in the supermarket today, only thing they had was sausage and chicken. So I brought a lot of chicken, and froze it. Also brought rice and stuff that can keep a while.[/QUOTE]Tessan, the restaurants have their own suppliers of meat and some of them actually have cattle. However, in talking with a few of the owners of popular restaurants they related to me they can last about one more month before their supply runs out. Also, they raised the menu prices about 6 % these past few days.
The other day I was in Mataderos, this is the area where they bring cows in to be slaughtered-----It was spooky, not a truck full of cows to be seen, not even a mooooo sound.
The comedores (soup kitchens) I know near or in the villas have not received any food or support from the government. They are turning kids away who need food.
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Farming.
I would highly recommend Mrs. Fernandez to work in the administration of a farm for some time. And maybe do some get-your-hands-dirty work in between.
Costs of operatng a farm are in Pesos, "Argentine costs"?
- Agrochemicals are paid in Dollars, they are related to petroleum prices.
- Massey Fergusson or John Deere equipment is paid in Dollars.
- Netafim irrigation stuff coming from Israel is paid in Dollars.
- Energy costs are paid in Dollars.
- the list is expandable.
Ok, salaries are paid in Pesos. They make up for 25 to 33% of a farm's operating costs, depending on the crop produced. The rest is directly or indirectly linked to the world market, payable in foreign currency.
Argentina is the only country I know that imposes export taxes, basically killing the only sector of their economy that brings foreign currency into the country. As long as this tax is a few % , it is bearable - this is compensated by the cost benefit due to cheaper labour, compared with producers in other parts of the world, especially the U. S.
An export tax of 45% onto soybeans or soybean oil just kicks the Argentine producer out of the market. People in Iowa or Illinois certainly love Mrs. Fernandez for taking care of their competition in such a beautiful way.
Now, what are the implications for the world market of, say, soybeans? Taking away a substantial part of the world's supply in a situation that is already characterized by an overdemand (be it real or speculative) with associated high prices, will only drive prices up even more - maybe to a level where the Argies again become competitive. The real windfall goes to producers elsewhere, and even more speculators. The bill is finally paid by consumers all over the world. Including Argentina, because producers won't sell their product cheaper locally than abroad. The competition is not the other Argie Soybean farmer, but the guy from Des Moines.
Farmers, by the way, nead a windfall from time to time. They also occasionally get a hailfall, or similar bad luck. Farming business has to be profitable on a multi year average. And I did not hear anything from the Argentine government to compensate me for the 2/3 of my crop that have been killed during the frost of last July (the day when it snowed in Buenos Aires, the first time since 88 years)
2 centavos from.
El Alemán
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Rock and a hard place
Looks to me like CFK has got herself in a bit of a corner with this mess. She's going to have to make a move one way or the other soon, elsewise face the populace getting more up in arms due to increasing lack of foodstuffs. The common folk may not have much in common with some of the big time agri boys, but they won't put up with lack of food and inevitable major price increases. So CFK either must take this head on with force (not likely) or negoitiate a settlement re the export tax. She clearly made a mistake with her demeaning speech the other day and I think miscalculated what support she might receive. No matter how it ends up she is going to be left with either alot, or a little, egg on her face. Many folks are also weary of seeing the government call out their hired thugs (D'Elia) to intimidate the protesters. D'Elia is a piece of slime and certainly has no rightful place in anybody's government, much less one who ostensibly is about righting grave wrongs, both in the distant past and present.
My too hard to find centavos.
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The thing it's: If you make money, you'll be prosecuted and squeezed. (and if you don't, you'll be ignored) This kind of attitude happens in almost every country.
However: yesterday, and today, people still protesting in the streets and at their own homes in some neighborhoods in the city. I've took advantage and I'm protesting too! Two sticks and an empty paint case (sounds very hard) and no one can complain. Revolution!
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I am hearing on TV that the farm strike might be over, since there going to be talk, but on the net, it says talk rejected. Guess I get more info in the morning.
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My nearest supermarket is out of most luncheon type meat, and all beef, except for some expensive cuts. The shelves were full last weekend.
I went to a local place yesterday, and got a take out menu. The prices were cheaper for delivery, so I called to order a 14 peso Bife de Chorizo tonight, and was told it was 20 pesos now. Sheeeeeit, don't hand out price lists, then.:)