How long before this is happening here?

[Tiny12]

It seems the Cato Institute (who ever they may be) has rated Argentina to be 4th in the world for pain and misery. Venezuela came in at # 1! http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.or...eryindexbg.jpg.

What happened to the edit function?

Shit! It's not that bad.

If you created the thread you can't edit.

[Gandolf50]

It seems the Cato Institute (who ever they may be) has rated Argentina to be 4th in the world for pain and misery. Venezuela came in at # 1! http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.or...eryindexbg.jpg.

What happened to the edit function?

[Gandolf50]

Although there are similarities between Venezuela and Argentina there are also big and important differences. The most important being that neither the police nor the armed forces are pro Cristina. In Venezuela they are pro Chavez / Maduro. Cristina has chosen Milani as chief of the army; an ex-repressor but not very popular amongst the troops.

Another big difference is that Venezuela needs to import almost all its food, Argentina doesn't. Full stomachs tend to quell revolutionary tendencies.

As to her leaving earlier; there are some extreme right-wing activists that want her kicked out but mostly they are dinosaurs from a time when Latin American politics were allowed or limited by the military coups. Today that is unacceptable. The Cristinistas would like it because in a few years everyone will have forgotten most of her incompetence and she could use the fact she was kicked out ahead of time as the reason she didn't convert Argentina into a paradise on Earth.

Most of the opposition and the general population want her to finish her term in government so that when she finally leaves there will be no doubt about her absolute incompetence.

What you say is true, but 20 years ago, pre-Chavez, Venezuela did not import much food. With all his "social programs" he created a nation that lived off of his redistribution of wealth. I see the same thing happening here. While Argentina is very rich in agriculture, why are there children dieing every month here due to lack of clean water and of starvation?

[Aqualung]

Although there are similarities between Venezuela and Argentina there are also big and important differences. The most important being that neither the police nor the armed forces are pro Cristina. In Venezuela they are pro Chavez / Maduro. Cristina has chosen Milani as chief of the army; an ex-repressor but not very popular amongst the troops.

Another big difference is that Venezuela needs to import almost all its food, Argentina doesn't. Full stomachs tend to quell revolutionary tendencies.

As to her leaving earlier; there are some extreme right-wing activists that want her kicked out but mostly they are dinosaurs from a time when Latin American politics were allowed or limited by the military coups. Today that is unacceptable. The Cristinistas would like it because in a few years everyone will have forgotten most of her incompetence and she could use the fact she was kicked out ahead of time as the reason she didn't convert Argentina into a paradise on Earth.

Most of the opposition and the general population want her to finish her term in government so that when she finally leaves there will be no doubt about her absolute incompetence.

[Gandolf50]

Today Maduro accuses the opposition of trying to overthrow the "legitimate Venezuelan government " with help from the United States! I wonder what took him so long to try and the place blame on the US? Chavez made the same accusations almost every week! Remember when he accused the CIA of a plot to infect every South American president with cancer? LOL! Gee! I wish the CIA had its shit together enough to be able to do that!

[Wild Walleye]

There are elections to deal with.

If she resigns now and the final fall from grace of the economy occurs under someone else's presidency, the K's may rise again.

The current situation is the result of structural problems that started in the late 1940's and each successive example of thievery has surpassed the prior.

Bob, I hope you are well.

IMO, the structural problems began even earlier than that. I'd peg the beginning of the end (for Argentina as a member of the first world) around the turn of the century (19th into 20th). Then again, most all of the world's problems seem to intensify in the wake of the industrial revolution. The divergent ways in which countries embraced or rejected the industrial revolution set the trajectory for those that would remain or become "haves" and those who would remain or become "have nots."

Part of the US success story has been the forty-some-odd highly-scripted and legally-mandated transfers of power from out-going to incoming leadership. That was part of the design that has functioned as intended by the framers. Lame ducks are not allowed to beat a hasty retreat at their political convenience. You sit in that chair until the third week in January unless you go out feet first or kicking and screaming.

The peaceful and orderly transition of power has never been Argentina's strong suit.

[Miami Bob]

There are elections to deal with.

If she resigns now and the final fall from grace of the economy occurs under someone else's presidency, the K's may rise again.

The current situation is the result of structural problems that started in the late 1940's and each successive example of thievery has surpassed the prior.

[Gandolf50]

An interesting editorial observation from James Neilson in the Buenos Aries Herald speculates that her detractors do not want her abdicating her throne until the bitter end.

True, that way the blame sits on her and only her!

[Jackson]

Will she decide to retire to Chile -- when?

An interesting editorial observation from James Neilson in the Buenos Aries Herald speculates that her detractors do not want her abdicating her throne until the bitter end.

They [Cristina's opposition strategists] also fear the economy is cracking up. But they are in no hurry to speed Cristina’s departure. Though the lady herself likes to accuse the opposition of plotting her downfall, many alleged coup-mongers say they are determined to make her stay in office until the entire economy has collapsed so there can be no doubt as to who was responsible for the disaster. Of course, that is not the only reason. They all know perfectly well that Cristina’s successor will have to apply an extremely painful austerity programme. While interim president, Eduardo Duhalde managed to get away with one [painful austerity programme] because it was generally agreed that he was not to blame for the mess the country found itself in. Opposition hopefuls want to be given the same leeway even though, for that to happen, Argentina’s economy would have to go into meltdown with Cristina still in the Pink House and not, as Kirchnerites would presumably prefer, several weeks after she decided that enough is enough and her compatriots no longer deserved to be ruled by her.

[Daddy Rulz]

I was checking out a special about Venezuela. 43 fucking murders per day, number 4 in the world. What a socialist paradise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._homicide_rate.

[Gandolf50]

I love the way Cristina continues to support Maduro even though it is obvious its all over for him. Not terrorism but bad policies and management. Just like here in Argentina.

[Miami Bob]

There venezuenlan community in Miami is very, very angry.

[Gandolf50]

The shit has hit the fan so to speak: http://caracaschronicles.com/2014/02...-game-changed/.

Since Cristina has been following Chavez's "model" , how long until this starts happening here? I guess once you can no longer buy toilet paper its all but over?