tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post6258165644946591724..comments2023-05-01T11:44:04.490-03:00Comments on D for Disorientation: Crazy Argentina, take 2Pablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08296074005654785159noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post-33855768757175012142008-05-19T14:44:00.000-03:002008-05-19T14:44:00.000-03:00Hi Tomas,First of all, I think Cristina isn't real...Hi Tomas,<BR/><BR/>First of all, I think Cristina isn't really running the country. She looks like she's just playing the part of the president, and it's obvious she isn't up to it. The ones in charge are her husband and his former ministers and allies. That's why I say "the government" or "Kirchner" but I don't want to focus too much on Cristina.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, I generally don't like people blocking roads, but when the farmers did it and I was forced to wait 15 hours to resume my trip back home (after Easter weekend), I didn't curse them. Their cause seemed right, and everybody blocks roads for the most stupid reasons today.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, that wasn't a good thing to keep up for more than a few days. I liked it more when they resorted to put pressure on their local authorities and representatives. That worked more or less fine until they went back to the roads (the last time). The president offered conciliation and dialogue and, even though we all know a politician's words are worth nothing, they should've immediately taken her up on them. Now they're going to negotiate, but it seems they lost the high moral ground, and the government will be advertising it as a victory for their own ideas. If the farmers get what they want, the rest of the issues under debate will be forgotten - I mean a more just distribution of the money brought in by the retenciones, and the participation of local governments in the national decisions related to agriculture and exports. That's why, while I hope the conflict ends peacefully, I'd rather have it last a bit more so that the government is forced to face and correct its mistakes on all fronts. It can't be that so much money is extracted from us and so little returns (and that at the whim of the president).Pablohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08296074005654785159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post-68520280367032311582008-05-18T23:34:00.000-03:002008-05-18T23:34:00.000-03:00Hi Pablo. Thanks for your insights in this and pre...Hi Pablo. Thanks for your insights in this and previous post. Can you clarify your point of view - I know you don't like la presidenta, now - are you supporting farmers but are against their methods?<BR/>I think in situations like these they are doing the right thing as the experience shows in "more civilized countries" the citizens are gutless to do anything but mumble on the internet/media while the govt. does what it wants. <BR/>So kudos for campesinos, I am with them. And I completely agree with you on what a president SHOULD be. As well as on the potential of Argentina - only a few countries in the world have all conditions set out perfectly for prosperity as Argentina does, it must break your heart, being argentine, to see everything going into the opposite direction.Tomas Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18254401495048928179noreply@blogger.com