"Juan Galt". I love it. I don't know much about the details of Argentina's troubles, but I wish them the best, and I'm glad that the cause of liberty is alive and well.
If you got the reference, an overly simplistic summary is that the book was supposed to be a warning. But Collectivists in Argentina used it instead as an operating manual. They've reaped the only logical result. And "troubles" is a diplomatic way of putting it.
I too admire and wish President Javier Milei success in revising the corrupt Argentine status quo. That he believes he can and uses Ayn Rand's thinking to do so gives me hope that he will make a significant difference to that army of trough eaters
But taking on an ideology without understanding it fully leaves one powerless to dismantling it. The belief than man may not alter the environment is deeply imbedded in the movement and it is a mythology that carries forward in the minds of its strident supporters. It is also utterly contradicted by both reason and our human legacy.
In an unaltered environment I'd bet 99% of the world's people would be cadavers in a couple of months, a plight I don't wish on my fellow world travellers despite the fact that all too many think it would be no problem and would yield an even better world than we live in today.
An ideological willingness to commit suicide does not paint an attractive picture. And thanks for being a beacon of sanity in a world gone mad.
Brilliant article Mental. Fantastic way to end the year and thank your for the fascinating articles throughout 2023. Happy new year and I look forward to your 2024 writings.
What I mainly worry about for Argentina's sake is the possibility that, in his zeal to rapidly modernize and mobilize resource exploitation, Milei ends up selling these resources out to US or Chinese corporations who end up colonizing the place, strip-mining it, and leaving them a wreck.
We share some of that concern. There is no shortage of examples of such problems in S. America over the last century.
Savvy, indeed. He has clearly signaled a turn toward the U.S. and away from China. Bloomberg interview in August: "we will not make pacts with Communists".
That's really reassuring to hear. But at the same time, with so many captured interests in the US, I'd hate to see Argentina become an open lithium mine for solar panels or other bullshit and the money getting siphoned out of the country.
That's the tough tightrope to walk with South American countries pulling themselves up out of economic wreckage using their natural resources- the temptation to nationalize and try to ward off foreign exploitation is understandable. Hopefully Venezuela is a good cautionary tale for those states with eyes to see.
Wonderful, wonderful post. Your opening Ayn Rand quote is a keeper. I need to bookmark that one. The rest of the article flows seamlessly from there. Well done.
U.S. investment capital, risk taking, technology will help. But corporations will be wary. Some early movers taking the most risk likely gain the most.
While I wish Milei well, I’m afraid the time is not yet right. Things are going to get worse, much worse, and not just in Argentina, before the people will be ready to overthrow the rule of Soros and his kind.
They're clearly going to get worse there before they get better. In his inauguration speech, he attempts to prepare citizens for that reality.
When we left in May, the official exchange rate was around 270 pesos to the dollar
but there several color pesos (and exchange rates, one official, the others not), hard to keep track of. (Green peso, blue peso, etc.). Looks like the official is over 800 at present (and the street market value is likely even higher).
Many told us "we have been here before...."......"we're used to this s#%t". So while we expect it to be tough, get worse, we have hope they're near the bottom.
Mrs. American Psycho is from South America and went to Buenos Aries with her mother in 2014 when the official exchange rate of USD/ARS was 8. When she asked about the now rate of 800 I informed her, “the eggs have not changed, the money has.”
There was once a time when the left would have opposed the likes of George Soros and Klaus Schwab spending endless amounts to impoverish them and restrict their civil liberties. Until the time comes when the sociopathic plutocrats are constrained from their war on middle and working class people, economic development in which ordinary people share in the wealth, Argentina will face an uphill battle. However if Milei and his allies were to be given a decade to change course, Argentina could rightly take its place as an affluent nation.
I hope you are overly pessimistic, but also believe you are closer to the truth. So many opportunities to let humanity be free of the evil from the Soros revenue stream, are thwarted by complacency and inaction of the very same masses that are suffering from it.
Does Argentina still have sovereign bonds? Who holds them, and how have they been trading?
Also, here’s Milei on the failures of the greenies:
https://x.com/milei_explains/status/1739862399119684090?s=46
Great writeup and glad to hear you made it down there. It’s really an incredible place.
"Juan Galt". I love it. I don't know much about the details of Argentina's troubles, but I wish them the best, and I'm glad that the cause of liberty is alive and well.
If you got the reference, an overly simplistic summary is that the book was supposed to be a warning. But Collectivists in Argentina used it instead as an operating manual. They've reaped the only logical result. And "troubles" is a diplomatic way of putting it.
Whatever faults she had aside, Rand knew the collectivist mindset and playbook better than almost anyone.
I too admire and wish President Javier Milei success in revising the corrupt Argentine status quo. That he believes he can and uses Ayn Rand's thinking to do so gives me hope that he will make a significant difference to that army of trough eaters
But taking on an ideology without understanding it fully leaves one powerless to dismantling it. The belief than man may not alter the environment is deeply imbedded in the movement and it is a mythology that carries forward in the minds of its strident supporters. It is also utterly contradicted by both reason and our human legacy.
In an unaltered environment I'd bet 99% of the world's people would be cadavers in a couple of months, a plight I don't wish on my fellow world travellers despite the fact that all too many think it would be no problem and would yield an even better world than we live in today.
An ideological willingness to commit suicide does not paint an attractive picture. And thanks for being a beacon of sanity in a world gone mad.
You're welcome. And some will call us crazy.
Brilliant article Mental. Fantastic way to end the year and thank your for the fascinating articles throughout 2023. Happy new year and I look forward to your 2024 writings.
¡Afuera!
Thanks, Psycho!
What I mainly worry about for Argentina's sake is the possibility that, in his zeal to rapidly modernize and mobilize resource exploitation, Milei ends up selling these resources out to US or Chinese corporations who end up colonizing the place, strip-mining it, and leaving them a wreck.
He'd better be savvy.
We share some of that concern. There is no shortage of examples of such problems in S. America over the last century.
Savvy, indeed. He has clearly signaled a turn toward the U.S. and away from China. Bloomberg interview in August: "we will not make pacts with Communists".
That's really reassuring to hear. But at the same time, with so many captured interests in the US, I'd hate to see Argentina become an open lithium mine for solar panels or other bullshit and the money getting siphoned out of the country.
That's the tough tightrope to walk with South American countries pulling themselves up out of economic wreckage using their natural resources- the temptation to nationalize and try to ward off foreign exploitation is understandable. Hopefully Venezuela is a good cautionary tale for those states with eyes to see.
Wonderful, wonderful post. Your opening Ayn Rand quote is a keeper. I need to bookmark that one. The rest of the article flows seamlessly from there. Well done.
Happy New Year
Thank you! HNY2U2
I hope that "Juan Galt" is successful, with the support of the Argentinian populous.
U.S. investment capital, risk taking, technology will help. But corporations will be wary. Some early movers taking the most risk likely gain the most.
While I wish Milei well, I’m afraid the time is not yet right. Things are going to get worse, much worse, and not just in Argentina, before the people will be ready to overthrow the rule of Soros and his kind.
They're clearly going to get worse there before they get better. In his inauguration speech, he attempts to prepare citizens for that reality.
When we left in May, the official exchange rate was around 270 pesos to the dollar
but there several color pesos (and exchange rates, one official, the others not), hard to keep track of. (Green peso, blue peso, etc.). Looks like the official is over 800 at present (and the street market value is likely even higher).
Many told us "we have been here before...."......"we're used to this s#%t". So while we expect it to be tough, get worse, we have hope they're near the bottom.
Mrs. American Psycho is from South America and went to Buenos Aries with her mother in 2014 when the official exchange rate of USD/ARS was 8. When she asked about the now rate of 800 I informed her, “the eggs have not changed, the money has.”
Sad. True.
There was once a time when the left would have opposed the likes of George Soros and Klaus Schwab spending endless amounts to impoverish them and restrict their civil liberties. Until the time comes when the sociopathic plutocrats are constrained from their war on middle and working class people, economic development in which ordinary people share in the wealth, Argentina will face an uphill battle. However if Milei and his allies were to be given a decade to change course, Argentina could rightly take its place as an affluent nation.
Fingers crossed......
I hope you are overly pessimistic, but also believe you are closer to the truth. So many opportunities to let humanity be free of the evil from the Soros revenue stream, are thwarted by complacency and inaction of the very same masses that are suffering from it.
If their wealth evaporated tomorrow, Collectivist ideology would not be gone. It's a marathon with many runners on the track.