Elixir
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The totally sane reasonable Javier Milei wins Argentina.
- Thread starter Patooka
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barbos
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No, I am right, as usual and you know that.
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Stop the derail NOW.
T.G.G. Moogly
Traditional Atheist
Are you saying he is just playing the crazy card to get votes? Time will tell I suppose. But if we are going to judge a person on their speech and their behavior and not suppose we are clairvoyant what does that make him presently?
TomC
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I find it hard to criticize the Argentine nation.
I live in the USA.
Tom
I live in the USA.
Tom
Bomb#20
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I'm saying maybe he is. It looks to me like his antics are entirely consistent with the hypothesis that he's just doing it to get votes.
That's my attitude as well.
Judging by his speech and behavior he presently looks to me like a skillful politician. Beyond that I'll wait to see how he governs before making up my mind, unless somebody has better evidence for irrationality than has been posted here so far.
bilby
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It's easy for any Argentine politician to declare their intent to "take back Las Malvinas".
Actually doing so would be hard; The roughly 3,700 population are protected by a permanent garrison of over 1,000 British military personnel, an airbase with four Eurofighter Typhoon jets on 24/7/365 standby, and a significant rotating Royal Naval presence usually including at least one Type 45 Guided Missile Destroyer.
There's also a volunteer company of about 100 Falklanders (2.7% of the entire population) who are trained and equipped by the British forces on the islands.
These immediately available forces have the ability to hold off any likely Argentine force until reinforced; The new airbase at RAF Mount Pleasant, built after the 1982 war, includes a runway suitable for intercontinental wide-bodied jets, and a port facility (Port Mare) designed to accommodate Royal Naval vessels to allow rapid landing of further troops in the event of war.
Since 1982, the British have made the islands into a much tougher target for Argentina - and even back then, it took only a couple of months for the invaders to be defeated.
Argentina has close to zero chance of re-invading the islands, and even closer to zero chance of holding on to them if they somehow managed to do so. The British Military may be a shadow of its former strength, but it's easily a match for anything Argentina could plausibly send to the Falklands.
Actually doing so would be hard; The roughly 3,700 population are protected by a permanent garrison of over 1,000 British military personnel, an airbase with four Eurofighter Typhoon jets on 24/7/365 standby, and a significant rotating Royal Naval presence usually including at least one Type 45 Guided Missile Destroyer.
There's also a volunteer company of about 100 Falklanders (2.7% of the entire population) who are trained and equipped by the British forces on the islands.
These immediately available forces have the ability to hold off any likely Argentine force until reinforced; The new airbase at RAF Mount Pleasant, built after the 1982 war, includes a runway suitable for intercontinental wide-bodied jets, and a port facility (Port Mare) designed to accommodate Royal Naval vessels to allow rapid landing of further troops in the event of war.
Since 1982, the British have made the islands into a much tougher target for Argentina - and even back then, it took only a couple of months for the invaders to be defeated.
Argentina has close to zero chance of re-invading the islands, and even closer to zero chance of holding on to them if they somehow managed to do so. The British Military may be a shadow of its former strength, but it's easily a match for anything Argentina could plausibly send to the Falklands.
TomC
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Rather like how easily an American politician to declare their intent to "Build a Wall, and Mexico will pay"
Or
I'll end ACA and replace it with something great!"
Or
"Lock her up!".
Politicians will say anything.
Argentina will get what Argentina chose. Whatever that turns out to be.
Tom
zorq
Veteran Member
I lived in Argentina for a year about 12 years ago and my impression of their political landscape was that it was highly polarized. By that I don't mean that it was like the US where the left wing were mostly moderates and reasonable who want to govern and the right wing were mostly irrational egomaniacs who want to collect and maintain power. ln Argentina the left is composed of mostly socialists boardering on communists and the right wing is mostly "fascist light."
But neither political wing seemed interested in actually balancing the economy and reducing inflation. Both would pay lip service to that effect but it seemed clear that they both were content with the status quo even though the people were and are not happy with the inflation.
It doesn't surprise me in the least that a political extremist was elected in Argentina because most of the politicians are extremists there. My info could be out of date as I haven't kept up with politics in Argentina, but politics in a democracy is mostly determined by its population and there wasn't much change happening (demographic or otherwise) when I was there. I met plenty of young hardliners from both wings.
But neither political wing seemed interested in actually balancing the economy and reducing inflation. Both would pay lip service to that effect but it seemed clear that they both were content with the status quo even though the people were and are not happy with the inflation.
It doesn't surprise me in the least that a political extremist was elected in Argentina because most of the politicians are extremists there. My info could be out of date as I haven't kept up with politics in Argentina, but politics in a democracy is mostly determined by its population and there wasn't much change happening (demographic or otherwise) when I was there. I met plenty of young hardliners from both wings.
T.G.G. Moogly
Traditional Atheist
Bilby, in all seriousness I think you missed that airplane, right over your head.
Jason Harvestdancer
Contributor
Normally I try to not pay too much attention to happenings outside the US, but this guy is definitely interesting.
Already he has taken the government's deficit and turned it into a surplus. He managed to double the supply of rentals in Buenos Aires with prices falling 20%.
I wonder how long he'll last before the CIA decides he's too much trouble.
Already he has taken the government's deficit and turned it into a surplus. He managed to double the supply of rentals in Buenos Aires with prices falling 20%.
I wonder how long he'll last before the CIA decides he's too much trouble.
barbos
Contributor
To be fair, it's not that hard, just randomly cut spending.
Jason Harvestdancer
Contributor
Apparently he did it by the even more random process of saying "no increases".
Axulus
Veteran Member
The poverty rate is currently 57% and inflation was over 200% when he started. He has some crazy ideas but overall his economic understanding and ideas are a step in the right direction to improve the catastrophe and suffering occurring in Argentina. He already has a balanced budget which is a necessary medicine to begin to correct course. Let's check back in two years and see where things are at.
Bullmoose Too
Member
Surprised no one else has started a thread about this. Here's the obligatory John Oliver video adding some context about this guy;
And he won in a landslide.
Javier Milei wins Argentina presidential run-off election
Trusted and independent source of local, national and world news. In-depth analysis, business, sport, weather and more.www.abc.net.au
Unsurprisingly, people like Trump and Bolsonaro are over the moon about this. Oh, and Milei wants the Falklands back so that's going to end well.
Argentina (like Venezuela) was once a rich and prosperous country who has been suffering serious hyperinflation. Whether or not you think this new guy is the solution, you certainly can not blame Argentinians for voting for a change. I know I would if I were them.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and then expecting different results." Einstein.
Can’t Einstein’s quote apply to elections in general? Politician makes promises, gets elected, fulfills none of them, and things do not improve.
bilby
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You mean like endlessly attributing quotes to Albert Einstein, in the desperate hope that that would give them some intellectual weight?
Jimmy Higgins
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Asst Coach: We are losing by a lot, we need a change. We should put the field goal kicker in at QB.
Head Coach: Are you insane?!
Asst Coach: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and then expecting different results." Einstein.
Head Coach: Well, can't argue with the man that gave us General Relativity. Hey Smith, you're in as QB.
Smith: WHAT?!?!
Head Coach: Don't worry, Einstein backs it up.
*two minutes later*
Head Coach: Wow, never seen a body fall into so many pieces from one hit before.
Jimmy Higgins
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That isn't remotely hard to do as long as consequences aren't a consideration. It is a bit early before popping open the champagne.
laughing dog
Contributor
Exactly. No budget has actually been balanced or reached a surplus because there has been insufficient time for the the economy to react to the changes to the anticipated degree of the gov't.
T.G.G. Moogly
Traditional Atheist
Yabut it's been read into the congressional record by right wingers so Einsten must have said it.