Were these isolated incidents, or something bigger?
So I leafed through Argentinian news a bit. Here is the latest:
June, 2009 - Buenos Aires runs out of change.
January 10, 2011 - Argentina suffers shortage of banknotes.
January 16, 2011 - Farmers angry over policies that curb exports to keep domestic prices low.
February 3, 2011 - Government threatens independent consultancy with $125,000 fine for publishing inflation report pegging inflation at 30%.
February 16, 2011 - Government adds import restrictions to 200 goods.
March 11, 2011 - Government blames shortage of gasoline on foreign oil companies, imposes restriction on oil exports.
March 19, 2011 - Union leader calls for a strike of all transportation workers. Why? To to protest a Swiss money laundering investigation into his personal accounts. The entire country could be shut down for a day.
Argentina is a beautiful country, loaded with natural resources and an educated work force. The people are wonderful. It used to be one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
That´s what makes this all the more shocking. The Kirchner government´s mismanagement is so bad it almost has a kind of tabloid appeal to it (for me, at least...)
It´s like watching a Hollywood celebrity´s life spiral out of control. There´s the denial of any problems. The person shoots the messenger. Then they blame others. Hopefully it ends with rehab and a start at a better life, and not a downward spiral.
It´s almost like Argentina is the Lindsay Lohan of South American economies.
Hopefully things will get better one day... in the meantime enjoy the wine and steak and carry extra gas and dollars with you!
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