There's no question that post Menem administrations did everything humanly possible to avoid placing the weight of the 'crisis' on the backs of the middle class and poor. He should be commended. But in the 14 years that have since passed, relatively little has been done to turn Argentina into a market economy. Every year the government sponsors the 'retenciones,' whereby legislators from the provinces come to the capital, to decide with the government how much of farm profits are needed this year to prop up the capital.
17.6% of the workers work for the Government. And how does that percentage vary when you go from the provinces to the capital? And what is the multiplier effect of Government jobs on services in the capital? How much of what is left represents the unemployed? Clearly, industry is not as important to jobs in BA as it is in Sao Paulo or Mexico City.
Clearly, Clarin is anti Kirchner. But you don't have to read about lack of infrastructure there. A quick trip to Zona Sur at high tide, and your senses know instinctively the lack of sewers.
Paul Singer is a scourge on humanity, but he is not the entire problem. The judge who is in his pocket is most assuredly corrupt. What does it say about the US Supreme and District Courts that this judge (who holds an ENTIRE nation hostage) is not censured and overturned? And finally, even our beloved Obama must take some blame, as GWB was able to get the same 'Buitre" to back off, saying that the Judicial System does not have the right to supersede the Executive in matters of international relations. Bush was trying to protect the conservative Peru regime that was, after all one of his allies.
To Obama's credit, however, one can say that he had a 'full dance card' at the time of the 'Buitre' scandal. Still, Cristina's blaming the US for everything that fails in Argentina is perhaps not the best way to garner our President's allegiance. You pick your allies.
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