Cristina Kirchner re-elected as Argentina's president in landslide

[Celefin]

Source: Guardian

Argentina has re-elected Cristina Kirchner as president in a landslide result that gave her the widest victory margin in Argentina's history after her government spread the wealth of a booming economy.

Kirchner had 53% of the vote after 58% of polling stations reported. Her nearest challenger got 17%. The interior minister, Florencio Randazzo, predicted the president's share would rise as polls came in from her party's stronghold of densely populated Buenos Aires province.

*snip*

Kirchner, 58, chose her youthful economy minister, Amado Boudou, as her running mate. They championed Argentina's approach to the global financial crisis: nationalise private pensions, use central bank reserves to increase government spending rather than impose austerity measures, and force investors in foreign debt to suffer before ordinary citizens.

Argentina's world-record debt default in 2001 closed off most international lending but had kept the country booming ever since, with its economy expanding at twice the rate of Brazil's, economist Mark Weisbrot said.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/24/cristina-kirchner-win-argentina-elections

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Maybe Greece's Papandreou should take note.

[dipsydoodle]

1. I would doubt

that Greece has much in the way of central bank reserves to increase government spending. Given the comparison you've made with with Argentina - in the absense international lending are you suggesting the Greeks should actually start paying their income tax to fund their economy ?

[Dutch]

3. The obvious point is that Greece should default on its debt.

Greeks should of course ultimately be required to pay their income taxes- once their tax system is thoroughly reformed so that the assumption of widespread non-payment is no longer built into it and people are taxed at fair and sustainable rates. These are the sort of long-term structural reforms Greece needs, and which the austerity drive is cutting off at the knees.

By the way, fantastic news that Kirchner has been re-elected, huh? Not that I'd ever expect you to overlook a chance to spout a right-wing talking point.

[dipsydoodle]

5. I'd already posted her win in the Latin American Forum

prior to this post. reply #1 to Judi's post here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x55915

I've no doubt Greece will eventually default. That's the absurdity with them having more bail out money now. That's not a RW talking point - just a fact of life. The unfairness of the situation relates to the cost to poorer Eurozone countries of this exercise.

[Celefin]

6. Thank you! Perfect summary.

I sort of get tired of explaining that again and again.
Still don't get why -all- Greeks 'deserve this'.

[harmonicon]

2. Papandreou? What about Obama? nt.

[Celefin]

7. Not much chance for that, is there?

Besides, since I'm Danish I try not to post about what I think the US should be doing as not to step on too many people's toast here but
reserve that for EU matters. But of course you're right.

[harmonicon]

8. Not much chance, but a boy can dream. nt.

[harmonicon]

9. (dupe)

[eomer]

10. I don't want to step on your Danish, but did you mean step on their toes?

Or maybe it's just an expression I never heard before (step on their toast).

I sort of like it with toast better than toes, now that I think of it.

[Celefin]

11. As long as you don't step on my pastries ;)

It was intentional, by the way.
Can't remember where I first picked up the expression, but I like the toasty variety better for some reason.

[FSogol]

12. Those Danish Toast-steppers and their....

Oh, never mind. ;)

[SpiralHawk]

4. "force investors in foreign debt to suffer before ordinary citizens."

now that should resonate with Occupy...