Posted on 12/23/2023 7:49:40 PM PST by simpson96
Javier Milei caused a political earthquake in November after winning the presidency in Argentina, ending decades of socialist rule. The wild-haired economist got to work immediately after being sworn in, slashing the number of government ministries, including the nation's gender and diversity bureaucracy. He's now pushing the ball further down the field, with a sweeping executive order that eliminates many of the more communistic aspects of Argentina's government.
That comes as the once-wealthy South American country desperately tries to recover from a self-inflicted inflation crisis that has seen prices rise 160 percent in the preceding year. Milei ran on a return to fiscal sanity, including ending the corrupt regime of hand-outs and benefits that the socialist and union leaders had voted for themselves.
Argentine President Javier Milei announced during a national broadcast on Wednesday night the signing of a Necessity and Urgency Decree (DNU), a form of executive order, that would modify or overturn an estimated 350 federal economic policies.
Milei’s executive order targeted nearly every aspect of the Argentine economy – including imports, price controls, health care, sports federations, landlord and tenant policies, and the yerba mate industry – in what he described as an attempt to impose a “shock stabilization plan” to prevent a financial catastrophe. Argentina is facing the worst economic crisis of its history as a result of decades of socialist policies, lavish government spending, and corruption, fueling skyrocketing rates of poverty, joblessness, and inflation. The nation’s inflation rate reached 160 percent in the days after Milei’s December 10 inauguration.
Things like price controls have long been a staple in Argentina, and they've been an absolute disaster (just as they have been in every other country throughout history). Protectionist trade policies have also led to increased prices because of a lack of competition in the market (while allowing the left-wing unions to cash in). Also targeted are landlord policies that have forced owners to allow delinquent tenants to stay while limiting what they could charge for rent.
Of course, because Milei is making some tough choices to save his country that just so happen to clash with left-wing orthodoxy, he's being called a fascist.
Apparently, one of the hallmarks of fascism is limiting the power of government. Who knew? Of course, that's nonsense. Milei is selling off the state-owned industries because they are failing under government control just as they did in Venezuela and elsewhere. He's selling off government housing and removing rent controls because the current housing market in Argentina was completely warped, making investment nearly impossible.
There is nothing fascist about that. On the contrary, fascism is marked by increased government control of every aspect of society. That control just occurs in a different way than communism, with the latter relying on direct ownership while the former relies on direct control. Anyone claiming that Milei is a fascist is either incredibly ignorant or shamelessly dishonest.
The reality is that Argentina has essentially collapsed while under socialist rule. Things are not going to be fixed overnight, and there's plenty of pain left to be felt. Milei is taking bold action to turn things around, though. I would hope the voters there give him the time he needs to reach the end goal. If they don't and instead put the socialists back in power, there won't be anything left to save.
Which is stupid, because Fascism is just another form of Socialism.
Yes, but socialists think it’s any opposition to socialism.
It must be remembered that in the Communist lexicon a Fascist is anyone who opposes Communism. It is a convenient tag to demonize the opposition without addressing the merits of actual policy differences.
I have many friends in Argentina. I have spent probably 8-9 months total there, over the past 20 years. I love the people I know there very much.
The few I have spoken with so far, sound just like me.. trying to defend Trump. They are forced to defend someone, who often looks and sounds like a CLOWN...but, is 100% correct on his policies... and, who truly LOVES his own country.
In my case, it gets easier to defend Trump every day. His opponents are the ones who look insane. DJT LOVES America, and ALWAYS has. He is not Hitler, He’s not the Devil. The people who try to say this just look dumber, every day.
I had lunch at the Trump International Hotel on Columbus Circle in NYC yesterday.... It was a bit pricey, yes... but, the location was iconic, the service was fantastic, the food was excellent... Overall, the experience was memorable.
Donald J. Trump runs GREAT businesses. He doesn’t NEED to be in politics. But, he is..... for us.
His efforts to save OUR country need to be supported!
Some years back, Serpenthead Carville was one of the rats who went to Argentina to meddle in their elections and insure a leftwing nut got elected ...
You know you’re over the target when you’re catching a lot of flak.
Keep doing what you’re doing down there, Javier, maybe we in the U.S. could learn something from you.
He’s going to face incredible opposition. I wish him all the strength and success in the world!
I’m just shocked it took them this long. Fascism is the new racism.
Even American Leftists have been gaslighted so much many believe less governmental control and less restrictions equals Fascism. It’s so sad how many stupid people are allowed a vote.
You can forgive a great deal if the guy in charge loves his country and it's people and is doing the best he can for them.
Even if he only succeeds 50% of the time it is a 100% improvement.
It’s 1984. Freedom is slavery.
And if he follows through with Abolishing the Central Bank and institutes a National Bank, the MoneyChangers that Rule the USA will order WAR to stop him.
Exactly. The prob w/everyone else is they are there to enrich themselves, mostly at the expense of the country.
He should consult Bukele on this issue.
Apparently, one of the hallmarks of fascism is limiting the power of government.
Guess why the democrats call our constitution fascism not the same thing but it fits their agenda.
Everything normal is fascism to them.
In 2019, my (then) gf and I visited DC, as we had a white house tour scheduled..if I recall correctly the date was January 5th. The first day in D.C., after the WH tour, lunch at the Old Ebbit (where Nikki Haley sat at the next table from us, beside my gf on the bench seating against the wall), we went to the Trump hotel in the old post office building for an evening cocktail. Security was tight, with secret service everywhere. We were treated like royalty, though we're just ordinary people with no names to drop. Every day of our stay, we went back for either beverages, appetizers, or lunch, because it is such a cool place and we wanted to treat ourselves nicely.
On our final morning, we had to check out of our room in Virginia by eleven, but our flight home wasn't until about 2pm. We decided to return to the Trump hotel for breakfast and mimosas. When we arrived by uber with our luggage, the secret service and bellhops politely took our bags. This was probably to scan and ETD test them. We mentioned we were merely there for breakfast before our flight and they politely volun-told us that we could leave our bags with them.
After a wonderful breakfast with outstanding service, we went to leave after a quick bathroom break.
My gf returned to the front door a minute or so before me and was talking with what appeared to be a man related to hotel security. She was asked how we were getting to Reagan National, to which she replied that we were going to get a cab, or uber. All this was just as I was walking up to their conversation. The man turned to me and addressed me by my last name. I had not given anyone my last name, or even my first name and isn't on my luggage tag. As a side note, when our luggage was returned, each bag was tagged with “TRUMP #####”, with each bag having the same five or six digit number afterward. I suppose this was a secret service tracking system for cleared bags.
In reply to my gf’s comment about uber, the man turned to me and said; “Mr [Johnson], we have enjoyed having you as our guests this past week. Please allow us to take you to the airport”
I replied with gratitude reassuring him that this wasn't necessary, but if there was a hotel shuttle already departing for the airport, we would graciously accept a ride.
“Mr [Johnson], one of our limo drivers will gladly take you”
I was in shock and before I could reply, he waved over a waiting black suburban, with blacked out windows. Another side note, as soon as the driver closed the door, I realized that the glass was bullet proof. Unbelievable! I thanked the security detail man and offered a $20 tip which he politely refused, pushing my hand back, thanking us again for being their guest the past week and wishing us a safe flight home.
When we pulled up at the airport to be dropped off, the police officer directing traffic held up our suburban for a couple of minutes, while he stopped ALL traffic behind us and angrily cleared out ALL vehicles in front of us. When we finally pulled to the curb there was not one vehicle allowed 75-100 feet to the front or rear bumpers of our suburban, until the driver unloaded the bags and we finally entered the terminal. The driver did accept a $50 tip with reluctance and grace, also thanking us for being their guests that week and wishing us safe travel.
What an experience.
When at the Trump hotel, we never openly gave our names, or interacted with anyone except the staff in the main lounge and restaurants. The only time my name would've been known was upon paying with my credit card for our meals and beverages. Despite this, they knew how long we'd been coming and going, knew we weren't staying there and even knew our names.
Just a couple of working slobs treated like dignitaries.
On an outside note, we were cleared for the VIP white house tour with secret service escort, where we would have been shown the Oval office and the chance to sit at the Resolute Desk. Woo would ever be so uncouth to sit in that desk as a tourist? Not us. This opportunity was made available because of my contacts locally will arranged that tour. At the last minute, before flying to D.C., I received a call from my contact saying that for reasons he could not disclose, the VIP tour had to be canceled. Soon, it was easy to figure out why. The President was back in the Oval office that day, returning from the holidays with his family at Mar a Lago. It is possible that my background check for the WH tour, my job at that time and security clearance, was shared through the secret service network, cell tracking, facial recognition, or whatever, but we were just ordinary people, sightseeing.
What an experience!
I would ABSOLUTELY love to return to the Trump hotel again.
Unfortunately, he might not survive long trying to shut down very bad men.
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