MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Latin America and the Caribbean the most unequal region in the world
Latin America and the Caribbean is the most unequal region in the world with ten of the fifteen countries with the highest levels of inequality in the region. This inequality is persistent, self-perpetuating in areas where social mobility is low and it poses an obstacle to progress in human development. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesIt's very necesary to mention that my country has the highest salarys of latina america, and it has too the lowest gap betwen the highest salarys and the least one, beside te workers represent the 43% of the national rent.
Sep 09th, 2010 - 02:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0However it has a hight inflation level, (25% forecasted for 2010), the is why we recieve two rases in our salarys every year, it has too 23% of poor people, and 10%of unemploitment.
axel arg,
Sep 09th, 2010 - 03:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Kudos for Chile, Uruguay and Argentina! Specially Argentina, being the big country it is, has always had some of the best salaries and quality of life in Latin America and that´s something I really like about Argentina that even in the midst of all their problems, even after all that has happened, they still manage to maintain some of the best standards in the region and continue to be an example of human development for other countries to follow, including Mexico of course.
Never mind the resentful, down-hearted chorus of american and european pseudo-analysts and bigoted economists who continue to pound on Argentina and predict its collapse one day, they´ll get tired one day and pick on someone else as they always do, and as my old man used to say: “people who live in glass houses shouldn´t be throwing stones to others” so they´d better be careful for all that will surely turn against them one day.
I think the resilience of Argentina´s highly educated and noble people always saves Argentina in the end and Argentina´s potential is huge and is not up to speculation.
In reading the report (it can be found at: http://www.idhalc-actuarsobreelfuturo.org/site/informe.php) I can tell that Mexico, while showing many areas of opportunity, it made incredible progress from what it used to be twenty years ago and we didn´t score that bad in many indicators either, I am not talking about starting a competition with others here, I am just saying that when we read the report we can see how Mexico has advanced a great deal in human development.
“It's very necesary to mention that my country has the highest salarys of latina america”
Sep 09th, 2010 - 04:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Laugh, keep on spinning your fantasy world axel arg. The truth is when it comes to GOVERNMENT WORKERS (how productive..not) you have the highest salary in latin america, while the PRIVATE SECTOR is the second worst behind Venezuela). Argentina's most educated force in Latin America? LAUGH...only in Percentage what you can easily manipulate with a smaller population...very funny how you clowns there keep things up..LAUGH.
Uruguay same story, a lousy market with a population of what..3.5 million people...with huge percentage as GOVERNMENT WORKERS who earn way more than workers in the private sector...Woohooow, also very productive...LAUGH.
”(25% forecasted for 2010)”
Laugh laugh laugh, another spin on the truth. We both know it's higher than 25%, but again the truth hurts. Argentina is the second worst nation when it comes to reliable information about it's inflation number, behind Venezuela..LAUGH.
Mexico..the land of opportunities (mainly in exporting it's population up north), It's way more stable than Argentina, but still have the worst performing economy compare to other growing Latin american nations. Funny facts, even in a down turn here in the US, while Mexico's economy is performing so so, still many Mexicans are leaving the country for the USA...(majority illegal), what is a shame and still proves how terrible Mexican economic policies are plus their advancement in human development..LOL.
Axel che idiot, keep bringing on your fantasy news...LAUGH.
Nicholas,
Sep 09th, 2010 - 05:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just some food for thought:
“majority” is a plural noun, so you can say: “the majority of illegals”, “the majority of something” or “the great majority”, but it is not an adjective to precede a noun and it is incorrect to write “majority illegal” as you just did. So let me help you a bit with your English: what you were trying to say but could not is “mostly illegals” which means “the majority of them are illegals” .
I lived in the United States, legally, and have many American friends and family as well, and I know for certain that good, educated and intelligent Americans would never write the kind of disrespectful filth you´ve come to post here about other countries.
Anyways, you get the point: you´re either some white trash pissing up the wrong tree or you are not an American at all, even though you might want to feign to be one, because you lack the natural command of the English language and sense of well-being common to all educated and intelligent Americans.
The first thing that struck me as strange was the title of this article. Why would you expect such a large region to be equal? It's a necessity, a priority even but acting like it's a shock it's a bit ridiculous. Up until a few years ago this region was very divided, there was no such thing as Rio Group or Mercosur or UNASUR, it took a very long time for South America to realize that unification was the only way to grow.
Sep 09th, 2010 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think what North America and Europe resent the most is that for all their achievements and so-called “superiority”, they are depleted regions of the world in terms of natural resources. Their priority, is to make sure we DO NOT unify and prosper, so that we're permanently dependent on their supply of technology/science or whatever we lack. So, to watch us prosper, to watch our industries become fully independent in every area must be a pretty bitter reality. It shows in their attitudes, they hate us but they have to act nice, at least at diplomatic levels. They know they need us more than we need them and soon we will need absolutely nothing.
Take the UK for instance, a tiny little region with a population of 60 million and natural resources that were exhausted centuries ago. Of course you have to resort to fraudulent means of acquisition. Be it for oil or food or water or whatever else. What else would they do? They knew they were in trouble hundreds of years ago, they sure as hell know it now.
Japan? 127 million, of course they're depleting the oceans of fish, even driving certain species to extinction such as the Blue-fin Tuna deliberately, to markup the price later on. Mitsubishi has built freezing units at very large scales for this very purpose, it is a completely premeditated, illicit act. (and don't get me started on whaling)
No empire lasts forever, their time has come and gone, it's our time now and we need to keep a close eye on them, because they're watching us with envious eyes at the same time.
Comment removed by the editor.
Sep 09th, 2010 - 08:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0See? Pure hate
Sep 09th, 2010 - 09:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I get always surprised that so many english speakers have to write “LAUGH”, LOL, etc. meaning that they are laughing...¿scarcity of writing resources or just of genuine joy?
Sep 09th, 2010 - 10:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Reading the vomiting hate of Nicholas, it seems the right answer is the latter.
Surely, to experience some genuine laugh, passion, joy, Nicho, you could come to Mexico or any of our countries where people with less PPP/person easily can teach you the meaning of life.
Why you are showing too many hate for the English writters (or speakers) here?? Are you envious, may be??
Sep 10th, 2010 - 02:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0As I understand, the deveolped countries need us as well as we need them and a good goal for our people is our fight to be developed countries, too.
It´s a big mistake to give up with the developement using that kind of arguments to hide our incompetence, lack of education and low productivity....
Fernando,
Sep 10th, 2010 - 02:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0I agree with what you said.
I was trying to make a point about this report on inequality that in Mexico´s case we have made remarkable progress, that even though we might not be on top on the list nor do I think we worry about that, nevertheless we have come a long way in terms of human development in the last decades when measured agaisnt our own standards, which are the only ones that matter because every society is different and has different circumstances.
For example, in 1970 the number of Mexicans 15 years and older that have completed at least the ninth grade were a mere 9 percent of the population, reflecting and incredible inequality in the country, by 1990 this number had risen to 36 percent and in 2005 more than 54 percent of 15 year old Mexicans had completed at least the ninth grade, these numbers are expected to have risen even more in the last five years as the state has increased three-fold investments on education, while these statistics may not be comparable to Argentina´s, Chile´s or those of other countries in the region with higher standards, it is true that every country is different, and our population composition is unique in that Mexico has many different indigenous peoples, each with its own culture and dialect, and many of them are very protective of their way of life and culture making it difficult for the Mexican government to introduce changes and to make their kids go to schools because they fear their kids will learn spanish there and be better assimilated into mainstream Mexican culture. Mexico has had a hard time integrating its many different peoples. A lot people think of Mexico in terms of one body of peoples, but it is not, Mexico is a mozaic of many cultures where many do not see themselves as “Mexican” but rather “Zapotecas” or other ethnicity. The Mexican ideal, as originally conceived by our hero Jose Maria Morelos y Pavón in his “Sentimientos de la Nacion” has taken two hundred years to take its form.
As I understand it Mexico is not part of UNASUR. Have they expressed their wish to petition? Can they petition?
Sep 10th, 2010 - 07:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think the most important thing right now is for all of South America to unite, not just as a diplomatic gesture of support but in practice. There are hundreds of issues and plans to implement, the one I would personally like to see realized is Brazil's president Luiz Lula da Silva initiative to push for a unified military force coordinated by UNASUR. Lets not kid ourselves, we're not done declaring our independence, we'll never be done.
It is however a conundrum, since it's corruption within our own governments that have put our resources at risk, I'm not oblivious to this. Our threats are both foreign and domestic.
Jose, I have personally seen what (some) Mexican immigrants have to go through in the US, I've seen companies grow at the expense of exploitation. I have worked side by side with this people, I've seen the fear and hopelessness they try to hide, as well as their courage and will to survive under the most fragile of circumstances. I can tell you with certainty, none of the people in this forum know what is like not to have a choice, to put your own dignity and your own pride aside in order to feed your family. I'm proud to have worked with them and to have lived this experience, it's taught me the meaning of humanity and the value of company when you feel like you're all alone with your troubles. It's taught me to laugh in the face of adversity and uncertainty, but most importantly it's taught me to be resilient, and compassionate to those who truly deserve it. This, I owe to them.
“If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine.”
— Ernesto Che Guevara
Fernando,
Sep 10th, 2010 - 10:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0I am not sure Mexico has expressed any intentions to be a part of Unasur but I know many people have expressed their interests here. I know the country has expressed intentions to be a part of Mercosur.
Personally I think Mexico has got a lot of add to the South American market, we are the second largest economy in the region, we have a strong latin american identity.
Thank you for your kind words. Many people has moved to the US and many of them have to go through hardships there. I think inmigration to the US has fallen dramatically in Mexico in the last years too. You see what many people don´t realize is that only one in twenty Mexicans goes to the US, that is still a high number but every year is going down, We are a country of one hundred and twenty million people and most people prefer to stay here. I hope there comes a time when no Mexican has to move to any other country to find a job.
Still a lot of people cross the borders to the US every day, but it is a fact that many of them are not Mexican anymore, more than a third aren´t Mexicans according to US and UN data, you see every year more than four hundred thousand central, caribbean and south american cross Mexican territory every year to arrive to the US border. Last year the US deported one hundred and fifty thousand Mexicans back to Mexico who tried to enter illegally or were already illegally there, but Mexico deported more than 250 thousand central, south americans and caribbeans who were also illegally in the Mexico too.
Also because of civil war and unrest in Central America, Mexico absorbed millions of guatemalans, hondurans, salvadorians, etc. putting tremendous pressure on Mexico´s demography, economy, social services, there are also tens of thousands of Argentinians living in Mexico too.
So what I am saying is the inmigration problem is a regional problem and not just Mexico´s and Mexico just happens to next to the US so we get a huge influx of transient inmigrants.
Argentina is growing and growing, I'm very happy for that, I can see it on streets, malls, life in general...What I would like to see is Nicholas emigrating from Miami to Buenos Aires to work in a chinese restaurant as a waitress since USA is not doing well right now. I'd pay hard to see that! Oh yeah!!!
Sep 10th, 2010 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0JOSE ANGEL. NICHOLAS.
Sep 10th, 2010 - 03:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0JOSE ANGEL: I agree absolutly on what you say, beside i wish my country to has the low unemploitment level that mexico has.
NICHOLAS:
Moron as usuall, you will always understand just what you want, i never denyed the serious problems that my country has, you and moron fred are the unique idiots in this forum who see just the bad side of argentina.
Like it or not, accept it or not, in spite of all the problems that we have, our situation improved so much, but we must keep on doing it, if you dont believe me, search in internet about the human development of the whole world, and see what's the situation of my country, see what country has the highest salarys in latin america, and read what i typed about the rates of poverty's line, unemploitment, and the diference betwen the highets salarys, and the lowest one, wich belong to private stadistics.
On the other hand, before criticising the situation of others countrys, why dont you see what's going on inside of your own borders, anyway i am not a shit like you, i dont make fun at the bad moment that the usa in going through.
A small point for all of you - UNASUR does not yet exist. Some SA countries have agreed to establish it, but its charter has not yet been approved by a sufficient number of countries to make it an official organization. In fact Nestor Kirchner was “elected” to chair this group even before Argentina´s congress voted to approve the charter. Chile and a few others still have not approved.
Sep 10th, 2010 - 04:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0To say that UNASUR is not yet fully established and to say that UNASUR does not exist are two very different things. UNASUR was charted in 2004. How long did it take for the European Union to become what it is today?
Sep 10th, 2010 - 11:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chile did approve
http://en.mercopress.com/2010/09/10/chilean-senate-approves-unasur-charter-with-two-caveats
It's doubtful if Mexico could, with honesty, join Unasur since it isn't a South American state. It actually exists on the North American continent. At best Mexico might be considered a Central American state.
Sep 11th, 2010 - 08:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Harrier61,
Sep 12th, 2010 - 01:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0Mexico is already part of a free trade agreement with Canada and the United States.
And you´re right, Mexico is part of North America, but it is also part of Central America and it is also present in the Caribbean.
I see Mexico´s future as more integrated to the United States, Canada, Central America and the Caribbean.
I trust that means that Mexico will steer clear of Unasur. Very wise to stick with the mature good guys.
Sep 12th, 2010 - 07:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0harrier61,
Sep 14th, 2010 - 11:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0Do we have a choice in Mexico?
From the very inception of Mexico our fortunes were cast along with those of North America. We share a not only a border with the US, but a history, for good or bad, and economic integration, social, cultural and family integration, there are more than 9 million Mexicans living in the US sending billions in remittances back home and also investing and coming back every holiday season, there are more than 20,000 US companies established in Mexico and thousands of Mexican companies established in the US, there are more than 2 million americans living in Mexico, but another 3 million have homes in Mexico too, most of them retirees but there are many engineers, executives, teachers, businessmen, writers, painters and researchers too, and hippies too. More than 20 million Americans visit Mexican tourist centers each year, most or all of our national industries are integrated with those in the US supplying parts, products and services. Our banking system is also integrated to the US banking system, Banamex is part of Citigroup, Banorte owns banks in the US, etc. Our universities are also integrated with many in the US too. Needless to say we also share common problems too. Many companies from Canada are also established in Mexico and trade and relations between the two countries have grown exponentially in the last decade. There are many Mexicans living in Canada too and some Canadians living in Mexico. Our highways communicate our three countries. There is an institutional framework for the integration of the three nations, there is a north american development bank, there are mechanisms for trade issues, trade, fiscal and other regulations are being also standardized for the three countries. Etc.
We do share a cultural heritage with the rest of Latin America that cannot be denied and of course Mexico has always seek integration with its neighbors to the south too but the bonds with the US and Canada are so much stronger.
(20) Jose
Sep 14th, 2010 - 03:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In my opinion South-south-Americans and Mexicans do share more than a cultural heritage....
Usualy I feel “more at home than when at home” when in Zihua or Uruapan:-)
Think,
Sep 14th, 2010 - 05:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes you´re right. We share a lot more, we share a history of colonizations, exterminations,invasions, territories and islands illegal and abusive appropriations, intervention, explotation, intimidation, deforestaion, tributation, financial desecration and lapidation, extorsion,, blackmailing, rapacity and coercion at the hands of european and northamerican powers.
But other than that we are okay.
And don't forget “Animal Molestation”
Sep 14th, 2010 - 05:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Baaaaaaa !!
;-)
harrier61
Sep 14th, 2010 - 05:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0By the way, congratulations to all the Air Vice-Marshals and all RAF men out there and to all british all over the world who celebrate today The Battle of Britain Day.
Jose. I will say “Thank you” on behalf of my father who served in the Royal Air Force during World War 2. If I may, I will also offer thanks on behalf of all past and present RAF personnel. It would be wrong to ignore the ladies who have and do serve.
Sep 14th, 2010 - 06:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0My father also served in the RAF in WW2, so “Thank you”, Jose.
Sep 14th, 2010 - 06:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is well to remember that, in the Battle of Britain, Britain lost 544 aircrew killed, 422 aircrew wounded and 1,547 aircraft. Germany lost 2,698 aircrew killed, 967 captured, 638 missing and 1,887 aircraft.
We paid a heavy price. But at the end, we still had our freedom!
Conqueror, Harrier61
Sep 14th, 2010 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0For some reason, I woke up a little sick this morning so I decided to stay home and work at home instead of going to my office.
Anyways, the thing is that I have a beautiful little WWII RAF Bristol 156 Beaufighter in my office at home and it kindly reminded me about The Battle of Britain Day but as tired as I was I thought today was the fifteen, but it is still the fourteen.
Indeed the Battle of Britain was very important, and those legendary heroes were fighting not only for Britain but for the entire civilized world and I know that for the entire campaign the whole world held their breath while the RAF fought outnumbered greatly by the Luftwaffe.
Heyyy.................
Sep 14th, 2010 - 07:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Harrier, Conqueror and Typhoon (Jose,... they are, as a matter of fact the very same person:-)
It is pathetic enough that you “ dominate ” (chuckle chuckle) this comment section by asking and responding questions to yourself.
But I “Think” that Tiphoon's father should also be remembered!... He engendrated the three of you and served as well :-)
Sorry, Jose. Twinky is a bit of a conspiracy theorist.
Sep 14th, 2010 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0My old man was in the Royal Marines. One reason I hate Argentines so much.
NICHOLAS OWNED!
Sep 14th, 2010 - 10:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Nothing else to say, there's pretty much said in the article.
A case of Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Sep 15th, 2010 - 12:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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