MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
“Uruguay needs leaders in government, not demagogues” says transport businessman
The country “needs leaders in government, not demagogues” said Juan Carlos López Mena a leading businessman of Uruguay’s tourism and transport industry who is also investing heavily in agriculture and an incipient regional airline. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesLópez Mena is no doubt a very clever businessman. He thought he had the leftist Frente Amplio administrations in his pocket because his ferries provided Uruguayans residing in Argentina with cheap or free tickets to come and vote for the left. This time he's been a bit too clever, got shown up by his erstwhile friends, and is now ranting. However, it's perfectly true that like every other nation on earth we need leaders in government, not demagogues.
Dec 27th, 2012 - 10:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0I, a progressive and (in general) a supporter of Frente Amplio, agreed with most of what Lopez Mena said until this: “I believe businesspeople are the icons of any community. They must be respected...“. He may be correct about small business in smaller communities. But, all I had to do was look over my shoulder at what has happened in the United States to see that Lopez Mena is either extremely naive , or as ynsere above says ”a bit too clever” for his own good.
Dec 27th, 2012 - 11:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0Something is very rotten in the state of Denmark- er I mean Uruguay. The Pluna fiasco has a lot yet to be revealed and the new cooperative is already asking for more millions of dollars to refloat itself. This type of cooperative always gets bailed out in the end by Juan Pueblo and this saga is by no means over
Dec 27th, 2012 - 07:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0This may be of interest to those of you who read Spanish:
Dec 28th, 2012 - 04:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.pilotoviejo.com/ferry1950historia.htm
2 rylang23
Dec 29th, 2012 - 03:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Remember me? I am the guy you threatened because I dared to tell what I saw as the truth about the incompetence of Pepe' government. You even accused me of being CIA 'and you would be ready to call me out' Prat.
Now we have a serious businessman saying what I and a lot more have been saying. Don't overlook the 7.5 TIMES INCREASE in government fiscal drag.
For moron rylang23 that means they are spending money before they get it. In the real world that would be called stupidity or obtaining credit by deception (a criminal offence in the UK).
It also means that all the Uruguayos on here who work for a living (NOT the government) and ME, because all my money is invested in Uruguay, we will have to pay more in tax to fund this profligate spending.
Mind you, I have to say that with the base rate going to 9.25%, I might just about keep even-stevens.
Anyone without savings linked to the base rate is going to suffer a REAL depreciation in their net worth. This is disgraceful from a government supposedly of the people. For them to threaten someone who won’t fall for their brand of idiocy is criminal, but why am I not surprised?
Chris
Dec 30th, 2012 - 12:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What do you know about Uruguayan history? Politics? You been in the country for 4 days, leaving your own country for economical reasons, most surely, and now you are telling Uruguayans how they should run their own country, a country you chose to live in yourself. Maybe you think all wealthy Uruguayans should move abroad in order to avoid taxes for the country to prosper? Or is it “do as I say but not as I do”? You are a hypocrite.
On the other hand, ChrisR, like the huge majority of bona-fide Uruguayans I welcome you and other thoughtful foreign residents. We need to hear a wide range of opinion. And this is a country where people are allowed to talk.
Dec 30th, 2012 - 03:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Stevie has proved himself a sod many times over.
Best wishes for the New Year.
7 ynsere
Dec 30th, 2012 - 04:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thank you my friend: you know I have been here for almost two years now and have all my money invested in the country and pay all my taxes.
@6 Stevie (not a wonder)
Why don't you find out about people before (I am about to use your favourite word: are you ready) ‘bashing’ others who live here for health reasons.
But no, that would be the act of a thinking person not a 'sod' as my (Uruguayo) friend ynsere referred to you. Astute comment that.
Pepe IS a real leader, far more so than shallow self serving “business-friendly” careerists like Blair or Cameron...
Dec 31st, 2012 - 01:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And yet could there two more different leaders than Pepe and CFK?
Jan 05th, 2013 - 05:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Pepe =humble man that lives a humble life in a humble house and gives most of his salary to charity
CFK = made her fortune taking Argentines homes from them and selling them on at a great profit - in dollars. And runs boutique hotels for the rich. Uses presidential plane to ferry around her children. Owns exclusive property in New York...
Chris So the govt has a budget deficit from spending on the ni-nis and the wont works. So what do they do? Increase taxes like IRIC and IRAE stultifying businesses.to cover it
Jan 05th, 2013 - 07:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0One of the electoral promises of this government was to reduce IVA (Value Added Tax) which hits rich and poor alike from 23% down to 18%. Well they havent Another broken promise from our inept government
Most governments are shit. Some are worse than others tho. You could be living in Argentina!
Jan 05th, 2013 - 07:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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