MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
The Economist: Mauricio Macri fights Argentina’s tradition of handouts for votes
Just off Leonardo da Vinci Avenue, a long street of modest shops and foul-smelling gutters in the district of La Matanza outside Buenos Aires, stands La Juanita, a co-operative. Founded by unemployed workers in 2001, it occupies a former school. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesNo comments? I thought this was the most interesting story. Is Macri really fighting patronage or just changing who buys the votes?
Apr 02nd, 2018 - 05:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0DT,
Apr 02nd, 2018 - 06:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think there is a big difference between “Vote for me and I'll give you a churripan” and “The policies of previous governments have failed you, I am reducing corruption and investing the resulting savings in your community. You can vote for whoever you want, but if you like what I am doing for your community you might decide to support me”. The first is a bribe that doesn't do anything to improve things, the second is an attempt to improve things with the hope that this is recognised.
There may be no comments from the usual suspects because they have nothing to say. Reekie's usual refrain that Macri is only interested in rich people clearly doesn't apply here. Also, these are not promises, Macri has actually delivered better infrastructure and employment.
No comments?..., Mr. DemonTree asks...
Apr 02nd, 2018 - 07:41 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Why should one comment on a pack of lies?..., I ask...
Just one easily verifiable example..., evident for us that live here and are somwhat informed...:
Article says...:
***“ Mr Macri has built a rapid-transit bus line in La Matanza.”***
Reality says...:
https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrobús_La_Matanza#Historia
@Think
Apr 02nd, 2018 - 09:22 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Good you uncovered one of many blatant lies contained in the above story -- although calling this shameless propaganda piece “a story” is a misnomer.
To present president Mauricio Macri as seeking to fight 'corruption,' even if the mainstream media shields the government from bad news, is not MP's best editorial success.
If we look at “handouts for votes,” let's take a look at the recent consumption levels in Argentina. Note how consumption spending sharply increased prior to the last parliamentary election in October 2017-- and fell again right after. This sort of giant handout could only be orchestrated from the central government.
https://tradingeconomics.com/argentina/consumer-spending
There are numerous shady deals of members of the current government that are not reported or are underreported in the mainstream media, for example in the granting of public works projects. Literally all cabinet ministers have offshore accounts and Macri has backed all of them -- including Energy Minister Juan Jose Aranguren after he openly said he is not bringing $3.8 US million back home because “There is no confidence in Argentina.”
Finance Minister Luis Caputo failed to declare information about his stake in offshore companies when he became minister.
And much more. Don't believe that all that is not published by Clarin does not exist.
@Think
Apr 02nd, 2018 - 10:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You should comment to say they are lies. It's not like I'd know any better, and nor does Zaphod apparently.
What about this cooperative it talks about, and the plan to install sewers in the area?
@EM
Are you claiming the increased consumption was due to handouts? Seems unlikely, I thought most of Macri's support came from the middle class?
@ZB
Do you live in Argentina to know what Macri has and hasn't delivered?
Think is just piqued at having his Choripans cut off. Wouldnt know democracy if it hit him in the face.
Apr 03rd, 2018 - 01:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0DT,
Apr 03rd, 2018 - 06:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Think is responding to an incomplete statement as though it is a lie and Reekie has, of course, jumped on this as though Think speaks the complete truth.
Let us look at some facts (in English): https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrob%25C3%25BAs_La_Matanza&prev=search
1. December 2013: The idea for the line was presented (CFK)
2. August 2015: The World bank approved a loan for the line (CFK)
3. November 2015: Work began (CFK). I don't know the actual date that work started-it may have even started after Macri was elected!
4. 22 November 2015: Macri elected
5. 10 December 2015: Macri became president
6. May 2017: Inaugurated (Macri)
So, it was started by CFK but Macri was in power for 20 of the 21 months it took to build the line. So I agree that it is maybe not 100% correct to say “Mr Macri has built a rapid-transit bus line in La Matanza” it is hardly “a pack of lies” or a “blatant lie”.
So in the crazy worlds of Think and Reekie, the fact that 95%+ of the construction occurred under Macri is insufficient to permit a newspaper to state “Mr Macri has built a rapid-transit bus line in La Matanza” even though it is essentially true, because work started, at most, 21 days before Macri was elected.
@ZB
Apr 03rd, 2018 - 09:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In other circumstances I might agree with you, but in an article that is all about the positive changes Macri's government has made, it is clearly highly misleading to say he built the line without mentioning that it was planned and funded by the previous government, and the only think he did was continue the work.
I found an article about the plans for sewerage in La Matanza, but unfortunately it's subscription only. However, the headline says it's a PPP project, something not mentioned in the article. Are you from Britain? We haven't exactly had good experiences with PPPs, in general it saves money at the time but the taxpayers end up paying more in the end.
Mr.DemonTree...
Apr 03rd, 2018 - 10:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You say...:
***“Iit is clearly highly misleading to say he built the line without mentioning that it was planned and funded by the previous government, and the only think he did was continue the work.”***
I say...:
“”“Continue the work............???”“”
Cancelling half the proyect lenght...,so it only reaches the outskirts of Buenos Aires city..., refusing to designate the professors for the finished La Matanza University so it can't open..., not finishing two nearly finished (~90%) Hospitals in La Matanza...., you call “”“continue the work”“”...???
But don't take me word for it...... listen to the link below where Ms. Magario..., the mayor of La Matanza..., tells these very things in the face of president Maurizio Macri and his eternally smiling cohort of ministers...
https://www.infobae.com/politica/2017/05/05/el-tenso-momento-en-que-magario-le-saco-el-microfono-a-dietrich-para-hacerle-un-reclamo/
And compare what she says to the above piece of Bullcaca from the Engrish “The Economist”...
Indeed, it's very different. Why don't they finish the hospitals, surely it would be an easy win, same as with the Metrobus? And I don't understand why it is the government's job to designate professors. Presume they will be funding the university, but surely it's not run directly by the state?
Apr 03rd, 2018 - 11:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!