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NEWS & LETTERS,
January-February 2002
Letter from Argentina
A lot of demonstrations took
place in the province of Entre Rios over the last few months, mainly due to the
state government's default—it has not paid for salaries, social security,
public health or education. Nothing changed as a result—the governor is an
old-style master as well as a bad manager. A lot of social energy vanished when
people felt defeated. Supermarket looting did happen at last, and two people
died in our town. We face an uncertain future.
Bloodsucking monetary policies that predominated over the last ten years in
Argentina have crumbled into pieces, finally, but the new national government is
not likely to get a better deal with international banks and economic trusts.
Human stupidity is in charge once again. At least the new government will have
to be more receptive to peoples' demands. Something has changed in that sense,
and this is good news; people seem to be taking over as they had not done since
the '60s and '70s. Analysts are still amazed at recent "pan beating"
demonstrations by the traditionally passive middle class. Bloodshed is too
terrible; the authorities will have to respond. What should be done in order to
empower the people? In my opinion, the most important outcome of this crisis is
that the main enemies (transnational concentrated financial groups, public
services‚ private suppliers, as well as their "local partners"
within the political system who opened the door to outrageously profitable
business during the last decade) are being exposed and, consequently, ten years
of neo-liberal brain-washing are starting to become undone. No more rubbish talk
shows about entrepreneurial successes! We are still far from achieving
organized ways of resisting. What you see happening in the streets is pure anger
and despair. There is some personal satisfaction in seeing a bank's glass walls
fall to pieces, but we middle-aged people remember what the consequences may be,
and are afraid. The political parties, even the alternative ones, are much too
devoted to fighting over power, without regard to what that power should be used
for. —Mora |
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