Javier Milei has done some impressive things in Argentina, but his program is facing significant opposition in the upcoming midterm elections. From Joel Bowman at joelbowman.substack.com:
(President Milei’s face on a giant US bill… but when cometh dollarization?)
“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it. The worst thing that can happen to a society is the loss of the sense of freedom.”
~ Frederic Bastiat, Economic Sophisms (1848)
Joel Bowman with today’s Note From the End of the World: Buenos Aires, Argentina…
“They’re fighting for their life.”
A familiar face appeared on the television screen with a grave (subtitled) message.
“They’re fighting for their life in Argentina. You understand what that means? They have no money… They have no anything… They’re fighting for their life. And they’re dying. They’re dying.”
Alarmed, we looked around the café. A couple of ladies by the window were enjoying an ice-cream. Two men by the entrance spoke in hushed tones over a newspaper. One gentleman, seated a few tables from us, remained entirely engrossed in his paperback… blissfully unaware of the carnage unfolding all around him.
(It is unusual to see television screens in cafés here. Probably better that way… Photo: Joel)
The Liberty Lab
When we left you last week, we were reckoning over the role of narratives in politics… and how, when it comes to swaying voter opinion, fiction often trumps facts. Argentina’s upcoming midterm elections, just five days away, provides a useful, unreal world example.
After less than two years in the “libertarian laboratory,” during which President Javier Milei has cut taxes, slashed government spending, and reined in runaway inflation – down from ~25.5% per month when he took office… to “just” ~2% per month presently – voters here on the Pampas have a clear choice before them.
He (Milei) goes to the Roman wall with small hat?
Love the CCP/PRC meme of how they make “our” politicians wear the Chinese hat at the Great Wall.
Saw a tweet exchange of a useful idiot dreaming of making wreaths on her farm when the New Man workers utopia comes to pass.
The other end burned with a “your” farm in caps.
Property is theft, comrade.