Anonymous said...Ferfal,
Are you back in Argentina? Will you be posting your thoughts on your visit to USA?
Russell,
Being an exporting country does not mean you are wealthy. The key is whether you are exporting high quality 'value added' goods or raw materials. Most countries that export raw materials (even oil, except for a few like Saudi Arabia) are poor. It's an export trap and has to do with things like currency valuations, foreign owneership of goods, foreign debt, etc.
Yes, still in Texas. The situation here is pretty good in spite of the crisis but I've been told that most other States arent doing as well so its not a reflection of all US.
I was expecting a more degraded economy but Texas surprised me in that regard. It's good that at least some States are doing better than others because that helps when you look at the complete picture. The country would be a wreck if every State had the unemployment California has, for example.
There's still some changes of course, and as I said several times I think that the raise in crime will catch people by surprise th emost, they just wont see it coming.
I think its no coincidence that both myself and a friend witnesses crimes (car robbed, bank robbery) at the same time while on the phone. The hotel clerk said that trucks were being carjacked when trucks stopped to have lunch too, apparently that didn't happen as much before.
You are right about Argentine exportations, I was about to clarify that. Its not the same thing to export raw good like soy and other grains than actually producing goods of added value like technology or machinery. Even the gold exported by Argentina leaves a ridiculously amount of profit thanks to corruption, the profit going entirely to the foreign company that bought the rights under shady conditions. (Barrick Gold)
FerFAL