tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post1902903943772346943..comments2024-02-11T01:14:21.904-08:00Comments on SURVIVING IN ARGENTINA: "The Take" DocumentaryFerFALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07578136334334588454noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-69739726984379889082011-01-28T22:17:07.107-08:002011-01-28T22:17:07.107-08:00It does my heart good to hear people speak who kno...It does my heart good to hear people speak who know the connection between freedom and property rights and the ability of free uncoerced trade to fuel well being among a people.<br /><br />It is a lost concept in the US where a marxist usurper who would have been executed is now looked at with a yawn by the fat and happy sheeple of the US, as Liberty disappears and the economy crumbles. They gladly surrender thier freedoms for "security" and end up having niether.<br /><br />What a tragic waste of a form of government that was the first in the history of the world to subordinate government to individual rights, creating an unprecedented reign of freedom and affluence.<br /><br />MichaelMichael Millernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-80507869420548730982011-01-26T13:13:53.019-08:002011-01-26T13:13:53.019-08:00"Correction to my post above: Item 1 should h..."Correction to my post above: Item 1 should have read "On the one hand, I agree with Ferfal re the evils of corrupt COMMUNISM."<br /><br />Nothing like clarifying a Freudian Slip...hey, Don? *snicker!*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-44224063793729611962011-01-25T17:36:59.856-08:002011-01-25T17:36:59.856-08:00Hello Fernado & et al;
I recently viewed anot...Hello Fernado & et al;<br /><br />I recently viewed another very good Argentine produced/directed film called "The Secret in Their Eyes(El secreto de sus ojos)" which utilizes the country's culture of political corruption(especially of law enforcement)as a backdrop. Not sure if you, or how many of your blog readers have heard of this one, but I think it deserves wider attention in the preparedness community. <br /><br />I found the film to be a very well made and fairly gripping murder mystery/thriller with some romance thrown in for good measure. The title refers to this aspect of the film of course, but also to a much more sinister plot device which I won't spoil further for those who wish to see the film.<br /><br />I would definitely recommend this one for those of us who enjoy a good political thriller, and especially for those who take an active interest in Argentina's political/economic decline - and we all do to some extent, or we wouldn't be reading this blog! And while this is not a film for children, the romance angle would sure make for good evening viewing with your significant other(;-D). <br /><br />Give it a view if you're looking for a good movie - and in the mood for something a little different. <br /><br />Take care everyone.Rodrigonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-40015894235286985822011-01-24T02:00:52.864-08:002011-01-24T02:00:52.864-08:00Don,
If you look up Dutch Disease in relationship...Don,<br /><br />If you look up Dutch Disease in relationship to Argentina, you will go a long way toward seeing why Argentina has had so many problems. As a small country bringing in a large surplus from commodities they would have had a difficult time balancing their economy properly even if the governing class had had the best intentions.<br /><br />I actually started a post on it:<br /><br />http://reflexionesfinales.blogspot.com/2011/01/argentinean-and-soviet-collapse-1.html<br /><br />It is paired up with Russia which took a very different route with some of the same sets of problems.russell1200https://www.blogger.com/profile/16258915475311426433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-51349872576836207662011-01-22T18:23:45.226-08:002011-01-22T18:23:45.226-08:00Correction to my post above: Item 1 should have r...Correction to my post above: Item 1 should have read "On the one hand, I agree with Ferfal re the evils of corrupt COMMUNISM."Don Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-1392384203611364252011-01-22T13:12:04.421-08:002011-01-22T13:12:04.421-08:00The Elite of any country makes or breaks industrie...The Elite of any country makes or breaks industries whether in Argentina, US, Caribbean, Europe etc. The masses do what they think is right for survival while the Elite can fly to other countries in safety and live elsewhere with their largess they made legally or illegally. At the end of the day the Elite who are staunch Capitalists or Elite who are Socialist all collaborate at some level at some point in time to continue to control the country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-23511340173405523612011-01-22T09:36:58.053-08:002011-01-22T09:36:58.053-08:00I'm always amused when people say, "I ful...I'm always amused when people say, "I fully support this or that... BUT...".<br /><br />Well then you don't fully support it.<br /><br />If your emailer is a firm believer in property rights, then he would be appalled at what's happening in that documentary. It's not his place to say what someone else should do with their property, even if he thinks it's no longer time for "business as usual".<br /><br />In fact, a firm supporter of property rights would see the advantage of companies misusing their property, because that's when a more knowledgeable capitalist came come into the picture and acquire their property for lower prices and use it properly.<br /><br />Also, Don... you must keep in mind that FerFAL is talking about capitalism, and the US is not a capitalistic economy, so naming the faults of the US as an argument against capitalism is kind of a non-starter.<br /><br />Most of faults you named are the result of abandoning capitalism in favor of widespread gov't regulation and economic control, powerful outside influences (Federal Reserve, military industrial complex, large corporations, etc), and collectivist entitlement policies.WATYFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04050950387251110296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-30868817461408855372011-01-22T07:21:36.274-08:002011-01-22T07:21:36.274-08:001) On the one hand, I agree with Ferfal re the evi...1) On the one hand, I agree with Ferfal re the evils of corrupt capitalism. <br /><br />But on the other hand, I would also note that the capitalists ain't no slouchs at self-serving corruption either.<br /><br />2) The USA and Argentina have some of the most inequitable distributions of income in the world:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gini_Coefficient_World_CIA_Report_2009.svg<br /><br />3) There are areas in the USA that can more than match Buenos Aires for homicides and poverty. Camden, New Jersey outside Philadelphia has one of the highest homicide rates in the USA and yet they are cutting their police force in half for lack of funds.<br />http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41181450/ns/slatecom/<br /><br />4) The share of national income held by the richest 1 percent of US population has increased from around 10 percent in 1980 to roughly 24 percent today. It's share of the wealth has increased greatly in the past several decades and is one of the highest in the world:<br />http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html<br /><br />5) Economic theories are subordinate to the national interest -- and concentration of income/wealth via political corruption within a small percentage destroys nations. It caused the Great Depression in the USA. It destroys the middle class --which is the foundation upon which a nation's military and economic power depends.<br /><br />6) Military leaders and aristocrats have always realized that loyalty is a two-way street. That while rank has it privileges, it also has its responsibilities and the noble has a duty to the people of his fief.<br /><br />7) Thomas Jefferson expressed it thus in the Declaration of Independence which created the United States of America:<br /><br />"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,[72] that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. <br /><br />That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, <br /><br />That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness"Don Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-65712641193549668072011-01-22T07:00:02.549-08:002011-01-22T07:00:02.549-08:00Chinese communism 60 years old and going strong!Chinese communism 60 years old and going strong!DaShuihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13731696293751625845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-70410496340867083272011-01-22T04:14:28.810-08:002011-01-22T04:14:28.810-08:00Thanks great site!Thanks great site!amorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00156067677741873655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-39403900703155723092011-01-22T01:04:30.103-08:002011-01-22T01:04:30.103-08:00Ferfal, don't be so cruel, suggesting those fi...Ferfal, don't be so cruel, suggesting those filmmakers to live in Cuba. It'll be enough if they went to eastern-european countries, like Poland (where I live), Ukraine or Russia. They will soon find out what damages to both economy and society are caused bo communism. And what's more important -- how long those damages are not possible to be fixed. It takes two or three generations to change something, the government can't make significant changes until all the people who believe communism was good won't pass away.Polish Prepperhttp://domowy-survival.plnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-47382453764566067532011-01-21T18:14:20.553-08:002011-01-21T18:14:20.553-08:00People today are largely ignorant of from where pr...People today are largely ignorant of from where prosperity arises.<br /><br />The ultimate human right is property rights. If you produce and trade and accumulate property, if someone else takes it (a gov't, a thief, or do I repeat myself?) they literally steal the hours of your life you invested to produce.<br /><br />They steal pieces of YOUR LIFE.<br /><br />A social system that is highly respectful of rights in property is a productive society. People who are more able or more willing to work and create, and who are careful and nurture their property (a business, a home, a car, whatever) accumulate wealth, and if they are mutually respectful of others' property they only become wealthier by serving others.<br /><br />In a society where your property can be taxed or otherwise stolen away from you, why be productive? Why take care of what you have, if it will just be taken? <br /><br />Such societies become poorer and poorer, and the people grow angry and envious. They don't see their own immorality as the problem, so they vote (modern democracy, of course) to have those with property robbed by their rulers.<br /><br />A factory that took genius to build and operate is stolen and given to "the workers," not one of whom could have created the firm.<br /><br />In no time the "regular folks" have squandered all the value, and they are even poorer than before.<br /><br />The human condition is tragic.dc.sunsetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08826161742700965939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-90012971258292402882011-01-21T15:08:50.965-08:002011-01-21T15:08:50.965-08:00People that grow up in happy, protected little fir...People that grow up in happy, protected little first-world bubbles have no idea what life under communism or socialism really means.<br /><br />Instead of rewarding ambition it demands submission. The government takes everything and gives back whatever it decides is appropriate, usually to compel political support. People have no options, no recourse and no control. <br /><br />Unfortunately so many people embrace the idea in the US that they don't even bother hiding it, where a mere 20 years ago it would be unthinkable. <br /><br />Memories are short and those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.Bonesnoreply@blogger.com