tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post5659467004124324948..comments2024-02-11T01:14:21.904-08:00Comments on SURVIVING IN ARGENTINA: Understanding Crime after a social CollapseFerFALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07578136334334588454noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-79419807533351411462010-11-11T13:53:48.180-08:002010-11-11T13:53:48.180-08:00As an Argentine resident with a dollar income acce...As an Argentine resident with a dollar income accessed via ATMs, I can speak to my own personal experience with the dollar's problems in the international market. <br /><br />The dollar has done very well against the Arg. peso... a 30% change in the dollar's favor since I moved here in 2008. However, the actual cost of things here in dollar terms have gone thru the roof over the last two years. I have no idea how families like FerFAL's with peso income manage.<br /><br />Today, I walked out of the Toledo grocery chain store near my home without buying anything. The cold cuts I used to buy for 25 pesos have DOUBLED IN PRICE in the last 2 months. Whole chickens doubled in price about a year ago... but, their price went up 20% in the last few days (5 pesos a kilo 1n 2008... 10 pesos a kilo last week, and 12 pesos today). In dollar terms... 1.65/kilo in 2008, 2.50 a kilo last week and 3.00 a kilo today.<br /><br />In terms my hungry tummy will understand, I can buy 45 pct less chicken as a year ago with my income staying the same. Damn.<br /><br />Suerte -CapnRickCapnRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07956729224568813679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-32300296445957997302010-11-11T02:50:39.652-08:002010-11-11T02:50:39.652-08:00I failed to tie my post into the central theme of ...I failed to tie my post into the central theme of the blog...survival. Please let me rectify that. <br /><br />My point is that when faced with a dangerous criminal there is no room for thinking such as "oh, he's just a poor person trying to survive". The person might be poor, and might be trying to survive, but it is also a person who has decided that his greediness is a reason to harm other people and should not be pitied. You cannot feel empathy and pity for a person forcing you into a physical/armed confrontation while you are threatened. If you need, let the pity and empathy come afterward, when you are safe. Remember all that FerFAL (and others) have said about criminals being very good at reading your body language. If you hesitate, then they will see it.<br /><br />Maybe in Argentina it is different and there are many people who have turned to crime as a last resort in order to survive. Especially in the USA, criminals are not trying to merely survive, they have allowed their greed to run rampant in their lives.Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12682475060718774717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-40706905584843112732010-11-10T18:53:01.721-08:002010-11-10T18:53:01.721-08:00I feel sorry for the poor of Brazil. But before y...I feel sorry for the poor of Brazil. But before you all have nosebleeds for Brazil's middle class, you might look at the<br /> Financial Times, Nov 5, p. 2:<br />-----------<br /><br />"Latin American 'Give Me Two' shoppers head north"<br /><br />"Latin America's rising middle classes are riding their countries' booming currencies to shop overseas. Since the start of 2009, the Brazilian real has<br />risen by 39 percent against the dollar, the Chilean peso by 32 percent, and Colombia's and Uruguay's pesos by almost 25 percent apiece.<br /><br />Such has been the pace of the dollar's relative fall that many Latin currencies are now back, in real terms, to where they were in the mid-1990s when hordes of Argentines, Brazilians, and Venezuelans used to storm Miami's malls with the mantra 'deme dos' or 'give me two'....<br /><br />...Still, with their newly found prosperity underpinned by strong fundamentals, Latin Americans, for the moment, are coming north to spend. Some, like Paola, the Brazilian shopper, are even buying property. Florida house prices are almost 50 percent lower than their 2006-2007 peak and currency strength adds an extra boost.<br />'Four months ago we bought a nice and very well located condo close to the beach for less than US $90,000 ' she says. 'You cannot really beat that anywhere' "Don Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-24725660501456631792010-11-10T17:28:24.211-08:002010-11-10T17:28:24.211-08:00Great post Ferfel (as usual). Though I've nev...Great post Ferfel (as usual). Though I've never been to Argentina, I have been to Brazil several times. Sao Paulo, for example, has always struck me as a fairly dangerous city - particularly at night.<br /><br />Unfortunately, a lot of my work has me going to airports late at night (I work on aircraft around the world as part of my job), so perhaps I only see the worst.<br /><br />Only on my last visit (my third or fourth, I think), did I feel comfortable enough to leave the hotel by myself. I went shopping for clothes (long story) a few blocks from the hotel, and also went to Carnival (I did have a Brazilian friend for that). Though both were new experiences, I never let my guard down. I saw a lot of behavior, at Carnival particularly, that reminded me of growing up in Ireland in the 80's. Stuff like throwing bottles, heckling at women, etc. Things, that if I witnessed in the US, I'd discreetly place my hand on my Glock...<br /><br />MarkUrban Preparationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02415456007746688404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-24279883070219571372010-11-10T17:26:59.110-08:002010-11-10T17:26:59.110-08:00Nolan, don't worry about Don Williams - he is ...Nolan, don't worry about Don Williams - he is the house socialist around here. Comic relief perhaps? The only crappy thing is that I assume he votes, and we all have to live with the consequences of that. <br /><br />Don, have you ever tried dealing with some of your anger?Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05456587175845040114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-67827635586430852692010-11-10T09:37:39.656-08:002010-11-10T09:37:39.656-08:00Well, it may seem bad here in the U.S. due to MSM ...Well, it may seem bad here in the U.S. due to MSM "if it bleeds, it leads" nightly news but murder has been declining here:<br /><br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/24/AR2010052402210.html<br /><br />That doesn't mean it is safe to walk in known bad places but the U.S. is not Mad Max.<br /><br />SteveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-77960871349985120062010-11-10T08:49:34.068-08:002010-11-10T08:49:34.068-08:00I think we are returning to the mean. From what I ...I think we are returning to the mean. From what I can see the middle ages had high murder rates. Only recently were full time police created, for internal security of the state. As states get poorer, high rates of violence are returning.DaShuihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13731696293751625845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-62465747927002232552010-11-10T06:18:02.781-08:002010-11-10T06:18:02.781-08:00Thank you for your perspective, Captain Rick, and ...Thank you for your perspective, Captain Rick, and for posting this, Ferfal. It is helpful to have this additional perspective when contemplating one's own situation. Could this be America's future? I don't see why not. Our politicians are corrupt. Our poor and disenfranchised population is growing. That doesn't make this a fait accompli, but I can certainly see it as a possibility. Thanks again, gentlemen. Your hard work and concern is appreciated.Baja Publishinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12344679769577390782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-22680517938867769912010-11-10T03:46:43.107-08:002010-11-10T03:46:43.107-08:00What follows is a short opinion piece...I just can...What follows is a short opinion piece...I just can't stand dangerous Marxist thinking. If it is too far afield, you won't hurt my feelings by blocking this post.<br /><br />I haven't heard anybody say bourgeoisie since I read the communist manifesto. <br /><br />You can't attribute the general actions (especially voting) to any individual. That's the kind of murderous BS that has led to the death of over 100 million people by Marxist revolutions and purges. <br /><br />In the USA, the "bourgeoisie" give how many billions of dollars in charity to the "proletariat"? Or is this only possible because of "exploitation" (giving somebody a job)?<br /><br />The author hits the nail on the head when he says that people make a decision to be criminals and that crime is very very rarely about need but almost always about greed. The "ruling elite" commit crimes because they are greedy and usually immune from any repercussions. The "proletariat" (to continue the bourgeoisie idea) commit crimes when they are greedy and somehow become immune from any repercussions.<br /><br />The problem is not whether somebody is rich or poor or oppressed or oppressor, but rather the immunity (or perceived immunity) from the negative consequences of their actions when they decide that their greed is a good enough reason to harm somebody else.<br /><br />Sure, some people steal bread or some valuable item to survive. This does not necessitate the rape and murder of the people you choose to steal from. It isn't about the criminal surviving; it is about greed and rage that they aren't happy. <br /><br />In the USA, we feed and house our poor people. We even pay for (not the highest quality, but ER style care) medical care. If somebody is, in the USA, stealing from somebody else it isn't because they are in need, it is because they are in greed.<br /><br />Besides...poor people vote, too. There are a lot more poor than rich. How come they are innocent?Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12682475060718774717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-38679164259801539172010-11-09T21:37:46.184-08:002010-11-09T21:37:46.184-08:00So sorry... the Brasil link did not get thru... he...So sorry... the Brasil link did not get thru... here it is again: http://www.brazzil.com/articles/188-february-2008/10042.htmlCapnRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07956729224568813679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-59205771095319137992010-11-09T18:59:47.187-08:002010-11-09T18:59:47.187-08:001) The USA already has areas as bad as Brazil in t...1) The USA already has areas as bad as Brazil in terms of homicides, although police corruption is probably not as bad because of surveillance by the federal FBI:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Brazil#Homicide_rates<br /><br />2) Plus we have concentrated areas of homicides that are even worse. Chester, PA outside PA has a homicide rate of about 100 per 100,000 -- police declared an emergency and imposed a curfew recently due to a spate of killings. New Orleans has a homocide rate near 100 per 100,000.<br />Here is a recent weekend report from there:<br /><br />http://www.katc.com/news/2-weekend-shootings-1-stabbing-kill-2-in-quarter1/<br /><br />3) We do not have, however, armed groups fighting the police. <br /><br />But we do have large numbers of innocent poor people who live in fear.Don Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-40370578393955908852010-11-09T09:22:30.535-08:002010-11-09T09:22:30.535-08:00Wow, I was freaked out by the movie 'City of G...Wow, I was freaked out by the movie 'City of God' but then watched 'Winter's Bone' about the current meth culture in the Ozarks and realize we are already there. This can't be happening in the USA, can it? Do you still want to move here Ferfal?ghpacifichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09829514410903378217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-29585259650592609662010-11-09T08:45:20.660-08:002010-11-09T08:45:20.660-08:00It's hard to see such a situation ever coming ...It's hard to see such a situation ever coming about in the USA. Americans are known worldwide for their respect of law. In many American cities, courthouses occupy choice land at the center of town. If the legal system were ever to falter or disintegrate, vigilante committees would quickly arise, as they did in Gold Rush California (1850s), to maintain order. We already have the Constitutional Militia movement; it's easy to see the militias becoming extra-legal law enforcement organizations in a situation where the central government was unable or unwilling to maintain order.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-80438312822461690322010-11-09T08:25:32.876-08:002010-11-09T08:25:32.876-08:00I was born and raised for sixteen years in Brazil ...I was born and raised for sixteen years in Brazil by my American parents. I never witnessed a free election, and did witness alot of political demonstrations and strikes, many violent. For example, at seven years of age, I saw people overturn and burn a city bus, just a block from our home in an urban area.<br />This experience, I think, led me to obtain my Juris Doctorate degree in the US, practice alot of pro bono law, and eventually become a state trial judge. My childhood experiences made me grateful, everyday, for the freedoms in the US. <br />I appreciate your blog, Ferfal, as it gives us the Latin American perspective on today's events. Thank you for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-13083340059980830632010-11-09T07:12:54.994-08:002010-11-09T07:12:54.994-08:001) Brazil has one of the most inequitable distribu...1) Brazil has one of the most inequitable distributions of income on the planet --worse even than the USA and Argentina.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gini_Coefficient_World_CIA_Report_2009.svg<br /><br />2) As the article noted, Brazil's ruling elites have the mindset of criminals. So why should the common citizen respect the law of corrupt legislators?<br /><br />3) The article argues that innocents are harmed by crime -- but the government of Brazil is elected by its people. <br /><br />So there are no innocents. <br /><br />The bourgeoisie get the government -- and social conditions -- that they choose. If you tolerate massive poverty and injustice for your own countrymen, then you deserve nothing from the Social Contract.Don Williamsnoreply@blogger.com