Thanks Joel for the update and analysis on Argentina.
There is so much lying and obfuscation coming from the legacy media that I find myself often wondering why. What is the incentive... having a job, saying what their friends want to hear, strict orders from the oligarchs that own the place they work, avoidance of the chaotic cognitive dissonance that would flow from their deep ideological underpinnings if they saw it any other way or maybe all of the above? Its a bit of a mystery to me but then lying and obfuscation is just not my thing.
I hate to be a party pooper and I support the president 100 percent.
But I ve been going to Argentina since the 1980s and even a member of the Boca club and just returned a month ago : my observations:
Very expensive , a salad 20 dollars a cup of coffee no less than 5 dollars.
The quality of the food has declined considerably since the 80s. In Palermo many homeless people and some were high on crank. If eating outdoors you will be bothered by aggressive panhandlers. Starbucks and McDonald’s are ubiquitous and the obesity is through the roof . The era of high fashion is over replaced by tatoos and Yankees baseball caps and t shirts. My daughter is leaving after 10 years although well paid by Argentine standards cannot afford the cost of living. Her friends all in the upper 20s live at home.
Most of the restaurants I went to were fairly empty. And in some cases as expensive as Miami and as a result tourism is way down. The best and brightest have moved to Miami and Spain. I know as I live in Miami. And you can tell as there is a huge demographic change in B A.
The reforms were needed and in the long term will be successful but right now things are tough.
I am really bummed out by the globalization of Buenos Aires. The old coffee shop with the Carlos Gardel waiter is forever gone replaced by a Starbucks 2500 calories sugar bomb latte.
Excellent observations, Mr. Morgan. Thank for commenting.
Indeed, in dollar terms the cost of living is way up for us gringos. Part of that is continuing inflation (it has come down a LONG way, but is still unacceptable by any developed world standard)…and part of it is due to the strengthened peso (which was the strongest fiat currency on the planet last year).
There are other factors, too, perhaps for a future Note.
As for the homelessness in and around Palermo, it’s a sad reality that will take years to address. So called “structural poverty” is said to be around 25% in the country. To tackle that will require major legislative reform. Hopefully Milei can secure a strong position in this year’s midterm elections and get to work on that in the back end of his first term.
As for Starbucks sugar bomb coffees… that’s a malignancy spreading everywhere, even here in Egypt, where obesity is an epidemic.
Next you’re in BA, try some of the up and coming barrios, like Chacarita, Colegiales and De Voto, far from the madding Palermo crowds.
Thanks again for your on the ground feedback. Best to you and your daughter. Cheers!
These reports are very important to those of us rooting for Milei, as they help us overcome the negativism generated by the larger media. Your voice may be lonely but it is strong. Likely that Milei appreciates it more than you imagine. Point of interest - which is your dominant arm?
Given photogrammetry shows your evident reduced capacity to keyboard or quill, thus presumably use you must be AI dictating to come up with your Epistle from the Egyptians !
Well done Joel !
Just goes to reconfirm that breakages of the limbs & body, MOREOVER, typically if the skull & contents are not compromised, still allow wise thoughts to appear in text !
Cheers, JayCee! I WISH I could dictate these Notes so easily. Alas, I am a plodding scribe, writing five words and erasing three, making voice-to-scribble all but impossible. Tap, tap, taping away…at least for another week or two.
Absolutely love your style of writing and your debunking of Reuters. There is obviously a game afoot to make Milei look bad. Coming from my conservative thinking I just don’t understand why if something is working you want to degrade it and return to what wasn’t working??
I appreciate Mr Morgan’s comments about the other side of the coin there. Your videos of people walking in the park and the dancing in the clubs in the past had me thinking that Argentina was just a paradise. Nice to hear the other side also. Not all is roses here in the USA as some adult children can’t leave the home and parents have gone from being empty nesters to having their house full again.
I still have faith that Milei will prevail and my investment in ARGT will pay off! Safe travels!
Joel. As the commenter's have stated, you bring us the facts of the Argentine-Pres. Milei adventure. It's a lighthouse to the rest of the World. May Trump's North American adventure produce similar results, we can only hope. Scott
Another superbly written, highly informative article, Joel. Yes, it must concern the vultures feasting on the rotting corpse of the bloated bureaucracy that they are nearing the end of their meal, with no easy pickings in sight.
Thanks Joel for the update and analysis on Argentina.
There is so much lying and obfuscation coming from the legacy media that I find myself often wondering why. What is the incentive... having a job, saying what their friends want to hear, strict orders from the oligarchs that own the place they work, avoidance of the chaotic cognitive dissonance that would flow from their deep ideological underpinnings if they saw it any other way or maybe all of the above? Its a bit of a mystery to me but then lying and obfuscation is just not my thing.
I hope Argentina suceeds beyond anyone’s imagination. It will show the world what living within your means actually means .
I hate to be a party pooper and I support the president 100 percent.
But I ve been going to Argentina since the 1980s and even a member of the Boca club and just returned a month ago : my observations:
Very expensive , a salad 20 dollars a cup of coffee no less than 5 dollars.
The quality of the food has declined considerably since the 80s. In Palermo many homeless people and some were high on crank. If eating outdoors you will be bothered by aggressive panhandlers. Starbucks and McDonald’s are ubiquitous and the obesity is through the roof . The era of high fashion is over replaced by tatoos and Yankees baseball caps and t shirts. My daughter is leaving after 10 years although well paid by Argentine standards cannot afford the cost of living. Her friends all in the upper 20s live at home.
Most of the restaurants I went to were fairly empty. And in some cases as expensive as Miami and as a result tourism is way down. The best and brightest have moved to Miami and Spain. I know as I live in Miami. And you can tell as there is a huge demographic change in B A.
The reforms were needed and in the long term will be successful but right now things are tough.
I am really bummed out by the globalization of Buenos Aires. The old coffee shop with the Carlos Gardel waiter is forever gone replaced by a Starbucks 2500 calories sugar bomb latte.
Just saying
Excellent observations, Mr. Morgan. Thank for commenting.
Indeed, in dollar terms the cost of living is way up for us gringos. Part of that is continuing inflation (it has come down a LONG way, but is still unacceptable by any developed world standard)…and part of it is due to the strengthened peso (which was the strongest fiat currency on the planet last year).
There are other factors, too, perhaps for a future Note.
As for the homelessness in and around Palermo, it’s a sad reality that will take years to address. So called “structural poverty” is said to be around 25% in the country. To tackle that will require major legislative reform. Hopefully Milei can secure a strong position in this year’s midterm elections and get to work on that in the back end of his first term.
As for Starbucks sugar bomb coffees… that’s a malignancy spreading everywhere, even here in Egypt, where obesity is an epidemic.
Next you’re in BA, try some of the up and coming barrios, like Chacarita, Colegiales and De Voto, far from the madding Palermo crowds.
Thanks again for your on the ground feedback. Best to you and your daughter. Cheers!
Thank you i appreciate the advice.
Un abrazo
Leave it to "USAID-funded bullhorn, Reuters" to spin and spread propaganda and bull manure
"They have improved the state's finances, but stunted economic growth and pushed up poverty."
Thank you Joel for using facts and figures to debunk it!!
These reports are very important to those of us rooting for Milei, as they help us overcome the negativism generated by the larger media. Your voice may be lonely but it is strong. Likely that Milei appreciates it more than you imagine. Point of interest - which is your dominant arm?
Given photogrammetry shows your evident reduced capacity to keyboard or quill, thus presumably use you must be AI dictating to come up with your Epistle from the Egyptians !
Well done Joel !
Just goes to reconfirm that breakages of the limbs & body, MOREOVER, typically if the skull & contents are not compromised, still allow wise thoughts to appear in text !
Cheers, JayCee! I WISH I could dictate these Notes so easily. Alas, I am a plodding scribe, writing five words and erasing three, making voice-to-scribble all but impossible. Tap, tap, taping away…at least for another week or two.
Holy lands, CRAP !
Here was me thinking you were also technologically advanced 😆!
Absolutely love your style of writing and your debunking of Reuters. There is obviously a game afoot to make Milei look bad. Coming from my conservative thinking I just don’t understand why if something is working you want to degrade it and return to what wasn’t working??
I appreciate Mr Morgan’s comments about the other side of the coin there. Your videos of people walking in the park and the dancing in the clubs in the past had me thinking that Argentina was just a paradise. Nice to hear the other side also. Not all is roses here in the USA as some adult children can’t leave the home and parents have gone from being empty nesters to having their house full again.
I still have faith that Milei will prevail and my investment in ARGT will pay off! Safe travels!
Seems to me that good comes first and then evil try its maddest self to defeat.
Joel. As the commenter's have stated, you bring us the facts of the Argentine-Pres. Milei adventure. It's a lighthouse to the rest of the World. May Trump's North American adventure produce similar results, we can only hope. Scott
Another superbly written, highly informative article, Joel. Yes, it must concern the vultures feasting on the rotting corpse of the bloated bureaucracy that they are nearing the end of their meal, with no easy pickings in sight.