Posted on 10/22/2012 7:04:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The next election may determine where America is headed -- to a restoration of its greatness, or to a retreat into the obsolescence of history. Before one casts a vote, an example stands before us of a country that made the wrong choice, warning us what to avoid.
The country is Argentina, chiefly unknown to most Americans, apart from its creation of the tango . This ignorance on our part is inexcusable, since Argentina resembles an America that went awry.
Argentina's are astounding.
Argentina is a little less than half the size of continental United States, with a climate that runs from polar in the south to tropical in the north. Most of Argentina's land mass is in the subtropical belt, where one finds the pampas -- arguably the best beef- and grain-growing region on the planet.
The warm extended growing season gives Argentina an advantage over our cooler Kansas and Nebraska. There are times when Argentina has exceeded the USA in cattle product exports, and this production has been going on for over a century. Its grain exports are enormous, and much of the planet depends on Argentina for food. This is all the more amazing when one considers that Argentina has only 41 million people, 1/8th the population of the United States. In the early 20th century, the ratio vis-à-vis the United States was even smaller, and still the Argentines could outperform us on agricultural exports at times.
Argentina, like the United States, had massive European immigration from 1870 to 1920. Large numbers of Italians, Germans, French, Jews, Welsh, Christian Arabs from Syria and Lebanon, Swiss, Basques, Croats, and Galacians from Northwest Spain settled in. There were even some Irish, English, Poles, Ukrainians, and Scandanavians, though in considerably smaller numbers. Blacks constitute only 3% of the Argentine genome
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Including a lot of Germans who came in right around the 1945 time-frame.
What does that mean?
RE: What does that mean?
He’s talking about Argentina’s demographic statistics compared to the USA.
CONSIDER:
Blacks constitute only 3% of the Argentine genome, and most of those who carry African genes are now partly white through intermarriage. The chief nonwhite minority are the indigenous native Indians, who constitute about 19% of the Argentine genome.
On a genetic level, Argentina may be more “European” than we Americans, though tending more to the Mediterranean than the Nordic. About half the population has traces of Indian blood, but even these often pass for swarthy whites. For all intents and purposes, Argentina, until recently, was a white European country, and boasted of it. The real shocker is that Spanish-speaking Argentina may have more Italians than Spanish, which is why they say ciao (which they spell chau) rather than adiós.
It also has a liberal constitution roughly based on the American model.
It is a Christian country. Until recently, it was overwhelmingly Catholic, though Evangelicals have started to make inroads. They have a tiny Muslim population. However, Islam holds the affections of only 1% of the population, and those tend to be non-practicing. The country was culturally, racially, and religiously extremely unified in a manner which is exceptionally notable.
Argentina should have given the United States a run for its money in wealth, power, and influence. In fact, around 1900, Argentina’s growth rates were surpassing even those of America. A smart European immigrant might have chosen Buenos Aires over New York as the destination of choice. Many did.
So what happened?
How did a Christian country, with a European population, a negligible racial problem, and enormous natural and agricultural wealth screw up? How did a country with a liberal constitution cycle in and out of dictatorship?
How did a country that was the fourth-richest per capita on the planet in 1929 fall so hard? How is it that Argentina regularly cycles between enormous first-world wealth and third-world economic collapse?
The answer, in a word, is government.
Argentina is a frightening example to prove that bad government can destroy even a potential heaven on earth.
Which brought about a peculiar fondness for marching...
Argentina's statistics are astounding.
Another side effect of Argentine socialism not mentioned is that something like 70% of the population has been herded into a 100 mile radius of Buenos Aries. All the easier to control them.
The second largest Italian city in the world is Buenos Aires.
The government of Argentina has NATIONALIZED their Pension system. Something that can happen to us if Obama and the Dems get their way and our debt becomes totally “Argentinized” ( for want of a better word ).
See here for a little recent history:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122460155879054331.html
Argentina Makes Grab for Pensions Amid Crisis
Hemmed in by the global financial squeeze and commodities slump, Argentina’s leftist government has seemingly found a novel way to find the money to stay afloat: cracking open the piggybank of the nation’s private pension system.
Argentina can be rich without trying. Even with their corrupt and ridiculous Gov’ts over the last 60 years, there is still food and land and sun.
Their problem, which the USA is developing, is collectivism and central planning, with more power being drawn to the center.
The USA had diffuse power - gov’t was limited, and when Gov’t exercised power, the States and local Gov’ts had most power. That has changed. The US Federal Gov’t has gathered much more power to itself.
That in itself will cause corruption, inflation and decline, but when a “Peronist” like Obama takes over, it speeds up the process.
Retirement destination? No political correctness and plenty of red meat
Remember it was Argentina that gave the world Che Guevara.
How did a Christian country, with a European population, a negligible racial problem, and enormous natural and agricultural wealth screw up? How did a country with a liberal constitution cycle in and out of dictatorship?
Answer :Socialism.
I’ve been visiting Argentina for business 2-3 times per year, beginning just before their financial collapse in 2001. It IS an amazing place, filled with interesting and surprisingly optimistic people. They’ve seen the worst, and made it through... they don’t fear that much anymore.
Driving around, it reminds me a lot of Texas, where I grew up. Flat land, or rolling hills with scrubby trees and LOTS of cows. Beef is fantastic there...as is, the wine.
Their government now is REALLY off the deep end, and doing exceedingly stupid things... making business there very difficult. Most educated people despise their government. They understand why things have turned out the way they have.
But, they are out-voted by the dependent. Sound familiar? We’re just a few sacred % points away from their fate.
I’ve received plenty of advice from friends there about how to survive a currency collapse. They recommend stocking up on old silver coins, liquor, and cigarettes... (maybe not for us anymore??) As long as you have these things, you can get what you want. :-)
Still a beautiful place.... I HOPE they get their stuff together sometime. They deserve better.
Terrific article.
Agreed. I've been working closely with a group of engineers in Buenos Aires since 2000. They are great people, weighted down by masses of 'takers'.
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