After eleven years living, dancing, teaching tango, and writing in Buenos Aires, I came home to L.A. in 2014, where I'm reconstructing my life.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Don't Cry For Free, Argentina



Here's a very interesting article by George Lesser in The Washington Times. I don't agree with all of his points of view, about how Argentina (Buenos Aires) is so different from the U.S.

For example, Argentinians are ethnically similar, but tend to live in "ethnic" barrios where they speak their original languages at home. Excuse me? What about the Little Italys, Mexican and Cuban barrios, Little Tokyos, China Towns, the black ghettos that still exist today, Armenian, Jewish neighborhoods (such as Fairfax in L.A.) etc. that are found in most large U.S. cities?

His points about the increase of crime and the disappearance of the middle class could be about any big city. He talks about two economies--one for the rich and one for the poor. This is new?
About how school teachers and other professionals in Argentina have to work more than one job. Hello? This has been true in the States for quite a while now for corporations and institutions to avoid paying benefits and a standard wage. Everyone is an "independent contractor."

But Lesser is so right about the corruption of Argentine governments, and perhaps that's the reason for all its problems in 2008. No, the people don't plan ahead, no, they really don't care to work very much or hard, no, they have no hope for the future. But is it their fault?

I do agree with Lesser's conclusions. And some of his points are very thought-provoking. It's well worth a read.

2 comments:

Elizabeth Brinton said...

I haven't read the article yet, but I will. America is headed the way of Argentina unless we start working really hard to steer a better course. The corruption, the broken infrastructure and the financial collapse are all reaching a point which will bring us to low status in the world. But now we have a little hope for change.

Spanish said...

The article can be completed if he travel or visit different province.
Buenos Aires is not Argentina and main cities or capital don´t reflect a country or people!
It´s just poor approah to A much more diverse cultural country...