# I fear I'm about to lose my country **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 22, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926 "2023-10-22T16:48:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 35
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/681 "2024-09-26T20:47:07Z")
He’s trying to distract from the current dismal state of the country, I would say that the has until the legislative elections of next year to show _any_ positive result. Sadly things are so bad right now that we could have an 1% _loss_ of gdp in 2025 and it could be spinned as a win. (not feeling particularily hopeful right now as you can see hehehe) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/682 "2024-09-26T21:02:25Z")
> **[Eleven people arrested in Argentine province of Córdoba for starting wildfires](https://en.mercopress.com/2024/09/26/eleven-people-arrested-in-argentine-province-of-cordoba-for-starting-wildfires)** > > At least 11 people have been arrested in the Argentine province of Córdoba for their alleged involvement in starting the current which elicited President Javier Milei's presence late Wednesday. Córdoba Security Minister Juan Pablo Quinteros has... [https://en.mercopress.com/about-mercopress](https://en.mercopress.com/about-mercopress) Is the Security Minister of Cordoba a person appointed by Milei? Or by the independently elected head of Cordoba? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/683 "2024-09-26T22:53:27Z")
By the province’s government, but the “fake” part of the fake news wasn’t that people have been arrested (even if they got the number wrong), but that the detainees were member of a Peronist organization. I’m speculating here but I believe many of the intentionally started fires in forests in Argentina are started so the land ceases to be protected wild land and can be sold and used for real state speculation. There was a law that tried to curb such things but it was repeled by… Javier Milei’s administration. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/684 "2024-09-26T23:14:36Z")
Reading some more by Quinteros through Chrome’s Spanish translation, he calls himself a Peronist (so not on Milei’s side). He says that most of the cases seem to have been negligence and that he’s unaware of any reason to politicize the whole thing. There seems to have been one arsonist who - captured while drunk - claimed, “They paid me!” So that seems to be the only known item that would lead one to suspect that anything strange was happening. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/685 "2024-09-26T23:32:14Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Reading some more by Quinteros through Chrome’s Spanish translation, he calls himself a Peronist (so not on Milei’s side) It would seem so no? but actually Cordoba’s “Peronists” are Milei’s allies 🤦‍♂️ You could call them Peronists In Name Only hehehe, which would make them PINOs (which is Pines in spanish) Milei’s party has apparently just blocked emergency funds for Cordoba to deal with the disaster so their alliance may be about to end… in a rational country in a rational world, Cordobeses seem to be determined to be Argentina’s Texans. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/686 "2024-10-02T14:27:53Z")
The universities are still in crisis due to a lack of funds, professor’s wages, never high, have lost about 10% of their purchasing power due to inflation. So congress passed a law apportioning more funds to at least maintain wages at their previous level, problem solved right?.. nope. Because our illustrious leader has declared he’s going to veto the law. So yet again… we march, I’m leaving work in about 4 hours and going to congress together with thousands more. I’m a bit worried this time, not too much, but a bit, there were incidents in the last march (for a similar veto against raises to retirees) and if not enough people march this time it could happen again (Police seem to be less “brave” when the marchers number in the tens (or hundreds) of thousands). ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/687 "2024-10-02T15:17:48Z")
Cuidado, amigo. Take care of yourself, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/688 "2024-10-02T15:20:39Z")
Always, I’m going to go there at the exact time the march was called for (5 PM) and I’ll not linger after the main groups have left, that should be enough to have safety in numbers. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/689 "2024-10-02T15:51:27Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I’m a bit worried this time, not too much, but a bit, there were incidents in the last march (for a similar veto against raises to retirees) and if not enough people march this time it could happen again (Police seem to be less “brave” when the marchers number in the tens (or hundreds) of thousands) Good luck; and here’s hoping for a really big turnout, for more than one reason. (Hey, Discourse – why are you grumbling at me for replying to the OP poster six times _in a 688 post thread_?! – not that I think you’d be entitled to snarl at me for replying to any given poster 6 times in a much shorter thread, for that matter. But this one’s particularly ridiculous.) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/690 "2024-10-02T16:49:28Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Always, I’m going to go there at the exact time the march was called for (5 PM) and I’ll not linger after the main groups have left, that should be enough to have safety in numbers. Strength to do what is right, tempered by the wisdom to manage your risks! If people are going to survive what is going on (and dear FSM, my worries about being in the same shoes next year…) this is going to be the best possible pattern for success. Be well, be safe, and be proud. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/691 "2024-10-02T19:15:43Z")
On my way, so far everything seems to be ok. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/692 "2024-10-02T21:52:30Z")
Back home ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/693 "2024-10-02T22:20:38Z")
Fot some reason police didn’t dare to start anything this time [![](https://i.imgur.com/QHqRhgS.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/QHqRhgS.jpeg) I was unable to reach the square, got to about 5 blocks before there was too many people in front of me to advance. Took some pictures We don’t have France’s tracked grills but we make do: [![](https://i.imgur.com/yXQ3cpl.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/yXQ3cpl.jpeg) This is as far as I got: [![](https://i.imgur.com/VHgQE1a.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/VHgQE1a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/694 "2024-10-02T22:37:35Z")
Glad to ‘hear’ you’re safe, and _very_ glad to see the turnout. Considering how self-absorbed (putting it politely) Milei is, I doubt it will move him, but maybe those who have been excessively complacent ( I noted your flip-floppers upthread ) will realize that maybe this isn’t all just “business as usual” or a short-term problem that can be ignored. I hope so. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/695 "2024-10-03T03:40:10Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I was unable to reach the square, got to about 5 blocks before there was too many people in front of me to advance. That was a good problem to have! – and very good that the reaction to previous police problems seems to have been that even more people turned out. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/696 "2024-10-03T13:25:09Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Considering how self-absorbed (putting it politely) Milei is, I doubt it will move him It affected him, but not in a good way (does anything?), he spent about 5 hours tweeting up a storm about the march and then vetoed the law. Now it’s up to congress, let’s hope they find their balls (or ovaries, as the case may be). If not… I guess we’ll have to march again, and hope this kind of deeply unpopular actions erode his party’s power enough that we can start reverting al this shit. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/697 "2024-10-03T18:58:24Z")
You have the information to make the better judgement than I, of course. In your opinion, other than probably the military who he was lavishing money upon, and the international lenders who don’t care about austerity if it gets them their profits, who is the remaining main support? I know he pulls from the authoritarian/fascist playbook of whipping up popular support by claiming he fan fix everything while blaming everyone else, but is that really enough considering the scale of public distrust? IE his promised quick fixes don’t seem to be working, and likely cannot work in a politically acceptable timeframe. So who will be trying to keep him in office if saner minds start reverting his shit? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/698 "2024-10-03T20:53:58Z")
There are still a lot of people who don’t want to admit to have been conned. Add to that a lot of furious anti-peronists who see a defeat of Milei as a win for their bête noire. But, this not being a parliamentarian system, what’s going to keep him in office is the constitution. At least until things degrade enough that impeachment is a possibility, I’m notoriously bad at political predictions (I thought the Peronists were going to lose the 2011 election and they won with 54% of the vote, for example) but I’d say that if things don’t improve and they lose the October 2025 legislative elections by good margins… December 2025 could be a replica of December 2001. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/699 "2024-10-03T21:23:22Z")
So, -best- case for you and yours, he’s got at least a year of screwing things up before he gets a serious reality-check. I shudder to think of how much damage he can do in that time. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926/700 "2024-10-03T23:58:11Z")
Basically, but that was baked in last November when they won the elections. What worries me is that the political opposition is AWOL and even the popular reactions seem… sedated, yes I know we march and get a lot of people in the streets, but in past decades the reaction would’ve been far more furious, general strikes, road blockages, etc. This man is destroying our country and we… hope he eventually gets impeached. I fear (and this probably chauvinistic on my part) that we’ll become like the rest of Latin America, a country where there are ultra-rich and ultra-poor and nothing in between, without the upward mobility provided by things like free and high-quality public education our middle class is in trouble. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fear-im-about-to-lose-my-country/991926.md?page=36)