Chey’s Lounge

This iconic photo brings me back to earlier this year when Elon Musk emblazoned a borderline bedazzled chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in DC on stage with Argentine President Javier Milei, symbolizing their shared goal of slashing government spending. Back when I first heard the story and saw one of the pictures, it almost reminded me of a little ménage a trois (not really, but that’s how my mind interpreted it basically despite Trump not being there) between Milei, Trump, and Musk. The way they talked down on “globalist” institutions, advocated for privatizing everything, and slashing the public sector like zealots (I won’t act like some of this wasn’t/isn’t necessary in Argentina, but the theater of it was quite off putting). Now, here we are, Argentina’s economy is in the shitter. Inflation ultimately hasn’t been sufficiently reigned in meanwhile austerity measures have made it so over half of Argentines fall below the poverty line. If it weren’t for this $20 billion dollar infusion, there would be so little chance of increased international investments making their way to Argentina despite Elon recommending investing in Argentina in 2024. Now apparently the globalist institutions backed by the U.S. should definitely help bail out the country. Well, not exactly, but ultimately basically considering the US is the largest contributor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Why not just get more IMF loans? Well, it seems they broke the rules last time. And also they have like $44 billion still on the books with them. The more I look into this, the messier it gets. Argentina’s modern-day issues stem from a wanna-be fascist, Juan Perón, in the 1940s. Fascinating is a bit of a buzzword, maybe I should be clear and say populist, but I won’t and settled on adding this sentence right here. If history tells us anything, Argentina will probably still be a mess in 2040. Maybe not though.

Things like this make me so angry and are the reason I started a stupid little blog. Probably a good idea for me. I have all of these feelings and I can’t get them out. I can’t remember if I’ve said this, so I’ll say it here, my educational background is in history, international relations, and homeland security, so I do enjoy and have some experience discussing these types of things. The problem is finding people who actually care and even if I can, usually the people are in the same side as me so it is more of a group rant than a discussion that can lead to new perspectives and increased understanding. I really hope most people are agreeing with me here and don’t really support bailing out Argentina/their stock market after everything that has happened/been said the past 2-3 years. 

I’m totally not trying to say there’s an easy solution to stabilizing an economy, bringing down inflation, etc., however, there’s just something that really pisses me off about people saying how great and wonderful their economy would be, how this way was the best way, and now it isn’t. There is pain. And why do they care about alleviating this pain right now? Another election is coming up, so they need people to feel good for a little while. So, like I said, I don’t feel like there’s an easy way to fix economic issues due to the social implications, but it has to be done eventually, so I don’t have an issue with needing help in itself. I am just so annoyed that they’d be so interested in taking a little loan, a small handout from the globalists after making it seem like they’re gonna be the bees knees. Like what the heck man. I wish I got to have my cake and eat it too. 

I can’t say for sure when I’m not in the situation, but I feel like it’d be much easier to stomach difficult economic times if there wasn’t, you know, A CORRUPTION SCANDAL INVOLVING HIS POLITICALLY INVOLVED SISTER. Karina Milei, his sister and General Secretary of the Presidency. And the scandal involves Argentina’s disability agency, which I feel isn’t quite a cherry on top, but definitely a few sprinkles. 

Few things are worse than seeing other people taking advantage of a situation while one is suffering. I don’t know how much has officially come out about 

Like I said, this situation didn’t come to be overnight and it will take time to get out of it. I don’t agree with Milei’s general politics, but I don’t know enough to say what I feel about what he has done to bring down inflation and stabilize the peso to say whether or not he is doing a good or bad job. What I do know is corruption is just not fucking good and no matter what your ultimate intentions for the economy are, people shouldn’t accept those in power using it for their own gain so blatantly, especially when it’s their policies causing these socioeconomic issues. You have to publicly come off like you’re struggling just as much as everyone else and if anyone gets wind that may not be true, well, how can you expect them to persevere through hard times for a promise of a better future. Public trust is paramount. Austerity measures are basically never going to lead to immediate popularity, so politicians that implement them, along with their inner circle, must remain on their best behavior. Would you be happy as an Argentine right now? Would you be happy as an American right now?