Argentina’s infinite loop
It’s a popular saying that for about 80–100 years, Argentina has entered in an infinite loop of decadence. I’ve always believed this to be true but, at the same time, some sort of urban myth. Even though there’s plenty of evidence to credit that — in fact, Argentina was a top-10 country until the start of the XXth century — history has proven time after time that facts in Argentina tend to be rewritten, and sometimes tweaked in benefit of those who tell them (and when, of course), so this could lead to doubt them.
This is the main reason why sometimes I believe it to be some sort of urban myth, or partially real. Or at least it was. A couple months ago, I read a 2002 book entitled “Razón o demagogia” (reason or demagogy), a complete transcript from an interview to an ex-minister and former presidential candidate for 2003 elections, Ricardo Lopez Murphy. He basically explains his vision of the causes and consequences of 2001–2002 Argentina’s debt debacle.
Opinions aside (you could argue against his ideology, I personally don’t), what stroke me the most about this interview, is how clearly he described what would happen if Argentina didn’t change radically it’s political structures (all of them) and most importantly, people’s ideas.
Being that we are currently going through -the infamous- 2020/21, it was some sort of Back To The Future read. It described clearly different scenarios if changes weren’t promoted. The most clear one, explains how one of the worst things that could happen back then was a boom on the prices of commodities (this for Argentina implied primarily agriculture), as it would pave the way for politicians to spend -one more time- above it’s budget, and promise free paradise for everyone.
And as we now know, it happened. With peoples approval of course. Part of this infinite-loop I’m trying to describe implies that most (or at least enough) Argentinians enjoy having things done for us, and most times don’t complain on what we receive as long as we didn’t have to put much effort into it.
It’s only afterwards, when we have to pay the bill for what we received, where we start complaining both for what we got and also for how expensive it was (worst quality of services at the highest price possible).
Having options is not always great for people who don’t like taking chances. It involves an energy draining process, and you are held accountant to your decisions. Well, as I mentioned earlier, most — or enough — Argentinians would rather leave these decisions to other people, in this case politicians (populists most of the times). This generates a cycle, and for every loop, more people are included in that cohort of decision avoiders.
Of course, this also benefits shameless politicians who don’t mind making those decisions for the rest of the people, as long as they get voted every time. To get there, they make all kind of promises, each time more delusional, since they have to beat the previous ones they made.
Due to this cycle, people in Argentina are told over and over by every president or politician, that they’re entitled, just by the fact that they exist, to things that are not there naturally, things that other people worked for.
I believe this to be the core of the decadence, and it’s really hard to be changed. Where do we start? Are politicians a cause, or a consequence of this debacle? Most people are “comfortable” as they are, and this gets transferred to new generations, and the country gets closer and closer to the verge of a Venezuelan kind of implosion, where the more productive people migrate, and less productive ones get stuck with dire consequences.
Hopefully, rather sooner than later we can realize that it’s both a cultural and electoral battle, and that they have a very common ground to be fought at. We need to start making changes to give people back the urge to make their own decisions, and take away the power that populists politicians have concentrated all along this decadence cycle. Argentina can, and will be rebuilt from hard work and talent, and can be a great place to live again.
