My country, Argentina, sucks.

[71 dB]

If it doesn't involve nudity or swearing, then probably not.

Aah, you are into suck-jokes only when it's about blowjobs! 

[m_gigena]

Read article here




About the ministers having cash... On a recent trial some guy exposed that during the 90's he was in charge of delivery tasks. He was given a regular school bag and huge sums of money. His job? put the money in the bag and dispatch it to ministers and high-range politicians in general.

[Mark]

Aah, you are into suck-jokes only when it's about blowjobs! 

Somewhere, I think we crossed a line.

[Gurn Blanston]

Shrub is totally irrelevant to this discussion. He may be an idiot (or at least appear to be one, when all the out-of-context media quoters follow him around), but I strongly doubt that he is corrupt.

That said, we have more than our share of corrupt politicians, from local councilmen all the way down to Congress. Unlike the Argentineans, who appear to not have perfected the methods involved in successfully bilking their nation of billions (or else they are that brazen), ours don't get caught at it nearly as often. What they DO get caught at is screwing anything that moves, or looks like it might move someday. And the so-called "family-values" fellows are by far the best at it.

La Mordida has been around since the beginning of organized society. Hard to imagine that it won't continue to do so long after we are passed on... 

[71 dB]

Somewhere, I think we crossed a line.

Yes, we did. 

[Iconito]

I don't think "Argentina sucks", Manu. It's not the best country on Earth, either (of course, "The Best Country on Earth" would be another wonderfully stupid thread to start here at GMG... "What did you say? Sweden? Nonsense! The weather is awful and you can't flush the toilet after 9:00 P.M. or you neighbour will call the police!" )

There's nothing wrong with you sharing your frustration with this yet-another-corrupted-minister-got-a-bag incident (and I do share your frustration). But I think there's a fair distance between that an "Argentina sucks". I think you made a very poor choice for your thread's title. I think that title sucks. Actually, I think it is plain stupid. But I don't think YOU are stupid (quite the contrary) Do you see the logic there?

Come on. Go ahead and edit that shitty title and let's discuss corrupted functionaries and how we hate them.

[m_gigena]

I don't think "Argentina sucks", Manu. It's not the best country on Earth, either (of course, "The Best Country on Earth" would be another wonderfully stupid thread to start here at GMG... "What did you say? Sweden? Nonsense! The weather is awful and you can't flush the toilet after 9:00 P.M. or you neighbour will call the police!" )

There's nothing wrong with you sharing your frustration with this yet-another-corrupted-minister-got-a-bag incident (and I do share your frustration). But I think there's a fair distance between that an "Argentina sucks". I think you made a very poor choice for your thread's title. I think that title sucks. Actually, I think it is plain stupid. But I don't think YOU are stupid (quite the contrary) Do you see the logic there?

Come on. Go ahead and edit that shitty title and let's discuss corrupted functionaries and how we hate them.

We do have great people here: from those great minds to the simplest worker that thinks he must put his best effort in everything he does. The problem is those who have a share of the power are awfully corrupted, to the point that there is no solution to it.
The more I advance learning Economy the more I notice there's no way out to the situation in which we are. With such high levels of mediocrity at those levels who are supposed to represent my and you (even though you don't live here anymore  ), and fight and chose for our most final welfare... I don't think there's a way out.
I've reacht a point where I think no change is possible. Smart, knowledgeable and well intentioned people can not access the power. And you should agree on this: we can't be where they are now, because to play there, you need to be one of them.
Iconito, you know nobody believe in politicians here nowadays. The result? political parties are being filled with names ringing a bell to people: actors and individuals from the media in general. People who know nothing about administration, laws, economy, foreing relations.
The latter results are easily noticeable: one well known member of the city council (a former basketball player ! ! ! ! ) switchs party and beliefs with ease. From the supposedly Renovation party (created to replace the old ravens), to those ravens themselves, as they offered him the option to be Major.

There's good people here though. And without them this could be a hell. But it's not enough; this idea doesn't convince me.

[m_gigena]

Hey. I don't seem to be able to change thread's title.

[m_gigena]

Come on. Go ahead and edit that shitty title and let's discuss corrupted functionaries and how we hate them.

Homesicknes, isn't it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0vKWxe9Giw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ktChjUfsXg

[Bonehelm]

If it doesn't involve nudity or swearing, then probably not.

That told us a lot about yourself

[Florestan]

Just asking: can a country be better than its citizens?

[Harry]

Does Argentina produce good vacuum-cleaners?

No, my friend but the Dutch and the Germans do!
They don't suck!, but SUCK!

[71 dB]

No, my friend but the Dutch and the Germans do!
They don't suck!, but SUCK!

I have Miele S 254i which is German I believe. Is Volta or Hoover Dutch?

[BachQ]

Just asking: can a country be better than its citizens?

Yes.

In fact, citizens can devalue the worth of a country ........

[Mark]

That told us a lot about yourself

What did you conclude?

[Harry]

I have Miele S 254i which is German I believe. Is Volta or Hoover Dutch?

The Miele is German, and they make good machines. Volta nor Hoover are Dutch, no!

[M forever]

Shrub is totally irrelevant to this discussion. He may be an idiot (or at least appear to be one, when all the out-of-context media quoters follow him around), but I strongly doubt that he is corrupt.

Maybe not in the sense that they take bribes in bags, but he and his Shrubsters channel so much more into their own general direction, in much more elegant and elaborate ways than bags, and also in ways which cause so much more harm, that it makes those Argentinian politicians look like kids stealing candy from the little store at the corner.

[Sean]

I got over to S.American a few years ago but not to Argentina, apart from looking across from Iguacu. Here's my travelogue entry to annoy people; don't worry about your country too much though- there's far far more hidden corruption in the 'developed West'.

Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia & Venezuela June-September 2002 (twelve weeks) Places visited included Rio & Curitiba; Asuncion, Concepcion & Filadelfia; Santa Cruz, Trinidad & La Paz; Cuzco, Lima & Trujillo; Quito; Pasto, Cali, Medellin & Cartagena; Merida & Caracas; stayed at budget hotels and hammock, using coach, taxi, motorcycle, minibus, ferry, riverboat and rickshaw.
  I tried to avoid the more Westernized areas but Brazil's south-eastern cities are attractively lively; the Iguacu Falls is an experience, as are the vast plain and isolated towns of northern Paraguay. Had two nights in the Bolivian jungle getting badly bitten by insects, acquiring a parasite in the ankle and having it removed some weeks later; the road from Samaipata to La Paz is one of the world's most dangerous- I saw one lorry overturned down the hillside and a minibus after just being recovered from the valley floor with its bodywork ripped off, a horrendous sight. Cities in the mountains have extraordinary bowl-like settings and the island communities and Inca ruins on Lake Titicaca are well worth it. The most beautiful and stimulating country though is Colombia, where a curious sense of unease lies just below the surface; meeting travellers on cocaine there prompted me to give up alcohol for many months.

[Sean]

M, any chance of putting a stop to that mindless penguin thing, it's really winding me up now. Profuse thanks in advance, you penguin.

[M forever]

Sean, any chance of putting a stop to that mindless Sean thing, it's really winding me up now. Profuse thanks in advance, you Sean.

I tried to avoid the more Westernized areas but Brazil’s south-eastern cities are attractively lively

Meaning plenty of cheap underage hookers?

meeting travellers on cocaine there prompted me to give up alcohol for many months

Did you manage to kick that coke habit in the meantime?