Hi, everyone,

I'm Luciano from Argentina.

I always avoid mentioning topics that relate to politics if I'm wise enough to do so. This time around it's different. This isn't a particular issue on which I may agree or disagree, it's a bit deeper. So bear with me and my incomplete English while I talk about my country from my perspective.

Argentina is currently undergoing a political, institutional, and economic crisis. Many of you might jump to conclusions and say 'Must be because of the pandemic' or 'must be because of the war'. While I can't deny the accelerated pace of this crisis might be, at least partially, influenced by the international landscape, the bulk of it is internal.

On the economics side, the country is in shambles. We've got debts we can't pay, which the government blames on the previous administration, but when you look at it, every single presidency added to it. The current administration has the imports and exports markets HEAVILY regulated, to the point we can't currently access many things to produce. There is also the problem of blocking exports that are highly demanded in the world, since one of our biggest competitors is currently being invaded. So, no money comes in, and a lot of it goes out of the system because nobody here is dumb enough to trust the government won't steal their money (this has happened in the 2001-2002 crisis). Because of political bickering we don't have the second biggest natural gas pool in the world producing any natural gas, we are burning it because the government chose to steal the company away from its previous owners and do nothing with it. In the middle of this, Congress approved a deficit budget, exacerbating the already existing issues. Our currency is basically monopoly money. There is a de-facto bi-monetary system ongoing, where the only thing the Argentine Peso is good for is paying for some goods and services and taxes; it doesn't hold any value (everybody buys USD or ETH or bricks), nor can it buy everything (you buy houses and other things with USD). The Central Bank has such a tight grasp on its meager existing USD reserve that producers can't import parts for their machines, medicines can't be imported, machines can't be brought in, etc, etc, etc. We are being fucked by a bunch of drunk apes with knives.

On the political aspect, the current executive branch is ruled by two groups that formed a coalition who lust for power and hate each other. This coalition is characterized for disregarding the well being of the country as long as they can stay in power via utilizing the dispossessed in their favor.

Institutionally, one of these sides is stoking the flames to overthrow the current president and put the vice president in power. This vice president already held the presidency for two terms and her party lost in 2015. She is characterized for her disdain of the free market, for aggressive monetary emission and foreign currency restrictions, for her affinity for Latin American dictatorships, and for weaponizing poor people to stop her political opponents. She is currently in several trials which she desperately is attempting to avoid, while she tries to modify the court system to get more partisan judges in that would help her slip away from all wrongdoings.

So, what you might see in the news is that at some point between now and the 2023 elections the country goes to shit for real, following on the steps of Cuba and Venezuela. The country is already at 50% of its population living in poverty. A high salary here is worth about 500-700USD. We are poor beyond belief and the current administration only cares about one thing: remain in power by whatever means necessary. I suspect we are going to see a coup d'état or at least a soft version of it, similar of what we saw in 2001, when the people who are currently in power joined forces with the 'opposition' and made the sitting president resign.

Sorry if this bummed you out. My family and I are doing well enough right now, if that's of any consolation.

If any compatriot wants to reply to this calling me names or insulting me for not bowing to the red queen or the fake opposition, I've got this for you: chupame un huevo y mandate a mudar.

Much love.

Lucyan

Hear, mortals, the sacred cry:

"Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"

Hear the sound of broken chains

See noble equality enthroned.

Their most worthy throne have now opened

The United Provinces of the South.

And the free people of the world reply:

"To the great Argentine people, hail!"

And the free ones of the world reply:

"To the great Argentine people, hail!"

May the laurels be eternal

that we were able to achieve

Let us live crowned in glory

Or let us swear to die with glory!

Or let us swear to die with glory!