READERSWRITE

HELLO DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND …

Last Sunday’s huge blackout seems a suitable metaphor for the darkness we’re immersed in. It was Father’s Day, which looks like a good symbol, too, ‘cause we, Argentines, are prone to look for a Father/Mother figure as President. We choose politicians rather than policies, individuals rather than programs, relying too much on cha r isma, persona lit y, charm, glamour, magnetism, forgetting that appearances are often misleading. In the midst of such a candidate pandemonium, I feel we have a blind date in the dark room next October. Anyway, I never lose “hope of deliverance of the darkness that surrounds us”, as Paul McCartney puts it. By the way, happy birthday, Sir. Better late than never.

Irene Bianchi Ringuelet, La Plata www.irenebianchi.com.ar

BATTLE OF THE BULGE: PART L

Dear Sirs,

Oh, dear: the local economy contracted by 5.8 percent during the first quarter, private consumption fell by 10 percent and the manufacturing sector declined likewise, in sympathy. Simultaneously, and hardly surprisingly, unemployment leapt up to more than ten percent of the economically active population, and underemployment must be in that range, also.

Fortunately, the worst of the contraction appears to be over, as inflation moderates, the poor old peso appears to be strengthening on the money markets and the fiscal deficit seems to be tethered, thanks to massive support from Uncle Donald and Madame Lagarde. Meanwhile, the local politicos scramble for positions and incomes on the corresponding lists, which must be completed by next Saturday [editor’s note: today]. All out for the presidential elections, which culminate during the last quarter of the year. The country’s future over the next fifty years will be defined by these forthcoming polls. Argentina or Argenzuela?

Bust wishes,

David Parsons City

A HEARTFELT REQUEST

Dear Messrs Lavagna and Espert, Now that Mr. Massa has decided to retire from the presidential race, I hereby want to request both of you to set aside your egos for the good of our Republic. You see, these coming elections are not a matter of persons opposite persons, parties opposite parties, ideologies opposite ideologies. No, no, this time it goes much deeper than that for it is a question of freedom versus dictatorship. The future of many Argentine generations is at stake because, according to how the coin falls, we will continue on a civilized course or make our way back to the Stone Age, figuratively speaking.

Please, gentlemen, you must get it into your minds that, although the votes you will receive are surely going to constitute only a very minor proportion of the total, in the expected close race between the major contenders they just might make the difference in favour of the wrong direction, because your votes will be subtracted from those of the freedom fighters.

So please, dear Sirs, be so kind and let your patriotic feelings take hold of you. If you do so you will gain the respect and gratitude of all those of us who pray for the revival of our country. It is up to you to go down in our history as conscientious citizens or as villains, the first option being decidedly the best.

Yours truly,

Harry Ingham City