READERS WRITE

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

During the debate of the “Impuesto a la Riqueza” bill, lawmaker Graciela Caamaño said that Article 9, when it delegates power without limits to AFIP is against the Constitution, because it violates the principle of “no taxation without representation.” Maybe the senators can modify this article, or maybe the president can modify it using a partial veto. Otherwise the judges will have the final say on whether this article is against the Constitution or not. Best regards,

Luis Spallarossa, via email

A SCHOOL WITHOUT FREEDOM

Public schools in Argentina do not always offer an opportunity to create an ongoing relationship with parents. In some of them there is little communication with a student’s home but, because of Covid 19 , there has been a lot of tutoring by parents and their active presence in helping do homework has led them to discover the so-called “Apunte de clase” – the photocopied instructional resources that have to be followed to the letter in subjects, for example, where Argentine history and its government are taught. However,the truth of the matter is that these resources can be manipulative as they do not allow students to choose other materials available on the Internet and in public libraries. It makes sense that the selection of learning resources should be delegated to the school but the students and their parents should be allowed to suggest alternative tools for the instructional material to be more diverse and, by so doing, make learning really engaging and relevant.

The “Apunte de Clase” generally goes hand in hand with teacher-centered lectures which not only bore students to death but also deny them the possibility of finding information from a reliable source of their choice. The future of public education looks ominous in our country, especially when we see courageous women like City Education Minister Soledad Acuña who, single-handedly, denounced the practice of political indoctrination in class. This sad reality dooms students to a second-rate education by failing to provide them with classes that foster respect for diversity of opinions.

Adrian Insaubralde, Santa Fe

CAREFUL WITH WEIMAR!

There are certain days when I feel really angry with some of the leaders of the opposition. They seem to be so busy jockeying for position in regards to the midterm legislative elections next year that they are unaware that in the 10 months up till then we will experience a social and economic drama of a magnitude never seen before in Argentina. As just one dramatic sample, ask any manufacturer and you will be told that, with imports tremendously restricted due to the scarcity of dollars, not being able to count with the necessary supplies there is no chance to hold out till then. Production will continue to drop and unemployment will continue to rise to an even more alarming level than the one it is at now.

Instead of developing a plan to pull us out of this mess showing us that they are able to provide an alternative, these chamberlainesque doves continue playing around with party politics, instead of offering a firm and decided front to stop the authoritarian advance of officialdom, which is doing its best to destroy our constitutional safeguards. It would do them good to study the failings of the Weimar Republic 1918-1933, and the consequences thereof.

Only a handful of opposition politicians are up to date with the feelings of those who voted for them last year, while the others are following instead of leading events. Careful, because as in 2001 but with even greater intensity, chances are that the people will once again come out on the streets demanding “que se vayan todos” – throw them all out!

Harry Ingham, City

AN IMAGE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

We all remember the shocking image of a Syrian boy, three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, along with his mother and brother, in September 2015. Somehow, the drawing by cartoonist Maledita Wiesel of Diego Jiménez and his 12-year-old daughter Abigail, entering their province, Santiago del Estero, on foot, reminded me of that picture.

Abigail’s parents were not allowed by the local authorities to return to Termas de Río Hondo, their hometown. They were coming from the Children’s Hospital in Tucumán, where Abigail had received oncological treatment. After waiting at the border for hours, under a scorching hot sun, surrounded by insects, Diego decided to cross on foot, holding Abigail in his arms.

Governor Gerardo Zamora has now apologised to the family for what happened. Is that enough? Isn’t it too late? Shouldn’t he hand in his resignation? Oooops, sorry! I keep forgetting this is Argentina. Feudal lords own their provinces and set the rules. Sigh…

Irene Bianchi, Ringuelet, La Plata

BATTLE OF THE BULGE: PART 121

Dear Sirs,

Friend Nietzsche got it wrong. God didn’t die towards the end of the XIXTH century; He died last Wednesday, in Buenos Aires. Or, at least, his hand did!

Diego Armando Maradona passed away at midday last Wednesday and his lying in state in the Pink House as from last Thursday has been somewhat shambolic, to say the least. Inevitably, the various ‘barras bravas’ had a field day, amongst the milling crowds, anxious to pay their respects to the ‘wizard of dribble.’ Blame for the bru-ha-ha is swirling around, and obviously, nobody is to blame. Dear old Argentina. So what’s new? Mucho Covid-19, to you!!!

David Parsons, via email