General Politics Discussion Topic [closed]

Originally posted by Ali709[..]

Yea, and that's what scares me...it's the last thing that our country needs, and I'm scared that you guys will vote for someone who'll take us there...

Originally posted by germcevoymight aswell say here to. I saw Air Force One fly overhead today

Originally posted by Ali709[..]

Mr. Bush heading back home, eh?

Originally posted by cnn
ARGENTINE FARMERS RENEW PROTESTS

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Thousands of Argentine farmers protesting grain export tax increases returned to road blockades nationwide on Sunday, angry over a police crackdown at a barricade the day before.
Farmers lined up tractors across rural roads nationwide in the latest salvo in a bitter three-month standoff with President Cristina Fernandez that has at times emptied supermarket shelves and raised the specter of recession in one of the world's top soy and corn exporters.
Protest leaders said in a statement that, at least through Wednesday, striking farmers will suspend grain exports and prevent trucks carrying most agricultural products from passing on national highways. Some perishable goods, such as milk, are to be allowed.
News footage showed rows of tractors blocking roads and farmers huddling around fires, bracing against the South American winter winds blowing across the open pampas. The farmers have suspended their protests then returned to the blockades several times as talks have stumbled.
The farmers' statement also denounced the brief arrest Saturday of 19 protesters at a blockade near the city of Gualeguaychu -- including prominent farm leader Alfredo de Angeli -- as a "provocation and repression."
Fernandez's center-left government defended the arrests, saying police were carrying out a judge's order to clear the road.
"These blockades take food away from Argentines," Cabinet chief Alberto Fernandez said late Saturday.
The agricultural crisis was touched off in March when the government raised export taxes on grains more than 10 percent. Cristina Fernandez says growers have benefited from rising world prices and the profits should be spread around to help the poor.
Farmers counter that they need to reinvest the profits and that the higher taxes make it difficult for them to make a living.
De Angeli, the farm leader, vowed Sunday that the demonstrations will continue as long as necessary.
"We're not going to sell grains, and we're not going to plant wheat. We're going to plant less corn, less soy, less of everything," he told Radio America. "If this situation doesn't change, grain production is going to fall next year."
Argentina is the third biggest exporter of soy beans and corn and the biggest exporter of soy oils and soy meal, which is used for animal feed.



Argentina farm strike turns violent

From Brian Byrnes
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- A three-month standoff between the Argentine government and farmers over export taxes turned violent Saturday.
Local reports said there were several injuries and 18 arrests, including Alfredo De Angeli, a farm union leader who has been one of the most outspoken critics of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's export tax.
Military police scuffled with farmers as they tried to remove them from a road that protesters had blocked with their trucks.
Protesters responded by throwing rocks at police and burning large truck tires in the road. Thick clouds of black smoke could be seen for miles.
Scenes of baton-wielding police in riot gear carrying struggling protesters away in trucks were broadcast live around the country.
The clashes took place in the farming community of Gualeguaychu, a stronghold for the protesters, about 124 miles (200 kilometers) north of Buenos Aires.
"It's embarrassing and shameful what this government is doing to us," one protester said. "They need to sit down again with us so we can have dialogue, not violence."
It was the worst day of violence in the 95-day conflict, which started in March over a new 44 percent commodities tax that farmers say unfairly cuts their profits at a time of record gains.
Argentina is the world's second-largest corn exporter and third-largest soy bean supplier.
The farming sector is widely credited with helping the country rebound from a devastating economic crisis in 2001.
Kirchner says the new tax plan will cut inflation and increase domestic supplies to feed Argentina's poor.
Farmers have sporadically cut off transportation routes in the country over the past three months in an effort to hit the government's coffers. In those cases, food that normally ships to Europe and Asia has not made it to port, and hundreds of thousands of gallons of spoiled milk have been dumped on rural routes.
Despite the occasional chaos, Argentina's middle class has rallied behind the farmers and voiced their displeasure with the government.
Thousands took to the streets in Buenos Aires on Saturday to bang pots and pans in support of the striking farmers. They also cut off traffic at busy city intersections, waving Argentine flags, singing the national anthem and asking for dialogue between the government and farmers.
Kirchner's popularity has dropped to just 26 percent because of the farming stalemate, which has been the toughest challenge yet to her six-month presidency.
In addition to causing internal conflict, the Argentine farm strike has also driven up global prices for commodities like soy beans, wheat and corn.

Originally posted by wtshnnfb01Hey Ali? I dont suppose you know if the rumor of your president being one of the hostage takers from the 1980 embassy crisis are true? I always wondered, but I have conflicting information.