As I see it Post-electoral Democrat blues 09-11-2024 07:36 If Democrats were wise, they would understand that it was due to their incompetence, combined with highhandedness, that Trump came roaring back. by James Neilson
As I see it Fear and loathing in the US 02-11-2024 06:42 About the only thing Donald Trump and Kamala Harris agree upon is that, unless one of them wins, democracy will die in the United States. by James Neilson
As I see it A most unappetising choice 26-10-2024 05:32 The choice, then, is between a blustering egotist and an almost comically vacuous lady. by James Neilson
As I see it Milei and the uses of fanaticism 19-10-2024 06:23 Javier Milei’s reputation, and with it his ability to rule, depends on his willingness to stick to his fiscal guns, come what may. by James Neilson
As I see it There are no easy answers in education 12-10-2024 06:59 Living as we do in an egalitarian age, many educationalists are reluctant to take into account another unfortunate fact: people have different talents by James Neilson
As I see it Israel takes on the holy warriors 05-10-2024 06:15 It would therefore be reasonable to assume that the Western democracies would not only approve of Israel’s attempt to annihilate Hamas and Hezbollah but would also be sending troops to help her get the job well and truly done. by James Neilson
As I see it The UN gets the Milei treatment 28-09-2024 06:22 Hypocrisy is the glue that holds the UN together. It would fall apart if the democratic members began demanding the immediate expulsion of countries whose regimes refuse to observe the rules they pledged themselves to respect. by James Neilson
As I see it Israel’s terrible swift sword 21-09-2024 06:20 Israel not only tore apart Hezbollah’s communications’ network and undermined its morale, but also scored a major propaganda triumph. For a small country whose very survival depends entirely on its military prowess, this is a matter of literally vital importance. by James Neilson
As I see it Waiting for the next leader of the free world 14-09-2024 06:08 In the United States, politicians enjoy shouting insults at one another, a habit that has been picked up by Javier Milei, who greatly admires “The Donald.” by James Neilson
As I see it A most illiberal libertarian 07-09-2024 06:06 Is Milei a democrat? Probably not; it is increasingly clear that, by instinct, he is an authoritarian who does not take kindly to even mild criticism. by James Neilson
As I see it A window of opportunity for autocrats 31-08-2024 05:37 Donald Trump is far from being the only North American politician who would like to see his country leave the rest of the world to its own wretched devices. by James Neilson
As I see it Milei’s party a prey to infighting 24-08-2024 05:29 In democratic countries, leaders of a ruling party that has little to fear from an opposition in disarray soon find themselves confronting internal rebellions. In Argentina, Javier Milei’s party finds itself in a similar situation. by James Neilson
As I see it Alberto left twisting slowly, slowly in the wind 17-08-2024 06:43 Was Alberto Fernández an exceptionally bad character or was he just a typical member of what Javier Milei calls “the caste” who felt he was entitled to make up his own rules? by James Neilson
AS I SEE IT Maduro still has plenty of fans 03-08-2024 14:54 For Xi Jinping and his underlings, the alleged ability of the Chinese Communist Party to solve quickly problems that keep Western politicians awake at night is a major selling point which they use to impress leaders of underdeveloped countries who see democracy as a threat. by James Neilson
AS I SEE IT Almost half a year to go 27-07-2024 14:11 In a sane universe, the all too evident shortcomings of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, let alone Joe Biden, would make it impossible for one of them to become what their compatriots plausibly say is the “most powerful” person on earth. by James Neilson
AS I SEE IT Trump has remade the GOP 23-07-2024 14:47 Many now think that Trump has put himself on course to win the November presidential election in the United States by a landslide. by James Neilson
As I see it Goodbye to all that, perhaps 13-07-2024 07:32 Like Mauricio Macri before him. Milei is convinced that for Argentina to prosper he and his supporters will have to win the “cultural battle.” by James Neilson
As I see it The US and Europe in meltdown mode 06-07-2024 05:50 All this political turmoil reflects what is going on beneath the surface. In every Western country, people are dissatisfied with the way things are and fear they could soon get far worse. by James Neilson
As I see it A bad time for politicians everywhere 29-06-2024 04:19 Once upon a time, successful politicians were held in high regard. This is no longer the case. by James Neilson
As I see it Milei may have to come down to earth 22-06-2024 05:53 When talking high theory, the president is in his element, but he is far less self-confident when it comes to practical matters; he must feel they are beneath him and can be left to his sister. by James Neilson
As I see it A sea change in the Western world 15-06-2024 06:40 Abandoned to their fate by leading Democrats and socialists, people are turning towards politicians who are willing to take on the system they think has betrayed them. by James Neilson
As I see it The country needs a proper civil service 08-06-2024 05:36 Rather than merely slimming down a pathologically obese public sector, it would be far better to concentrate on greatly improving its quality. by James Neilson
As I see it The greatest show on earth 01-06-2024 05:56 Milei is playing the leading part in an imaginative cosmic drama he himself dreamed up in which, backed by heavenly forces, he battles the leftist foes of everything that is good. by James Neilson
As I see it Anti-Semitism comes back with a vengeance 25-05-2024 06:04 Though there has never been any shortage of reasons to persecute Jews, the chief one which underlies most others is envy. by James Neilson
As I see it Hail to the new populist caudillo 18-05-2024 06:49 Will Milei’s daring experiment work and give Argentina an economy that is at least as efficient as those of what is known as the developed world? Or will the cure he is intent on subjecting it to prove to be so painful that it kills the patient? by James Neilson
As I see it The Milei show rolls on 10-05-2024 06:29 To those who in the past placed their bets on Argentina and lost a great deal of money as a result, Milei’s spiel must have sounded like something a confidence trickster might say. by James Neilson
As I see it The perils of cyberspace 04-05-2024 05:37 A world in which everybody is electronically connected to everybody else and to the Internet is not one in which people feel closer to one another. Engrossed as they are with the talking pixels they see before them, they do their best to steer clear of flesh-and-blood creatures. by James Neilson
As I see it Give us more education 27-04-2024 05:07 Though academe has been on iron rations for decades, with professors long being accustomed to having to survive on a pittance, the feeling that Milei had it in for the universities because he thinks they breed lefties gave teeth to Tuesday’s demonstrations. by James Neilson
As I see it The worst journalists in the world 20-04-2024 06:07 Milei wants to control the narrative and, by doing so, change the way Argentines think about the world. Does hurling insults at journalists help win him more adherents? by James Neilson
As I see it Milei and the new new right 13-04-2024 05:34 Javier Milei has been warmly welcomed by adherents of the latest edition of the “new right,” but Argentina’s president sees just about everything through an economic lens. by James Neilson
As I see it Looking for unity offshore 06-04-2024 06:54 Despite the diplomatic points that can be scored, the current status quo looks likely to prevail for some time to come. by James Neilson
As I see it A sacred cow under attack 30-03-2024 06:38 It often seems that until all those who were physically or emotionally involved in it have departed, it will continue to be difficult to look at that unhappy period. by James Neilson
As I see it The dragon is getting older too fast 23-03-2024 06:32 Not that long ago, many took it for granted that China would soon overtake the United States to become the world's top nation, but there are plenty of good reasons to think they were mistaken. by James Neilson
As I see it Drug-lords in the crosshairs 16-03-2024 06:35 By Latin American standards, Argentina is a law-abiding country whose inhabitants are far less prone to commit murder or be gunned down by thugs than is the case elsewhere in the region. Why do so many people in high places believe that the threat has become so frightening that the military should be called in? by James Neilson
As I see it The world has become too complicated for politicians 09-03-2024 06:27 Can Argentina or, for that matter, any other country buck the trends that are causing such concern not only in the West but also in China and Russia? by James Neilson
As I see it Politicians in the dog house 02-03-2024 05:01 Business, especially big business, has long had a bad press in Argentina. This is partly due to the willingness of politicians to blame it for their own failures, as happens whenever inflation gets out of hand. by James Neilson
As I see it The world is not for the weak 24-02-2024 06:07 Though local nationalists have always insisted that Argentina is a victim of imperialist greed, the truth is that she has always been one of its principal beneficiaries. by James Neilson
Opinion & Analysis Political deadlock threatens economic change 17-02-2024 06:00 Unfortunately for President Milei, the political community he has joined has its own largely tacit rules which have little to do with economic efficiency. by James Neilson
As I see it Milei runs into a roadblock 10-02-2024 06:51 In most places, the old guard has managed to fend off those besieging it. Even if on occasion the establishment’s forces have had to beat a retreat, they have usually retained enough power to thwart their enemies. by James Neilson
As I see it An outsider at the centre of things 03-02-2024 08:11 Milei’s game plan is straightforward enough. Unfortunately, as governments the world over are well aware, squeezing the money supply is always a painful process. by James Neilson
As I see it The dreaded Orange Man is on the way back 27-01-2024 06:16 Versions of the same drama, in which upstarts successfully take on those who believe themselves entitled to lord it over everybody else, are being staged in many parts of the world where ordinary folk feel they are getting a raw deal. by James Neilson
As I see it Milei goes to the Magic Mountain 20-01-2024 06:53 What goes down splendidly with teenagers in La Matanza does not necessarily appeal to fabulously wealthy individuals who could be persuaded to invest in Milei’s ambitious project. by James Neilson
As I see it The Kirchnerites have Milei in their sights 13-01-2024 06:21 The fate of the new government will depend largely on Milei’s ability to persuade people that the fearful emergency he goes on about is not just a figment of an overheated imagination but something terribly real. by James Neilson
As I see it Doomsday prophecies are back in fashion 06-01-2024 07:28 There are signs that the current vogue for doomsday prophecies is having a more demoralising effect than previous ones. by James Neilson
As I see it For many politicians, payback time has arrived 31-12-2023 08:16 President Javier Milei, who wants to reshape Argentina from the ground up, is already being besieged by furious Kirchnerites, trade union bosses and “social movement” activists. by James Neilson
As I see it People everywhere want change 23-12-2023 06:09 As democracy depends on the majority feeling satisfied with its lot, the sour mood that is affecting large chunks of the population in high-income countries is causing anguish among those who fear that authoritarianism could make a comeback. by James Neilson
As I see it Javier Milei meets Mr Micawber 16-12-2023 06:23 As happened to Mr Micawber on one occasion, Argentina continues to languish in debtors’ prison. People here are well aware of this unfortunate fact, which is why Milei has won popular backing for the ruthless cost-cutting programme that is now underway. by James Neilson
As I see it Milei steps into the breach 09-12-2023 03:53 Javier Milei will soon find that completely reshaping a long-established political and economic order is sure to be a terribly difficult undertaking. by James Neilson
As I see it A president without money to spend 02-12-2023 09:56 For any government, whether populist, neoliberal, Trotskyite or flat-earthist, catering to the pressing needs of the millions of people who are on welfare would remain a huge problem. by James Neilson
As I see it Javier Milei has a steep mountain to climb 25-11-2023 14:25 Is a “change of mentality” taking place? We should soon know the answer to that particular question – much will depend on how people react to the hard times that are barrelling towards us. by James Neilson