El Salvador winning the war on cartels and crime

What the F just happened? El Salvador locked up their thugs and Argentina said adios to socialism while illegal aliens beat down our NYC cops and give us the double middle fingers?

 

There isn't any magic to what Bukele did - he decided to violate human in order to incarcerate 75,000 people without a trial. He has targeted those that are gang affiliates and members. As a results he has the murder rate in El Salvador the lowest in 30 years. People in El Salvador are just grateful they have seen the gangs largely shut down.

There are other issues though. Poverty in El Salvador has skyrocketed and doubled under Bukele. Now over 25% of El Salvador is in abject poverty. Then there are the economic issues too. In the last year, Bukele has seen the economic growth become the lowest in Latin America.

Overall Bukele is popular - he has delivered on his promise to cut down murder and serious crime. Murder for example is down nearly 70% in a year which is amazing. Long term he has to deal with the economic problems under his administration - poverty doubling in 12 months under him is almost as amazing as him cutting the crime rate.

He has 75,000 people incarcerated indefinitely - in a country that only has like 6.5 million people - what is the long term plan? Is he going to keep them in jail forever? How is he going to fix an economy - one where foreign investment has plummeted under his rule. He can perhaps make inroads with China if he wants to go that way.

He has perpetrated a lot of propaganda which is absurd. He has claimed zero murders in a year, he also has claimed that the economy has rapidly grown which is a farce at this point. He will not address term limits.

I will be watching to see what happens - but I expect it will be like every other populist to the left and to the right that takes power - corruption sets in and we see misery.

 

I find this post very interesting and free of bias, but perhaps pessimistic. I understand why they are having an economic downturn.

As you may recall, I have been harping the United Sates Empire should be spending more time nation building in S America, especially Mexico instead of helping Europe fight their neighbors civil war. This is not our problem! Could we not at least funnel maybe 5-10 billion to el salvador to help nation build instead of sending it off to destroy and kill people? Maybe upgrade their airport, add some local infrastructure and bring in some American manufacturing jobs? Better to keep them there than have them illegally arriving through our border.

 

I agree with you - there are a lot of reasons for the USA to dedicate money and time to South and Central America. It relates to the border, crime in the USA and economic reasons as well.

Ukraine is a problem to the extent that it can impact the economy in Europe and that is somewhat tied to ours. Ultimately I think the reason we have so much involvement in Europe is because the background of so many decision makers in America have European roots.

The other issue is that China and to a lesser degree Russia, are setting up shop in South and Central America - right at our doorsteps.

We don't really even nation build anymore, we just start wars or influence wars. We didn't even nation build in Iraq, we walked away when we selfishly could have built them into a natural friend of the USA.

I think that in the next decade we are going to start seeing both parties move away from so much war and foreign involvement. Younger Americans don't like it. I am hoping that the infrastructure is really addressed, and efforts to improve the lives of Americans - which hasn't been a large priority for the government in a long time.

As for El Salvador, Bolivia, Venezuela and other nations - corruption and class divide is so strong that it is hard for them to really break out. The people that live in these nations are like a raft in the middle of the ocean. They have some short term control, but everything becomes cyclical.

 

We care about Europe because of NATO and also because we have strong trade and other relationships with Europe. While we are spending money there we likely get a fare amount of return from trade and other investment with Europe.

Many central and South American countries just aren’t developed enough to get such returns. Also the US has a very questionable history with involvement in those countries from exploitation of banana republics to propping up dictatorships during the Cold War. At the same turn with an isolationists Republican Party and a Democratic Party with many with symapathies towards leftists anti colonial movements it’s unlikely a massive aid and investment bill for Central America could make it through Congress.

 

Next step: Follow Javier Milei's economic policies.

 

You can't build a strong economy when a country is running ramped with crime, from day 1 Bukele focused not only on a safer El Salvador but on education. Giving the entire country's children and teenagers laptops and tablets.

Tourism and businesses are starting to operate in the country, all of this creates jobs and a future. Bukele has only been there what? 4 years, what are the expectations? To eliminate crime and create a strong economy in half a decade?

I go every year, sometimes twice to visit my family..... I have never seen a better El Salvador, people out there buying new cars and building homes all while getting luxuries you typically find here in the U.S.

 

@tinman
@AroundTheWorld

 

World opinion is "woke" until you beg outsiders with hat in hand to help pay off or extend your existing loans.

I hope he means well, but things go not how Bukelle or any other leader wants them to go, but rather where the economy goes.

"Once off" violations to enhance or preserve civil order are usually too tempting not to use the next time.

 

This was a damn good 10-20 min read for anyone interested in the topic. Far more informational than a speech or btc inspired tweet.

 

Them kids gonna absolutely hate Hamas...