And people say populism/socialism doesn't work...

Sevo - Argentina is currently run by the Justicialist Party, i.e., the Peronistas. They aren't entirely right wing or left, but they are pro-corporate and about the least "socialist" country in all of South America.

Doesn't it strike anyone as odd that a coin shortage would be a problem in modern times? This wouldn't be a problem in America because people use credit and debit cards as well as checks. Also, toll roads are equiped to take money from a credit card and I am sure you can buy subway tokens without using coins. Heck, even vending machines are not a problem nowadays.

Argentina still relies too much on the cash economy.

As for the Peronista Party, they are all over the map. When it was founded in the 1940's it was a nationalist leftwing party. In the 1990s it was a rightwing party that privatized everything in sight. Now it's supposed to be a left of center party. It depends who runs the party at what time. They are like the PRI were in Mexico, basically the only game in town, the opposition party (the Radical Party) sucks. Until they can get their act together, nothing will happen in the way of political, social and economic advancement in Argentina.

Maybe someone will start hoarding toxic mortgages and reselling them for a profit too. Obviously a peso is upscale to a home.

I remember visiting relatives in Italy during years of coin shortages. Of course, Italian candies are pretty tasty, so it seemed like a good idea.

Maybe President Cristina Fernandez can call on her good friend Hugo Chavez for some help. Didn't he start a powerful new bank, the Bank of the South, because he was sick and tired of the World bank?

Or maybe they could use that briefcase full of money his diplomat, Franklin Duran used to make payments to left wing friend's in Argentina? You know the case with the guilty verdict???? Funny thing about when people wear wire tabs into sting operations. She's wasn't allowed to take his money, just another case of chavez getting "his"

The only thing good about Argentina is their Empanadas and Chimichuri sauce.

MMMMMMMM Chimichuri Sauce....

Argentina has some awesome ski slopes. My sister went there two years ago and tore it up.

DavetheWave, thanks for the link I wondered what had become of that whole affair.

Something else Argentina is famous for is soccer, but now that Maradona is head coach of the national team I wonder how they will perform in the 2010 world cup. It will be interesting to watch.

Don't cry Argetina, Maradonna will fix it all up for ya!