A Maria Antoinette moment

[timelets]

Wilbur Ross, a billionaire and the current Commerce Secretary, doesn't understand why federal workers who don't get paid can't get a loan from a bank.

"Wilbur Ross 'Doesn't Understand' Why Furloughed Workers Need Food Banks | Hallie Jackson | MSNBC" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[timelets]

Here we should hope and pray for stability and prosperity in Mexico because if the situation worsens no wall is going to stop the young generation from seeking a better life in the US. Frankly, I don't follow events in Latin America that much. Brazil used to be a bright spot, both politically and economically; then, everything deteriorated and they got a new authoritarian president. Who knows. I'm not even sure the term Latin America is even relevant any more, except that most of people there speak some kind of Spanish :) The entire region is in perpetual funk: sometimes better, sometimes worse.

[gomberg]

I wouldn't say that the region is in perpetual funk. If anything, there has been a tremendous progress over the years. But this is not the best moment (where is it?). Both Brazil and Mexico have just elected illiberal presidents: it is not likely to be pretty in either, and these are the two largest countries. And, alas, you guys are not helping: having Trump in power in the US reduces the opportunity cost of being stupid down here. And, alas, it seems some of our politicians are taking that as an invitation.

And a word of caution: all Latin American countries are very different.