Crube Posted November 19, 2006 Share Posted November 19, 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6163238.stm Residents of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires have plenty to worry about, like rising crime, the economy and increasing football hooliganism. But the most immediate daily concern of many portenyos, as city residents are known, is how to make sure you have enough change for your bus fare home. There are simply not enough coins minted and there is a serious shortage. Bakeries may give you a small pastry or greengrocers an extra carrot instead of the 10 centavos change you are owed. The trouble is, the chronic shortage of coins in the city can turn you into a liar. 'Have you got 25 centavos?' asks the shopkeeper. No, you reply, nervously fingering the coins deep in your pocket. Just this 50-peso note. Newspaper kiosks put up signs saying "No change". Shops implore customers to pay with the exact money. And if you should find your pocket weighed down with abundant coins and pay the exact money, do not be surprised if the shopkeeper falls at your feet in exaggerated gratitude. Staff at an underground station recently allowed passengers in free since they had run out of change. A spokesman said they ask the Argentine Central Bank for 45 million 10-centavo coins a year, but only get 24 million. Buses only take coins, with machines eating up a fare of 80 valuable centavos - about 25 US cents. So you collect and hoard those valuable coins. They may not be worth much in financial terms to many Buenos Aires residents - but they are life or death for the thousands of poor sales people, buskers and beggars who ply for trade on the Buenos Aires public transport system. It leaves passengers with the constant moral dilemma of whether to give that very good, blind Bolivian guitar player the 50 centavos he so richly deserves to help feed his family - or save it for the bus fare home. Link to comment
margot Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 very misleading article title. I don't know what there is to debate though. Sucks for Argentina. Link to comment
Battle_Pope Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Buenos Aires is a pretty shitty hole, unless you're my grandpa and get mailed US dollars a few times a year. Link to comment
Gundampilotspaz Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 IF they were on a Gold Standard, they wouldn't have a problem [/irrelevant libertarian rant] Link to comment
Ceraziefish Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 IF they were anarchists, they wouldn't have a problem [/irrelevant anarchist rant] EDIT: And if they were on a Gold Standard, the would have a problem, because it isn't the value of the money that's decreasing, it's the physical amount of coins. Imagine if a quarter was worth exactly as much but there were a fourth as many in circulation. Link to comment
Belial Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 EDIT: And if they were on a Gold Standard, the would have a problem, because it isn't the value of the money that's decreasing, it's the physical amount of coins. Imagine if a quarter was worth exactly as much but there were a fourth as many in circulation. You're like fucking Supertramp, breakfasting it up in America. Logical Song style. Link to comment
Gundampilotspaz Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 EDIT: And if they were on a Gold Standard, the would have a problem, because it isn't the value of the money that's decreasing, it's the physical amount of coins. Imagine if a quarter was worth exactly as much but there were a fourth as many in circulation. Which is why the rant was irrelivent.... Link to comment
Ceraziefish Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Which is why the rant was irrelivent.... Oh, okay. :wink: Link to comment
darkon Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 IF they were on a Gold Standard, they wouldn't have a problem [/irrelevant libertarian rant] Winston Churchill once said that reintroducing the Gold Standard in 1925 was a huge mistake on his part. Game. Set. Match. [/irrelevant history major rant] Link to comment
The Lone Magician Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Wow, Argentina is screwed, aren't they? Link to comment
margot Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 IF they had more currency, they wouldn't have this problem! i win. Link to comment
Crube Posted November 21, 2006 Author Share Posted November 21, 2006 IF they had more currency, they wouldn't have this problem! i win. It seems you don't carrot all about the problem. Link to comment
margot Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 crube you are a golden god. Link to comment
Ceraziefish Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 It seems you don't carrot all about the problem. XD Crube wins the thread. Anyway, I think barter economies are tight. Plus, I wish I got a carrot instead of a couple dimes I'm just gonna throw out anyway! I never use coins and I'd rather have a tasty and delicious snack anyway! Link to comment
Belial Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Anyway, I think barter economies are tight. Plus, I wish I got a carrot instead of a couple dimes I'm just gonna throw out anyway! I never use coins and I'd rather have a tasty and delicious snack anyway! I've been to stores in Windsor and Sarnia that give candies away instead of pennies. Perhaps its because a Canadian penny is worth less than the copper its made of, or perhaps they're just trying to rip off American tourists, but I don't care, cuz I'd take a peppermint over a penny any day of the week. Link to comment
Gundampilotspaz Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Winston once said that reintroducing the Gold Standard in 1925 was a huge mistake on his part. Game. Set. Match. [/irrelevant history major rant] All of the ally heads of state were socialists. Although I am disappointed in Churchill . Link to comment
darkon Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 All of the ally heads of state were socialists. Although I am disappointed in Churchill . Well the problem was that Britain couldn't export anywhere because the pound was so awesome back in the 1920's. So essentially Britain was left with industries that couldn't support themselves, this is a big factor in the General Strike of 1926 and also the US being able to take over many of the places which the British formerly exported to. Link to comment
Reinas Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 IF they had more currency, they wouldn't have this problem! i win. Printing too much currency would lead to inflation. Argentina's problem is the inefficiency of their currency. Coins can't be used for everything anymore. Link to comment
Ceraziefish Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I've been to stores in Windsor and Sarnia that give candies away instead of pennies. Perhaps its because a Canadian penny is worth less than the copper its made of, or perhaps they're just trying to rip off American tourists, but I don't care, cuz I'd take a peppermint over a penny any day of the week. American pennies aren't worth the copper, either (even though they're mostly not-copper). Seriously, I just throw pennies on the ground. I don't need 'em. If I had saved all the pennies I had ever thrown out I'd probably have a total of like $10, and I'd have to do so much counting that it wouldn't even be worth it. That or I tell people at grocery stores to "Keep the change!" I then snap my fingers and look cool. Link to comment
Crube Posted November 22, 2006 Author Share Posted November 22, 2006 American pennies aren't worth the copper, either (even though they're mostly not-copper). Seriously, I just throw pennies on the ground. I don't need 'em. If I had saved all the pennies I had ever thrown out I'd probably have a total of like $10, and I'd have to do so much counting that it wouldn't even be worth it. That or I tell people at grocery stores to "Keep the change!" I then snap my fingers and look cool. That is why you should invest in a change machine. But really, I wonder if anyone noticed the part where they were getting less coins than demanded? Link to comment
Samurai Drifter Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 What's the problem, carrots are tasty and a good source of vitamin e. Link to comment
Gundampilotspaz Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I perfer a hard money system, to a soft money system. A standard weighted coin as the base currency is not a bad idea. Link to comment
Ceraziefish Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 That is why you should invest in a change machine. But really, I wonder if anyone noticed the part where they were getting less coins than demanded? I noticed it. It's a bit odd that the Mint would just kind of not give them the money that was ordered. I assumed there was a reason for it that the article just failed to mention. Link to comment
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