Oscar in Argentina says cronyism is the problem in their country

During our recent trip through the wine country of Argentina, I became friends with our guide, Oscar. Oscar is an interesting guy. His first real job was as a newspaper columnist for a large daily in Mendoza.

In 1983 he wrote a piece criticizing Argentina’s conduct of the Falkland War. He was promptly arrested, jailed and exiled to Europe. After 20 years, he was allowed to return home and now guides tourists in English, French, Italian or Spanish.

When I told Oscar that I thought socialism was responsible for Argentina’s economic problems, he respectfully disagreed. Free health care and colleg...