Don’t Cheer for Cristina, Argentina
Politicians love dynasties. Let’s call it incumbency-squared.
In America, we’ve had either a Bush or a Clinton serving in the nation’s highest office for the last two decades. Should Hillary Clinton win the presidency and serve for two full terms, America would have three decades, 28 years, of presidents from just these two families.
Yes, even here, in a republic, there are reasonable worries about dynastic rule.
At least, though, we have presidential term limits.
But then, so does Argentina. And the new president-elect of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, is the wife of the current president, Néstor Kirchner. The couple has decided to alternate runs for the position, thereby weaseling around the country’s term limit of two consecutive terms. This way, they can rule for an indefinite period.
The Peronistas of Argentina express excitement. But Argentineans with sense should not.
And plenty of Argentineans do worry, especially the 55 percent who voted for someone else. They blanch at the flash and dazzle in the last campaign, the lack of substance. They even talk about Cristina’s hair extensions, make-up, and quick-change wardrobe.
But they should worry most about the principles involved.
Don’t cheer for Cristina, Argentina. Term limits aren’t something to squirm out of. They are to be treated with respect. The benefit is blocking the monopolization of power.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
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