Miami Herald vs. South America

If your only awareness of the Southern Cone came from today's oped page in the Miami Herald, you'd probably be pretty pessimistic. First, an editorial tears into Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, saying her administration is plucked from the same "wretched tradition" to which her husband's belonged.

Just over six months into a new administration, a president elected with high hopes has turned into a major disappointment. Her levels of popularity have plunged below 25 percent in some polls. Ms. Fernández has blown it, and she has no one to blame but herself -- and her husband, former President Néstor Kirchner.

During his nearly five years in office, President Kirchner governed Argentina in a remarkably imperious manner. He began the disastrous policies she has followed by raising export taxes on soybean products to 35 percent from 27 percent, just weeks before leaving office in December. His wife raised those taxes further to about 45 percent.

His way of dealing with opposition lawmakers was to bully or ignore them. He sent mobs to attack protesters, and demonized the news media when it suited his political purposes. By renouncing Argentina's foreign debt, he ensured that the next government would inherit the deserved mistrust of foreign creditors.

Ms. Fernández's governing style is in the same wretched tradition. Like her husband, she does not seem to understand the globalization phenomenon or basic economics. She imposed price controls on milk and produce, as if inflation could be banished by decree. Meanwhile, the farm strike has helped to disrupt global food supplies because Argentina is a leading exporter of wheat, beef, soybeans and other products.

Ouch.

In a more measured tone, Marifeli Perez-Stable notes the Chilean peoples' dissatisfaction with a governing class generally considered the continent's best. The piece is generally optimistic, noting that Chileans play politics better than most, but Perez stresses the need for both sides of the aisle to overcome widespread voter cynicism:

Twenty years ago Chile passed the transition test with flying colors. The Concertación -- a pact between Christian Democrats, Socialists and two smaller parties -- can take much credit, but so can the conservative opposition. Even Augusto Pinochet gets some points for exiting peacefully.

Now the threshold is consolidating democracy. The political class must reach across the aisle to find common ground on a series of issues such as buffering inequality, improving education, creating jobs, energy, the environment, increasing investments and streamlining the state apparatus.