Page 27 - Argentina - Carter, Regan, and Bush VP

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OP IMMED
UTS955
DE RUESBA #7776 2701930
0 261841Z SEP 80
EM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6911

INFO AMEMBASSY LIMA 3687

CONFIDENTIAL
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 5 OF 7 BUENOS AIRES 7776
EXTERNAL COMPETITION BY LOWERING TARIFF PROTECTION, RE­
DUCING SUBSIDIES, AND LIMITING STATE INVOLVEMENT IN THE
ECONOMY. INFLATION, HOWEVER, IS STILL HIGH, RUNNING AT
ABOUT 75 PCT FOR THE YEAR.
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND TRANSACTION IS A RIGHT OF THE
CITIZENS. THE TAX SYSTEM IS PROGRESSIVE AND TAX COLLEC­
TIONS ARE INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE, THOUGH COMPLIANCE RE­
MAINS A PROBLEM.
EDUCATION HAS BEEN FREE AND IS WIDELY AVAILABLE, THOUGH
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW MOVING TO REQUIRE TUITION FOR
UNIVERSITY-LEVEL EDUCATION. HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS ACCOUNT
FOR A MAJOR SHARE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET. GOVERNMENT,
PRIVATE AND TRADE UNION MEDICAL CARE PROGRAMS MAKE TREAT­
MENT AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE TO MOST OF THE POPULATION.
THERE IS A SERIOUS HOUSING DEFICIT IN ARGENTINA, MOST OF
IT ATTRIBUTABLE TO NOW DEFUNCT LEGISLATION THAT SUSTAINED
RENT CONTROL GUIDELINES.

3. RESPECT FOR CIVIL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES, INCLUDING:
A. FREEDOM OF SPEECH, RELIGION AND ASSEMBLY
IN 1980 THE MARGIN FOR EXERCISE OF FREEDOM OF
SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY, PROVIDED FOR BY THE ARGENTINE CON­
STITUTION, EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY. IN EARLIER YEARS
THE CLIMATE OF VIOLENCE AND REPRESSION MADE MANY
ARGENTINES FEARFUL OF ASSERTING THESE FREEDOMS. THE
RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY FOR POLITICAL GROUPS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED
SINCE MARCH 1976, AND MARXIST PARTIES TO THE LEFT OF THE COMMUNISTS
BANNED.
THE PRESS IS NOT SUBJECT TO PRIOR OFFICIAL CENSORSHIP FOR
POLITICAL — AS OPPOSED TO MORAL — CONTENT. GOVERNMENT
IMPOSED GUIDELINES AND SELF-CENSORSHIP DO PLAY AN IMPORTANT

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