Argentina: ‘We Increase’ Progress or Corruption? · Global Voices
Laura Schneider

“Don't buy Pantene, 40% increase”; “Don't buy Elvive due to excessive increase” Image by user @AdrianBono on Twitter
A speech on national television by President Cristina Fernández in which she announced a new increase in retirement pensions and in education allowances, among other things, provoked immediate responses among Twitter users who began using the hashtag #Aumentamos (we increase) to give their own account of what has ‘increased’ in the country.
Since the beginning of 2014, for example, one of the issues that most impacts Argentinians is the increase in prices. From the cost of basic household goods to appliances and cars, there have been substantial changes affecting the economy in general.
User casarosada uploaded the February 4 speech to YouTube [es]:
During the speech, Cristina Fernández emphasized the positive gains generated during her tenure:
Aumentamos las medidas que permitieron aumentar: hemos aumentado los puestos de trabajo, 6 millones de puestos de trabajo. Hemos aumentado las fábricas, más de 58 mil fábricas desde 2003; hemos aumentado los parques industriales.
We’ve increased the measures that allowed gains: we’ve increased jobs, 6 million new jobs. We’ve increased the number of factories, more than 58,000 factories since 2003; we’ve increased [the number of] industrial parks.
Fernández continues:
Aumentamos las universidades nacionales, tenemos nueve más; aumentamos el número de escuelas y de aulas […] aumentamos la cantidad de becas y salarios para que los científicos se quedaran en la Argentina; aumentamos la inversión en ciencia y tecnología […] Aumentamos la infraestructura en riego, en camino, en obras que permitieron recuperar miles de hectáreas bajo el agua; aumentamos la cantidad de argentinos que tienen agua potable y cloacas, también aumentamos el pavimento.
We’ve increased national universities, we have nine more; we increased the number of schools and classrooms […]; we’ve increased the number of scholarships and salaries so that scientists will stay in Argentina; we’ve increased investment in science and technology; […] we increased irrigation infrastructure, road works, and works that allowed us to recover thousands of acres of land under water; we increased the number of Argentinians who have potable water and sewer, and we’ve increased [the amount of] paved areas.
And finally:
Aumentamos el número de jubilados en más de 2,5 millones, gente que no tenía una cobertura previsional y que nos convierte en el país de Latinoamérica de mayor cobertura previsional, con 93%; aumentamos los salarios […]. Aumentamos la compra de medicamentos […]. Aumentamos las inversiones en viviendas […]. Aumentamos la cobertura de aquellos que todavía no tienen un trabajo registrado, que están en ese limbo que se denomina trabajo informal […].
We increased the number of retirees by more than 2.5 million, people who had no pension coverage, and that makes us the largest country in Latin America with pension coverage at 93%; we increased wages […] We increased purchases of medications […].  We increased investment in housing […] We increased coverage for those who don’t have registered work, who are in that limbo called informal work […]
She also said that her government has increased ‘consumption capacity’ and added: “I don’t think there are any Argentinians going hungry.”
Following the speech, the phrase “we increased” [es] quickly became a local trend on Twitter, with opinions for and against:
#aumentamos TODO! corrupción, pobreza, odios, bolsillos de funcionarios, caradurismo, bolazo, inseguridad, riqueza suya
— María Lourdes Moro (@EmeLeMoro) febrero 4, 2014
We’ve increased EVERYTHING! Corruption, poverty, hatred, the pockets of officials, shamelessness, lies, insecurity, her wealth
#Aumentamos pobreza, impuestos, corrupcion, ignorancia, inseguridad, desempleo, violencia, etc. El gobierno mas corrupto de la historia!!!
— Candela Checa (@CandeAcade) febrero 4, 2014
We’ve increased poverty, taxes, corruption, ignorance, insecurity, unemployment, violence, etc. The most corrupt government in history!
#Aumentamos en robos, precios, gente que no tiene para comer, inundaciones, muertes. Tranqui igual, Cris dice que a nadie le falta nada(?)
— Alena (@ohh_mills) febrero 4, 2014
We’ve increased theft, prices, people who don’t have anything to eat, floods, deaths. But no worries, Cris says nobody is lacking anything (?)
But those who were in agreement with the national broadcast expressed their support:
#Sra. #Cristina Te bancamos [Estamos de acuerdo contigo] Ayer hoy y siempre! #CadenaNacional #Aumentamos La Alegría y el Compromiso en el Pueblo! #07Apagóndeconsumo
— #El21FTodosaLaPlaza (@LoreArau) February 4, 2014
We're with you yesterday, today and always! Happiness and commitment with the people!
#Aumentamos UNA SOCIEDAD QUE NO ASISTE A SUS MAYORES Y QUE NO ASISTE EN EDUCACION A SUS HIJOS ES UNA SOCIEDAD QUE NO TIENE MEMORIA
— ♥ AnitaArg ♥ (@AnitaaArg) febrero 4, 2014
A society that doesn’t help its elders and doesn’t help educate its children is a society that has no memory
#Aumentamos Que te puedo decir de mi amada presidenta después de escucharla?Que hoy más q nunca: …sigo bancando este proyecto…!
— María Moreaux (@MaraMoreaux) febrero 4, 2014
What can I tell you about our beloved president after listening to her? That today more than ever: we will keep supporting this project!