this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2024
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  • El Salvador will continue buying 1 Bitcoin daily until it becomes unaffordable with fiat currencies
  • President Bukele's statement highlights commitment to cryptocurrency adoption
  • Move demonstrates belief in Bitcoin's long-term value and potential as a global currency alternative.
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[–] nivenkos@lemmy.world 57 points 8 months ago (2 children)

He's winning against the gangs though - every Salvadorean I know supports him.

[–] GenEcon@lemm.ee 48 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (5 children)

Talk to families of unjustified imprisoned people or to the people itself. His 'fixing' was done by basically imprisoning everyone, which just happened to be close to any suspect gang member. There where even cases where a mailman was imprisoned because he just happenend to deliver a parcel during a raid.

Yes, he fixed the gang problem for now. But at a high price – the loss of a fair justice system. He imprisoned 1.2 % of the total population in just 2 years.

I know that freedom vs security is a fine balance and once security suffers significantly, you are willing to give up quiet a lot of freedom. But since he just imprisoned everyone and their relatives, its only a temporary fix – unless he wants to imprison them for life.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 33 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I don’t think you understand how completely gangs had effectively taken over El Salvador until recently. Despite the obvious issues that you’ve pointed out, the situation is genuinely miles better than it was before for the vast majority of the population who were simply trying to live their lives.

[–] GenEcon@lemm.ee 11 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Thats what I meant with 'if security gets really low, you are willing to sacrifice a lot of freedom'

My major complaint is, that he doesnt have a plan for the time after they will eventually get out of prison.

[–] faintwhenfree@lemmus.org 5 points 8 months ago

Considering how strict he is, doubt they're getting out of prison soon.

[–] deafboy@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Wait. There was a plan to release anyone? I thought the guy who invites an armed military observers to the parliament voting session wouldn't bother with that.

[–] otherbarry@lemmy.zip 28 points 8 months ago

Talk to families of unjustified imprisoned people or to the people itself.

Do you actually know & speak to people in El Salvador? Pretty much everyone I know there (family/friends) are ecstatic that there are no more gang members running around unchecked. The country is safer now then it has been in years.

Nothing is perfect of course, poverty is still a major issue, but not having to deal with gang members every time you ride the bus, go out shopping, even just drive around, it's a huge deal over there.

Sure I get what you're saying but for most people there it's been a positive development.

But since he just imprisoned everyone and their relatives, its only a temporary fix – unless he wants to imprison them for life.

True.. to be honest I suspect those people are imprisoned for life. No one expects gang members to be let out of prison while Bukele is still running the country, that's going to be something that gets revisited when/if he's out of office. It's a massive human rights issue but at least for now the majority of Salvadorans consider it a net positive.

The funny thing is that this article is about bitcoin & most Salvadorans don't particularly care about that at all, it's just kind of a headline that isn't going to win/lose Bukele any support in the short term at least.

[–] PatFussy@lemm.ee 16 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

You seem to underestimate the gang problem. I was in Ilobasco a few years ago and my family that lives there urged me not to go outside past 7pm because I can be a target or even kidnapped. Like wtf why do the gangs get to dictate curfew in 2017? Past nightfall you have to turn the lights off so people in the streets can't peek into your house through the metal guard rails on all the windows. It was eye opening to say the least. Since Nuevas Ideas I have only heard good things and good changes to the area from my family. There were so many people associated to the gangs that I have little sympathy for those 'innocently accused'. I would rather a few loosely incorporated get caught than let the gangs do what they want freely.

[–] le_saucisson_masquay@sh.itjust.works 8 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Until it's you who get wrongfully put in jail, but I get the point. I think everyone agree it's better now and also they should do everything they can to speed up the release of innocent people.

[–] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 0 points 8 months ago

Not to mention there's a very obvious racial component of who's probably bearing the brunt of all these arrests even with the policy of "we swear it's only criminals bro trust us bro just let us keep at it bro we're fixing crime bro!"

[–] Harbinger01173430@lemmy.world -1 points 8 months ago

I hope he does that. Us citizens wouldn't want that criminal lowlife and their families to return to society

[–] Evil_incarnate@lemm.ee 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Since every Bitcoin transaction is traceable, it makes it easier to see where the money goes...

[–] wahming@monyet.cc 8 points 8 months ago

And also stealable with a single passcode. Which they totally didn't give the president's nephew, no sirree