ARGENTINA: Man on the Sidewalk

In the chill autumn twilight, Pedro Pisani, citizen of Buenos Aires, sat on the sidewalk before his three-room suburban home, sipped unsugared mate (South American tea), and considered his lot. He was worried about the future. Argentine-born son of Italian immigrants, father of three, mild-mannered Pedro had worked for 20 years or more in the offices of Gath & Chaves, a big downtown department store. Until two years ago he earned $50 a month. Since then, Juan PerĂ³n's election-time decrees (and the store's voluntary raises) had upped his pay to $63. Still, had not living costs shot up three...

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