But last week the mayor here in the nation´s capital announced that all primary school students will now be required to study English. The reason is clear. Argentina is an economic basket case.

A few years ago the peso lost two-thirds of its value versus the U.S. dollar and other currencies. But among the Argentines I´ve met on airplanes (in other words, people with disposable income) have been some the best English speakers I´ve encountered here. One was a man in his 20s who works as a computer programmer for Verizon. Another was a woman of about the same age who designs web pages for travelocity. Combine their knowledge of English with a peso that´s a screaming bargain even against the depressed U.S. dollar (some accuse the government of deliberately keeping the peso low for international trade advantages) and suddenly that lying dog is awaking from his slumber.

It was a real awakening to me that outsourcing is a lot bigger problem than China and India.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get here is about Barack Obama´s chances of being elected president. When I mention that Obama was recently ridiculed in some circles for suggesting that American children should be studying Spanish (maybe he should have said Chinese) to help compete economically, they´re stunned. It´s not just pride in their native language, it´s their understanding of the global economy. I smile, but point out we´re conversing in English because I speak virtually no Spanish. But I´m trying a lot harder on this trip than in the past.

Adios.