CHILE: Miracleman Pinochet
Christopher Jones comments: "As someone with relatives still imprisoned in Castro's socialist prison, I find
this comparison offensive. So, I am including for WAIS a list of Pinochet's achievements. It really doesn't
do justice to the enormous transformation of Chile undertaken by the government of General Pinochet but
is a start. It was Milton Friedman who first coined the term "The Miracle of Chile" to describe the
transformation of Chile from one of Latin America's poorest countries into the second wealthiest nation on
the continent. But I like General Pinochet's own description of the programme better,"I want to change the
Chileans from a nation of proletarians into a nation of entrepreneurs." Among other things, Pinochet gave
Chileans the most modern "funded" pension plan in the world, an envy of every European country today
that is struggling to cope with the demise of the social welfare state. As for increasing the gap between rich
and poor, I cannot think of any more crass example of this than Cuba, where a two currency system is
allowed to function. For those lucky enought to get their hands on dollars in a tourist industry based on
cheap sextourism, it means a visit to one of the special government shops stocked with goodies from
Europe. For the vast majority with worthless pesos in their pockets, it means a pound of black beans and a
rotten chicken (maybe.) As for the restoration of Havana, most of the work has been funded by Spain or
Mexico so one can trace the cash back to a semi-authoritarian system (Franco or the PRI). But the old
colonial buildings continue to crumble as witnessed by the collapse last week of an old building in Havana
center. A peaceful transition in Cuba looks very remote indeed. I firmly believe that only a US led invasion
can topple Castro from power or outright cataclysmic starvation producing a popular uprising à la Romania.
I was amused with Tony Blair's remarks: Castro told listners yesterday that the EU is nothing more than a
Trojan Horse for the US. I am sure David Pike wants to know where the following stats which came from --
answer: an informed source inside Chile.
NUEVA INSTITUCIONALIDAD
VISION GEOPOLÍTICA
ACCION SOCIAL VIVIENDA
TRABAJO
SALUD
EDUCACION
PARTICIPACIÓN SOCIAL
POLÍTICA ECONÓMICA
Población económica basada en la libertad y esfuerzo nacional.
AGRICULTURA
OBRAS PÚBLICAS
MODERNIZACIÓN DEL ESTADO
Ronald Hilton - 7/27/03
Carmen Negrín wrote: "As for Pinochet, true, the economy of the country was better, but at what social,
cultural and political cost? The number of illiterates increased, health services decreased, the gap between
the poor and the rich grew. Regarding Cuba, one cannot disregard the fact that the country has suffered
from the embargo since 1961 and yet it has achieved many more things in education and health than
neighboring Jamaica or Haiti for example, which do benefit from foreign aid. La Havana is not a ruin but a
model of restoration, which could be followed by any country in the world. I believe changes could come
smoothly, with or without Fidel, if the embargo were lifted. The landing of the first US boat in Cuba since
'61, a couple of days ago, is a great step forward in that direction."
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