Monday, January 16, 2006
The Rough with the Smooth
Chile elected a woman, Michelle Bachelet, as president, Hooray! Good job! Way to go! She's a socialist. Oh, man, bad move, Chile.
"Bachelet has promised to maintain the free-market policies that have made Chile's economy one of the strongest in the region." Yea, they all promise that, at first. Buena suerte, amigos.
"Bachelet has promised to maintain the free-market policies that have made Chile's economy one of the strongest in the region." Yea, they all promise that, at first. Buena suerte, amigos.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 5:23 PM 
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What can I do to stop her? Chile, a country I quite like, is free to pick whom it wants to lead it. If she leads well, you're right, the lables won't matter. Of course, if she wrecks Chile's economy, I'll get to say I told you so.
I always wondered why those who believe in free-market economies (as I do) seem terrified of Socialist regimes. Since the cold war attitudes are changing, but don't you think it would serve us to have a few socialist states (without embargoes) to fail on their own while we watch and say "I told you so?"
Yea, but I don't want it to happen to Chile. How would you describe the economy of the Czech Republic? Certainly not as un-restricted capitalist as Singapore or even America, is it?
My sister lived in Chile for a year. Great place, and better people. Ever since the (CIA aided) Allende overthrough, and subsequent Pinocet dictatorship, they have a special place in their hearts for Socialists. Call it nostalgia, underdog syndrome, or just plain hate of captialism I figure it is justified. She got tear gassed demonstrating there. Her friends said "run", and she is thinking, no, we are peaceful, why should we? Well, she found out she wasn't in the US.
Here in the Czech Republic, many vestigaes of the Communist system are alive and well. I have my shipping manager out giving blood today, and I have to pay him. I don't mind, but I mind that I don't have a choice. I takes 3 months to fire someone. We have social medicine (which is great, just got my knee fixed for free). Taxes are outrageous but coming down slowly. There is alot of rent control, but if there wasn't we would have probably 5% homelessness. They allow plenty of foreign investment and we enjoy a very high level of FDI.
It is a happy balance: business is free to do what it wants (aside from a slightly too high tax burden in my view), but the people are pretty well taken care of.
Capitalism with a social conscience, and it is working reasonalby well.
Here in the Czech Republic, many vestigaes of the Communist system are alive and well. I have my shipping manager out giving blood today, and I have to pay him. I don't mind, but I mind that I don't have a choice. I takes 3 months to fire someone. We have social medicine (which is great, just got my knee fixed for free). Taxes are outrageous but coming down slowly. There is alot of rent control, but if there wasn't we would have probably 5% homelessness. They allow plenty of foreign investment and we enjoy a very high level of FDI.
It is a happy balance: business is free to do what it wants (aside from a slightly too high tax burden in my view), but the people are pretty well taken care of.
Capitalism with a social conscience, and it is working reasonalby well.
So Euro-socialism, and the character of the nation marks whether it sinks or swims in the long run. I.e., I'll put my money on the Czech Republic over Albania for example. Tougher call between Sweeden and Germany. Italy will muddle through but I see hard times ahead for France. Now the crystal ball is growing dim.
Well, as itsamarycle says, it`s only a label.
We had Margaret Thatcher here...and she was much hated in Scotland, with Scotland being a Conservative Party free zone by the end of her 3rd term.
No one here will mourn her eventual passing, in fact, quite the opposite.
The hatred for her was that strong.
But it wasn`t because she was a woman.
It was because she was hated as a bad prime minister.
The only bonus was that she was the reason the tide of opinion turned in favour of devolution in Scotland.
But, we`d have got there anyway, and could have done without the hardship she caused.
But, there is a growing dislike for Blair too here, who is very much in her mould.
The problem here is that there is no-one to choose from, male or female.
Blair is now tampering with our health and education sevices in a way which is causing great alarm.
Like praguetwin, we expect our Health Service to be free for our citizens. Same with education.
A country must look after and invest in it`s people if it wants to progress. It is a civilised moral duty.
However guarantees that as a fundamental right, and not a privilege, be they male or female, has my vote.
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We had Margaret Thatcher here...and she was much hated in Scotland, with Scotland being a Conservative Party free zone by the end of her 3rd term.
No one here will mourn her eventual passing, in fact, quite the opposite.
The hatred for her was that strong.
But it wasn`t because she was a woman.
It was because she was hated as a bad prime minister.
The only bonus was that she was the reason the tide of opinion turned in favour of devolution in Scotland.
But, we`d have got there anyway, and could have done without the hardship she caused.
But, there is a growing dislike for Blair too here, who is very much in her mould.
The problem here is that there is no-one to choose from, male or female.
Blair is now tampering with our health and education sevices in a way which is causing great alarm.
Like praguetwin, we expect our Health Service to be free for our citizens. Same with education.
A country must look after and invest in it`s people if it wants to progress. It is a civilised moral duty.
However guarantees that as a fundamental right, and not a privilege, be they male or female, has my vote.
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