prole

What I find most interesting about the coverage of Pinochet by the media and other commentators is the uncritical acceptance of the "Chilean Miracle", "rescuing Chile from certain economic doom", etc. It seems like what Pinochet did best (following the neoliberal model, of course) was funnel money and resources from the poor majority into the bank accounts of Chilean elites and multinationals. From Wikipedia: But as always, "no pain no gain", "a rising tide", "shit tastes good", and the rest.

"[Military rule aims] to make Chile not a nation of proletarians, but a nation of entrepreneurs." — Augusto Pinochet

Pinochet A dictator who proved without a doubt that free market capitalism and democracy are not inextricably linked is dead. Too bad he was never brought to trial for his crimes, although his case does provide hope that others of his kind will not get off so easy. I hope his last years were painful and humiliating ones.

Yes, if by some herculean effort and not a little divine intervention these criminals are ever brought to trial before they're too senile to understand the proceedings, let's make damn sure that nothing meaningful comes of it!

Judge weighs torture claim vs. Rumsfeld: Clearly, these men are just failing to understand the broader picture. Not to mention the ideals that their captors are striving for.

And of course it goes without saying that the "broader picture" is the US government's unceasing commitment to spreading freedom and democracy, liberation of the oppressed, etc, ad nauseum.

that's a little rough. everything has a context, even kaskadhgkshghk's hatred of the aclu, communism, pink socks and butt sex. if we simply make fun of those with views other than our own, we're doing exactly what we as "progressive liberals" accuse the "other side" of doing. but heck, it is fun though! Yes, I should have said anti-democratic and chauvinistic. That would have been more accurate.

Yeah he'll just send you here: APOCALYPSE NOW!!!!!!!!! Michael Savage is a sleazy jackass. And so is Ann Coulter. Let's see you say the same about someone on the left. Joseph Stalin and Arianna Huffington. Your turn.

Nah, when pressed, KKK will whip out the good-libertarian card and profess equal hatred for everybody.

Easy guys, these folks are still frothing from their timely anti-Stalinist tirades. They'd lash out at Jesus, puppies, Dakota Fanning, or anybody else you put in front of them.

EAGGGGHHH! The Red Menace!!!

Here's some Kool-Aid that some folks might appreciate. It's a slippery slope down the road to serfdom, though. Next thing you know, he'll be drinking the blood of our children. skull skull skull

The graph looks like a typical Freedom House or Cato Institute hatchet-job for middle school curiculum. How does the graph fare when considering the relative decline in positive social indicators and rise in the negative ones in countries that have applied JayB's "reality" (aka free-market "reforms" via IMF austerity packages, shock treatment, etc.)? As I'm sure you're aware, the rejection of the devastating failure of this "realism" is the key feature of Latin America's leftward shift! But of course, "no pain no gain", "better technocrats", "improper application of model", "lack of political will", etc. is really to blame. Same old sermon, different Sunday.

Article Despite his "complete respect" for private property, I'd probably vote for him. Yeah, he'd have to scrap the constitutional reforms aimed at unlimited runs for presidential office. Other than that? Sure, I'd cast a ballot his way. What's the big deal anyway? Lots of "whack-job" comments around here but not much to back it up.

You heard it here first folks, the birth of a hot new conservative buzzword: PETROFASCIST! Don't worry Fairweather, you can take all the credit. Hell, write a book! Prole. I'm willing to laugh with, at, or by myself. But your post just aint funny, nor does it make sense. Sorry. Who's joking? I'm taking bets as we speak on when the word "Petrofascist" first passes a FoxNews pundit's lips. Any takers?

You heard it here first folks, the birth of a hot new conservative buzzword: PETROFASCIST! Don't worry Fairweather, you can take all the credit. Hell, write a book!

Trade Ichiro!

Ass-backwards again. From: AFP

...and regurgitating it undigested.

This thread is long on unsubstantiated claims of ruined economies, dictatorships, cults of personality, false consciousness, coup predictions, etc. and short on any substantive analysis of what is actually happening there. Sounds like y'all have been drinking deep the "liberal media's" blue kool-aid.

"A gentleman is a man who knows how to play the banjo, and doesn't." -- Mark Twain

I thought we were all defectives. You people need to make up your minds!

That's funny, I always think of Pinochet. I wonder why, given that Friedman was such a champion of liberty and freedom? Viva la counterrevolucion!

P.S. Didn't Holden Caufield say something about people who say "sport"? What exactly was the point? I don't think his point holds without producing the illusionary leftists he's referring to. Nice trick turning it back around on the responses (you even absolve yourself of having to respond to them at all). I for one would love an elaboration on the "concrete vindication" you teased out of them, without all the rhetorical bluster this time, I hope.