Posted on 12/17/2013 8:03:25 PM PST by IBD editorial writer
Leftism: Chile has long been a global model of free-market economics. But on Sunday, it elected socialist Michelle Bachelet, who ran on a platform of tax hikes and "free" education. What drives a country to reject success? Bachelet took an astonishing 62% of the vote against her more conservative rival, Evelyn Matthei, who drew just 38%. It wasn't entirely surprising: Bachelet projected a cheery, confident, maternal demeanor and made few gaffes, quite unlike the less polished Matthei. She also had a good record: As president from 2006 to 2010, she left office with a phenomenal 84% popularity rating — in part, because she resisted the left's calls to spend Chile's state copper revenues on wild schemes. Her record of fiscal discipline was, in fact, the best of any of Chile's leaders since the nation's return to democracy in 1990, based on IMF data. But that isn't the ticket she ran on this time around. Aligning herself this time with the communists and Chile's spoiled student protest leaders, Bachelet adopted a far more aggressive socialist program than in the past, vowing to raise the corporate tax rate from 20% to 25% to pay for a new scheme to make higher education "free." It's a recipe for trouble.
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So I guess the libertarians building their own “Galt’s Gulch” in Chile are going to be a mite disappointed?
Yes, the whole left is together in coalition from the “Christian Democrats” (which in most countries could be a center-right party) to “Partido Comunista”. I think that’s always been the case.
It should be noted this witch was already President, serving just before the current outgoing President.
A least the no consecutive terms thing is helpful in avoiding a Chavez situation. Of course I think he had terms limits laws changed in his country.
“Clearly Chilean socialists are are cooler and less spicy than the South American standard. I don’t think we’re dealing with Chavez style COMMUNUSTS in this case. Still not good though.”
I don’t like this at all; Khent thinks might open up more opportunities in alternative entertainment venues.
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