Chilean Protesters Claim Inequality Made Them Do It

Mises.org ^ | 10/31/19 | Iván Carrino

[aquila48]

A car stops its march in front of the red light. At the wheel, a 40-year-old lawyer looks at her cell phone to check the time. She is hoping to get home and see her children.

Suddenly, a rumble is heard.

In a matter of seconds, the thief enters the vehicle through the window and snatches her purse, which was lying on the floor of the passenger's seat.

Terrified, she looks at the damage to her car. The window is crashed and the wallet is gone. Also gone are her money, the credit card and some pictures of her family.

However, she is happy to be alive and unharmed.

Observers look dumbfounded, in fear ... outraged. In any normal country, if the robber is arrested, he’ll go to court. In that instance, he could try to justify himself by saying that he stole because he “had nothing,” while she “had a lot.”

Again, in a country where institutions work properly, the thief would serve a sentence. So regardless of his motive, the man will be sanctioned.

Finally, this would seem fine to everyone. At the “micro” level, theft is a crime, and beyond justifications, violence must be punished. This is a basic pillar of any civilized society.

Interestingly, when some similar situations occur at the “macro” level, reactions are not the same. Why do we say this? Because what is happening in Chile now is often explained using the mantra of “inequality.”

[Truth29]

If the state cannot maintain order and provide a rationale justice system, then the people will turn on each other and the state with disastrous consequences. Demands and imposition of more socialism will sap and undermine the prosperity that has helped so many. Argentina, for instance, was once almost first world, then the disease of leftism gradually turned it into a basket case.

[ldish]

It was started by soros group to shut down conference so TRUMP and chinise can’t sign trade accord!

[mrmeyer]

Where’s Augusto? His services may soon be needed to stop the reds.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

He is dead and has been for some time.

But there is a call for a state of emergency to be declared.

[kearnyirish2]

In much of Latin America, the Cold War military dictatorships we supported wouldn’t deal with the problems of the underclass. When we abandoned them after the USSR collapsed, those underclasses rose up and gave us the Latin America of today.

It is inevitable that when average people (not gibsmedats) see their country clearly profiting economically but the wealth is concentrated at the top, the government will fall (few “regular” people defend it). Whether South Vietnam, Argentina/Chile, or the US itself, extreme - and obvious - wealth disparity on a massive scale creates political instability. A vibrant middle class with hopes & dreams is critical for the survival of a Western-type democracy.