Chile Forum

admin wrote:My suspicion is that we will get the best the right has to offer and they will stay on their good behavior, because they got one chance to not piss everyone off and show they can do it or it will be another 20 years before they get elected again.

Probably a good point and even somewhat reassuring given that the country is pretty benign today.

On the other hand, given that a president can't be re-elected when his or her term finishes (even the first time around), one has to wonder what personal political incentive he or she actually has for doing a good job. The UK system allows the deluded long-term prime minister to go on thinking he can be re-elected indefinitely, whereas in reality the public kick him out without constitutional assistance when they're fed up . Of course their ability to do a good job does tend to be time limited in practice.

James.

I think that needs to be clarified. Chilean presidents can be elected as many times as they and the country can stand, just not consecutively. So for example, Frei was president before. There is a high expectation that Bachelete will be up again in the next race, and everyone on the left is kind of crying in their beer that Lagos did not run again and we got stuck with Frei as the left candidate.

oregon woodsmoke wrote:[[[[......WHAT IF the new intent is to "crackdown" on the easy immigration policy...]]]]

Compared to many expat "destination" countries, Chile has few restrictions on immigrants other than they show minimal financial responsibility and they have no criminal baggage. Look at places like New Zealand -- they basically require immigrants to provide a full resume and there must be a demand for their skill set in the economy before they will consider residency. Maybe a little tightening would be a good thing long term.

a wacky week in politics...chile chooses to go right, slightly (instead of being forced hard right), and a republican wins ted kennedy's seat in massachusetts.

admin wrote: There is a high expectation that Bachelete will be up again in the next race, and everyone on the left is kind of crying in their beer that Lagos did not run again and we got stuck with Frei as the left candidate.

a wacky week in politics...chile chooses to go right, slightly (instead of being forced hard right), and a republican wins ted kennedy's seat in massachusetts.

Yes, I think both times the left made the mistake of thinking it was a sure thing(any candidate would do) and didn't pick their best candidate. With Frei, I think they didn't want anyone that might threaten Bachelet's next run.

Bad candidates? I certainly hope that the Left in the US is telling itself that! Generally in a place like MA, a potted plant would win (and perhaps has won) if it had the "D" after it. Doubtless, there are places where the same applies to "R". The point is that the candidate normally would not matter much in a place like MA. That is why the Republican victory is such a major upset.

Yesterday's vote does not necessarily reflect a sudden and new-found love of Republicans - it DOES reflect a rejection of present course, healthcare "reform" emphatically included if the exit polls and such are to be believed. Given that Obama et al won based on "Not More Bush", as opposed to "Yay Socialism", this rejection spells trouble for the Democrats - especially if they simply tell themselves it was about the candidate and not the issues, and continue full speed ahead. If a Republican can win in MA, they can win anywhere. Of course whether the Republicans have the brains & guts to do anything with such a victory is another story altogether, see Contract with America, demise thereof.

I HOPE that the Democrats really DO believe that it was about the candidates! Oh pretty, pretty please!

John Hyre, Merrily waiting for Change this November 2nd, 2010.

It does not look too good for Mr Obama. Good luck with the Health Reform. (???). And our good friend Chavez is already telling Mr Pinera not to mess with Venezuela. By the way, It is the same Mr Chavez that claims the USA is responsible for the earthquake in Haiti. Hmmmmmm..

First off, nice article link from P. It will be interesting indeed to see what progress can be made on bureaucracy and labor laws in particular. Second......Bush did it. Hurricane Katrina, Haiti earthquake, he's everywhere, the rascal. Blaming him for everything got the present administration elected, seems to work less well as a governing strategy.

John Hyre, Channeling Cheney

JHyre wrote:I certainly hope that the Left in the US...

Not that I pretend to understand US politics, but there isn't really a "left" in the accepted sense up there, is there? To be honest, I found the article quoted by Mr. P to be pretty shallow. While it contained no obvious mistakes it didn't cover anything that hasn't appeared dozens of times in the press in the past week. But its surprise that the "left" in Chile didn't react in a knee-jerk fashion to Pinochet-era reforms is a bit off base. Sometimes people, even governments, do think rationally. And the "left" can be surprising, look for example at the last socialist government in Germany under Schröder, that was much more radical than any government of the right that preceded it. Or any that's succeeded it to date. No reason why Chile's mildly left-of-centre ex-government should have veered down a different path to the one it took, in particular considering Chile's largely democratic traditions which were brutally interrupted by Pinochet. And the perfect counterexample to political stereotypes is the Bush government, which turned out to be a party of big-government rather than one in the Reagan tradition. If Bush is held to blame for New Orleans and other disasters it's because he failed utterly at managing the crisis.

And regarding Mr. Obama, I really wish him well. If he won based on "no more Bush" that's his strongest card, I mean, who on Earth would want that pair back? BTW, the Economist's "obituary" of Bush ("End of an Aura", it's premium content unfortunately) is worth reading.

JHyre wrote:healthcare "reform" emphatically included

I forgot to mention... what is the problem with universal healthcare up there? Success should be on merit I believe, but my vision of a just government doesn't include people sleeping under bridges or in parks and I saw enough of that while I was in the states.

BTW, regarding Chavez telling Piñera not to mix with Venezuela... I'll be there for a few months from next week so I'll be able to give you the low down on that

what is the problem with universal healthcare up there?

well Frank, seeing as you asked,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcBaSP31Be8

I recommend that forum members read today's New York Times (nytimes.com) editorial on the Massachusetts election.