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watoos

(7,142 posts)
5. I worked in Chile
Sun Jun 26, 2016, 07:14 PM
Jun 2016

in 2002 and 2003. The people there still hadn't forgotten what we did in 1973. One Chilean lost it on me because he knew I was American. It took the manager of the bar to intercede. After I explained that I didn't vote for Bush and that I didn't like Henry Kissinger, we eventually, sort of became friends.

The people from Chile were so nice, almost shy, that it surprised me when a 19 year old waitress told me that she knew the secret of life. She said that smart people know that they are stupid but stupid people don't know that they are stupid, and Bush is stupid. They were very much against our invasion of Iraq.

Chile had a flourishing middle class under Allende, but since it was Socialist we had to overthrow it. Milton Friedman sent his cronies to Chile from the Chicago School of Economics and set up his supply side economics, the middle class disappeared and only the rich were educated. It's what they have been pushing in America also.

Like Mossadegh in Iran in 1954, truebluegreen Jun 2016 #1
Right. elleng Jun 2016 #4
Right-wingers have even come here to fight about Chile being far better off now because of him Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #23
I recall...the CIA has been causing trouble since it was created. truebluegreen Jun 2016 #34
He did nail them in his farewell speech. I wonder if they were just too powerful already, by then! Judi Lynn Jul 2016 #46
Exactly. And the "Official Story" is the exact opposite. arcane1 Jun 2016 #35
The movie "Missing" really shows the horror of the "Chile Miracle." alfredo Jun 2016 #2
Naomi Klein spends quite a bit of time on the Chile coup... Wounded Bear Jun 2016 #3
Yeah and an experiment in Chicago school economics alfredo Jun 2016 #12
Who can ever forget Nixon's words to Richard Helms, "Make the economy scream." Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #24
Nixon was an ugly little worm. alfredo Jun 2016 #31
a superb (and massive) documentary is Patricio Guzmán's The Battle of Chile AntiBank Jun 2016 #10
It's on youtube alfredo Jun 2016 #13
Never knew about this. Thanks, so much for introducing this for those who didn't see it already. n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #25
It was really well done. So glad the producer chose to do that story. Every bit of truth helps. n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #17
Notice the prominent picture of Nixon? alfredo Jun 2016 #19
Yes! An unbelievable tragedy, all on demand from "I am not a criminal." n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #26
Milton Friedman - free market capitalism. alfredo Jul 2016 #51
Outstanding summary.The pattern is so clear, too, and it was carried out "without public awareness." Judi Lynn Jul 2016 #52
Yes! That film was incredibly powerful.. whathehell Jun 2016 #30
The director,Costa-Gavras also made a movie regarding the US torturer, Dan Mitrione,"State of Siege" Judi Lynn Jul 2016 #47
I worked in Chile watoos Jun 2016 #5
They wanted the same thing for Iraq. alfredo Jun 2016 #14
Glad you were able to get through to that man. People need to know there are normal people here. n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #18
They made it impossible for Chile to get loans. alfredo Jun 2016 #20
They even stooped as low as to start a rumor after he died that they had found red silk pajamas Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #36
They worshipped Lee Atwater alfredo Jun 2016 #39
It hasn't seemed to phase him that at the end of his life,when he was dying, he apologized profusely Judi Lynn Jul 2016 #48
Pablo Neruda: JEB Jun 2016 #6
.+1 840high Jun 2016 #7
We are on the march to make that statement a lie. n/t jtuck004 Jun 2016 #9
Hope we lose! n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #27
Most Americans have no appreciation for South American writers... Wounded Bear Jun 2016 #16
Hated by their own fascist, US-backed governments, many ended up on hit lists, many moved elsewhere Judi Lynn Jul 2016 #49
Never heard that one. It's perfect. Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #21
Neruda is featured in this movie alfredo Jun 2016 #40
Thank you for this. zentrum Jun 2016 #8
Thank you for taking the time, zentrum. n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #22
His daughter is one of my favorite authors - 'House of Spirits' alittlelark Jun 2016 #11
She is a wonderful writer. alfredo Jun 2016 #15
You've given us the encouragement to think hard about reading it. n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #28
His niece actually, but he did raise her. Ken Burch Jun 2016 #29
Just a couple of relevant photos: Herman4747 Jun 2016 #32
How much treachery can you stuff into a photo op at one time? That guy radiates evil. Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #37
Kissinger is one of the foulest creeatures to ever suck air. JEB Jun 2016 #42
American interventionism at its foulest. DirkGently Jun 2016 #33
Oh, yeah! You may have seen some of the posts claiming these maneuvers were so long ago! Judi Lynn Jun 2016 #38
Another day, another enemy of capita.. er FREEDOM to mop up. DirkGently Jun 2016 #41
K&R this important post. JEB Jun 2016 #43
''The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves...'' Octafish Jun 2016 #44
Excellent reading as always. Pinochet's main legacy -Chile's pension funds- is in fact a huge scam. forest444 Jul 2016 #45
"... l don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist because of the irresponsib Judi Lynn Jul 2016 #50
Agustin Edwards & Richard Helms LessAspin May 2017 #53
It seemed he'd never leave. What a shame he couldn't take his evil impact with him. Judi Lynn May 2017 #54
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