Economic Freedom goes Mainstream, Winter 2010

The earthquakes that struck Haiti and now Chile this winter are creating an unavoidable contrast. It also to my mind marks the moment when the idea of economic freedom is going mainstream. Here's an essay in TIME magazine:

... The 8.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Chile early on Feb. 27 was 500 times stronger than the 7.0 quake that killed an estimated 200,000 Haitians last month. And yet the number of casualties in Chile appears to be exponentially smaller, with the official death toll still in the hundreds.

... Wrong. It's the other way around: Chile is more developed because it's doing things right. The same goes for Brazil, Uruguay, Costa Rica and a handful of other Latin American and Caribbean nations that have decided in the 21st century to stop running their societies like medieval fiefdoms. They've conceded that niceties like rule of law, accountability, education, entrepreneurial opportunity and administrative efficiency actually have merit.

Keep in mind that this theory promoted by TIME is derided as "magical thinking" in Jeff Sach's The End of Poverty.

Still, the recovery in Chile will be long and difficult. They deserve our help. Thank goodness the U.S. and Chile already have an open trade agreement in place, since 2004.

Comments

[Julian Brelsford]

Most non-Haitians like there's nothing useful they can do about Haiti's problems, and often express their frustration by saying it's all Haitians' fault. In reality, there are only a few things we can do from afar about Haiti's problems EXCEPT support the many Haitians who are already working to help their country and their communities.

The mix of exploitation, lawlessness and authoritarian brutality that has devastated Haiti over the last 200 years was perpetrated by:
1. a tiny fraction of the world's non-haitian people
2. a tiny fraction of Haiti's people

The vast majority within and outside of Haiti are entirely innocent. Many, especially in Haiti, are working their butts off to help make Haitians safer and more able to be in charge of their own lives.

[Claude Mancuso]

FYI peabrain. Why not read history books and learn why Haiti is in the situation it is in. 1). African slaves brought forcefully to the island where only 20% survive the trip and the torture.2). They fight the French for their independence, win and must pay 25 billion dollars to France as punishment, which cripples their economy for decades. 3) The Victory pisses off Napoleon that decides to give up on the colonies and sells the Lousiana purchase to USA for peanuts. To thank Haiti, America assures that boatpeople are treated differently than Cubans even thought Cubans eat good at least twice a day. 4). To punish haiti for having the audacity to win their freedom, the neighboring countries apply a 50 year embargo which further cripples its capacity to import and export anything. 5). Haiti sends hundreds of black men to join George Washington to fight for US independance hoping to be eventually be recognised: Did not happen for a long, long time. 5). French and Anerican business venture clean out haiti's ebony and aluminum for pennies.
6). Kennedy and the rest allow the dictatorship of Papa Doc to thrive as long as it didn't join castro. 7). American and canadian homosexuals come in 1970s to play with young boys and spread AIDS and then accuses haiti of being one of the four H's.
I can keep going but your racist upbringing will continue to blind you.

[John Woo]

Your article is so reticules that;
first is Haiti a "democracy", running "mainstream" economy?
second does the author have a bit more geology knowledge than a bare minimum knowing quake Richter scale?
As to treating disaster, a non "mainstream" economy like Cuba is much better than its number 1 "mainstream" economy of the northern neighbor, isn't it?

[Lincoln]

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http://www.rapidsharemix.com

[Rafa Minu]

As far as dealing with emergency situations is concerned, neighboring Cuba is a model to the world, including the US.
Makes you wonder how can two islands so close, be so different. Is it just the Spanish vs French Heritage? The political system? The people themselves?

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