'Socialism is a philosophy of failure.' Discuss.

I don't think many people in modern societies know what true socialism is, although people have reached for it. The comradeship and happiness of groups like the Levellers, or a modern example - the Kibbutzim - are possible examples.]

Pinochet was an apolitical military dictator pressured into economic reforms by the US and the Chicago Boys, who helped end the dictatorship. Capitalism was the resulted in the end of oppression it did not cause the oppression to happen. Pinochet didn't wake up one day and decide "Hmm, free markets! I quite like the idea and will overthrow the government to impose it on EVERYONE!"

Rofl you couldn't make it up.

Before the evil government came 2/3 of the population lived in absolute poverty.

You are an ideologue, nothing the government does can be good in your view, and everything private enterprise does is bad.

That's why i'm more fit to rule than you, because I recognise both have strengths and weakness.

The US supported the coup against (democratically elected) Allende in the first place! They have undermined governments with even a whiff of socialism about them around the world and imposed dictators where needed to.

The Chicago Boys- the architects of Neoliberalism, the ideology that has seen wealth disparity increase for the first time since the Industrial Revolution.

I'm not entirely against Capitalism but neo-liberalism has been a disaster.

Allende stood for President three times and on the third attempt he only narrowly won, and even then thanks to a broad left-wing coalition. Not a resounding mandate for Marxist dictatorship.

Um, you have forgotten Perón's dictatorship which was supported by the United States. Perón was a socialist.

In any case, I do not see democracy as an absolute so I do not mind seeing democratic regimes toppled by the United States unless it is against our national self-interest. I am quite happy that we have intervened to overthrow democratic regimes if they were undermining the cause of freedom and Western civilisation, for example, the Suez intervention and Mossadegh's nationalisation of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

And neo-liberalism has not been a disaster, in fact it would be even more successful if it were not for consistent government intervention.

Allende was still elected.

Peron was no Socialist, in fact he derided by socialists.

Ah yes, Mosaddegh, the progressive, democratic secularist who wanted the people who elected him to benefit from the natural resources under their own feet. Sounds like a dangerous man alright.

Of course the CIA and MI6 decided to have him taken out and replaced with a playboy. Remind me... How did that go? Iran must surely be a shining beacon of liberal Western Capitalism at this stage?

That fact that you're willing to undermine democracy in support of economic interests tallies with your name and the picture of that mass-murder Cromwell.