OK, explain to me the case for Pinochet...

[Jacobtm]

I had never thought there was a case to be made for Pinochet. However, I've seen a few people singing his praises on this forum. So, what'd the guy do that was good?

[Jacobtm]

He wasn't a Communist, so we supported him.  That's pretty much it. 

Yeah, I know that's why we supported him, and I kinda thought that by this time everyone realized that people like Pinochet and Somoza and all those guys were bastards. I just supposed that some people thought they were slightly less bastardous than possible Communist bastards. I never thought that people actually thought they were good leaders. But that seems to be the case.

I haven't seen much evidence of positive things Pinochet did, but then, that doesn't mean there isn't any.

[Jacobtm]

Can the people arguing about laissez-faire Capitalism please stop? I wanted to talk about Pinochet, not argue about Economic theory. I realize his economics is part of the case for/against him, but arguing about whether or not Capitalism is "free" or whatever else will go nowhere.