Comments on: What’s going on in… Chile? http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:28:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Andrea http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-3601 Andrea Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:35:08 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-3601 Off the top of my head, some things that I believe keep us from being a developed country: - The HUGE income gap between the richest and poorest segments of out population, with in itself translates into a HUGE gap in education and very little possibilities of social mobility. - While Chile is (allegedly) a secular country, the (Catholic) church still has a LOT of power on policy-making and politics in general. Even if we HAVE had 5 consecutive left-wing governments... and I say "left-wing" lightly. I'm not saying "legalize abortion/civil unions/whatever NOW!". I'm merely saying, at the very least, PLEASE let us discuss these issues openly, seriously and OFFICIALY, not in passing as part of a campaign-speech that gets trampled on as soon as X is elected. I DO think we're on the right track, but we're not quite there yet IMO. Off the top of my head, some things that I believe keep us from being a developed country:

- The HUGE income gap between the richest and poorest segments of out population, with in itself translates into a HUGE gap in education and very little possibilities of social mobility.

- While Chile is (allegedly) a secular country, the (Catholic) church still has a LOT of power on policy-making and politics in general. Even if we HAVE had 5 consecutive left-wing governments… and I say “left-wing” lightly. I’m not saying “legalize abortion/civil unions/whatever NOW!”. I’m merely saying, at the very least, PLEASE let us discuss these issues openly, seriously and OFFICIALY, not in passing as part of a campaign-speech that gets trampled on as soon as X is elected.

I DO think we’re on the right track, but we’re not quite there yet IMO.

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]]> By: Alfred Canales http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-3260 Alfred Canales Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:16:19 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-3260 actually chile is already considered a lower developed nation. Very good infrastructure and in terms of education, its standard is quite high. I lived in both chile and australia, my life evenly split between these two glorious lands, and till today i still found my education in chile was to a much higher standard. The gap between rich and poor however is massive, and it is a big struggle to get higher levels of education if you are not in a high class thus generations of families not moving up the scale. It definately is moving in the right direction. actually chile is already considered a lower developed nation. Very good infrastructure and in terms of education, its standard is quite high. I lived in both chile and australia, my life evenly split between these two glorious lands, and till today i still found my education in chile was to a much higher standard. The gap between rich and poor however is massive, and it is a big struggle to get higher levels of education if you are not in a high class thus generations of families not moving up the scale. It definately is moving in the right direction.

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]]> By: Eileen http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-3071 Eileen Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:12:27 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-3071 Spanish-speaking South America, and Chile, yes. Not the Americas, nor South America, then. Thanks for setting the record straight. Spanish-speaking South America, and Chile, yes. Not the Americas, nor South America, then.

Thanks for setting the record straight.

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]]> By: LJ http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-3051 LJ Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:50:00 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-3051 Michelle Bachelet is the first female president in Latin America? What about Mireya Moscosa in Panama (1999-2004)? What about Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in Nicaragua (1990-1996)? Michelle Bachelet is the first female president in Latin America? What about Mireya Moscosa in Panama (1999-2004)? What about Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in Nicaragua (1990-1996)?

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]]> By: eileen http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-3006 eileen Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:16:36 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-3006 There's quite a bit that's truly fascinating here, and a lot of old world/new world contrasts, complete with class struggle. In Santiago in twenty minutes I can get (by an ultra modern metro) from a market mewling with baby cats, tripping over people selling instant coffee by the cup from a carafe of hot water they wear strapped to their back, and where donkey milk is sold, up to "Sanhattan," Santiago's glass-topped "skyscraper" area, where the Ritz Carlton Hotel is located. You should come and see it for yourself. There’s quite a bit that’s truly fascinating here, and a lot of old world/new world contrasts, complete with class struggle. In Santiago in twenty minutes I can get (by an ultra modern metro) from a market mewling with baby cats, tripping over people selling instant coffee by the cup from a carafe of hot water they wear strapped to their back, and where donkey milk is sold, up to “Sanhattan,” Santiago’s glass-topped “skyscraper” area, where the Ritz Carlton Hotel is located.

You should come and see it for yourself.

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]]> By: Chris http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-2995 Chris Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:38:29 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-2995 That is what I was thinking, what defines a developed country? If I read all of the characteristics of a country that you have mentioned without knowing which country you were talking about, I would think that this country was developed. Most sources still consider Chile a developing country. I don't know why, but Chile has just fascinated me for some unknown reason That is what I was thinking, what defines a developed country?
If I read all of the characteristics of a country that you have mentioned without knowing which country you were talking about, I would think that this country was developed.

Most sources still consider Chile a developing country. I don’t know why, but Chile has just fascinated me for some unknown reason

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]]> By: eileen http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-2988 eileen Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:58:46 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-2988 It's hard to answer that qustion without konwing what your indicators of "developed" are. Chile has an astonishingly high literacy rate, high internet penetration, no one dies of starvation (though there is a large economic rift between the haves and the have-nots). The nation has more than seven million cell phones in circulation, in a country of only 16 million people, has a well-developed travel and health infrastructure, potable water, no death penalty, near universal health care, etc. We even have high incidences of "western diseases" like ulcers, high blood pressure and diabetes and a growing obese population. Seems like we're (mostly) on the right track. anyone else wondering about this? I'd be happy to answer questions. I've been here for five years. cheers! It’s hard to answer that qustion without konwing what your indicators of “developed” are. Chile has an astonishingly high literacy rate, high internet penetration, no one dies of starvation (though there is a large economic rift between the haves and the have-nots). The nation has more than seven million cell phones in circulation, in a country of only 16 million people, has a well-developed travel and health infrastructure, potable water, no death penalty, near universal health care, etc. We even have high incidences of “western diseases” like ulcers, high blood pressure and diabetes and a growing obese population.

Seems like we’re (mostly) on the right track.

anyone else wondering about this? I’d be happy to answer questions. I’ve been here for five years.

cheers!

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]]> By: Chris http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-2987 Chris Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:28:44 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-2987 Does anybody think that Chile will be the next country to become a developed country? All of their economic indicators such as HDI and GDP per capita has been increasing at a good rate. There is room for improvement such as education but I've always felt confident Chile would be next Does anybody think that Chile will be the next country to become a developed country?

All of their economic indicators such as HDI and GDP per capita has been increasing at a good rate. There is room for improvement such as education but I’ve always felt confident Chile would be next

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]]> By: eileen http://matadorpulse.com/whats-going-on-in-chile/comment-page-1/#comment-2986 eileen Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:32:44 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1032#comment-2986 the blog's at www.bearshapedsphere.blogspot.com They're working on fixing the link! the blog’s at http://www.bearshapedsphere.blogspot.com

They’re working on fixing the link!

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