On Friday’s Radio Show…
• Nationally-syndicated radio show host Thom Hartmann discusses the state of talk radio and television.
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Mary Rydzeski
6 responses to On Friday’s Radio Show…
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Dwendt44 June 20th, 2014 at 13:05
Thom Hartmann says that Iraq was supposed to be a ‘Libertarian’ utopia after we wrecked the place. It failed miserably.
Tom Ward June 20th, 2014 at 14:21
Simply put, the guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Maybe if Iraq had separation of church and state like any respectable libertarian who ever existed would advocate for it wouldn’t have failed.
He said the same thing about Chile recently:
“The Failed Libertarian Experiment in Chile”
http://www.thomhartmann.com/blog/2014/03/failed-libertarian-experiment-chile
I guess he hasn’t noticed that the Chilean economy is an absolute powerhouse:
“The economy of Chile is ranked as a high-income economy by the World Bank,[9] and is considered one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations,[10] leading Latin American nations in competitiveness, income per capita, globalization, economic freedom, and low perception of corruption.[11]
The Global Competitiveness Report for 2009-2010 ranks Chile as being the 30th most competitive country in the world and the first in Latin America, well above from Brazil (56th), Mexico (60th) and Argentina which ranks 85th.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Chile
So instead of libertarian principles, maybe what Thom Hartmann advocates for are the same principles that lead to the current mess in Venezuela?
“Since Hugo Chavez imposed stringent currency controls in 2003 in an attempt to prevent capital flight,[17] there have been a series of currency devaluations, disrupting the economy.[18] Price controls, expropriation, and other government policies have caused severe shortages of food and other goods, including medical supplies.[19] Venezuela has one of the highest inflation rates in the world averaging 29.1% in 2010”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Venezuela
Because that is EXACTLY where Chile would be if they had continued down the extreme socialist route instead of the Chicago boys route. If I may borrow a bit of communist rhetoric… it turns out that libertarianism is actually the ‘greatest good for the greatest number of people’.
OldLefty June 20th, 2014 at 15:01
Actually, it’s pretty much the opposite;
Chile’s Failed Economic Laboratory
http://michael-hudson.com/2003/10/chiles-failed-economic-laboratory/
Free Market Fundamentalism:
Friedman, Pinochet and the “Chilean Miracle”
http://www.bidstrup.com/economics.htm
The Myth of the Chilean Miracle:
As his term came to an end in March 1994, President Aylwin became more openly critical of the neoliberal economic model over which he had presided. At a celebration of International Women’s Day, Aylwin remarked, “There is no point in [free-market-based development] if the majority of human beings see it only on TV.”
http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1994/08/mm0894_12.html
The
one thing that has not changed in Chile’s transition from dictatorship to
democracy is the gap between rich and poor. The richest 20 percent still earns
14 times what the poorest 20 percent does.
Exports of copper, wine, fruit and salmon are fueling economic growth. And everything from water to prisons to highways has been privatized. But the country’s devotion to privatization has produced essentially two Chiles, according to analysts. There are hospitals for the rich which are world class, they say, and hospitals for the poor which provide only minimal care.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6069233
Dwendt44 June 20th, 2014 at 13:05
Thom Hartmann says that Iraq was supposed to be a ‘Libertarian’ utopia after we wrecked the place. It failed miserably.
Tom Ward June 20th, 2014 at 14:21
Simply put, the guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Maybe if Iraq had separation of church and state like any respectable libertarian who ever existed would advocate for it wouldn’t have failed.
He said the same thing about Chile recently:
“The Failed Libertarian Experiment in Chile”
http://www.thomhartmann.com/blog/2014/03/failed-libertarian-experiment-chile
I guess he hasn’t noticed that the Chilean economy is an absolute powerhouse:
“The economy of Chile is ranked as a high-income economy by the World Bank,[9] and is considered one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations,[10] leading Latin American nations in competitiveness, income per capita, globalization, economic freedom, and low perception of corruption.[11]
The Global Competitiveness Report for 2009-2010 ranks Chile as being the 30th most competitive country in the world and the first in Latin America, well above from Brazil (56th), Mexico (60th) and Argentina which ranks 85th.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Chile
So instead of libertarian principles, maybe what Thom Hartmann advocates for are the same principles that lead to the current mess in Venezuela?
“Since Hugo Chavez imposed stringent currency controls in 2003 in an attempt to prevent capital flight,[17] there have been a series of currency devaluations, disrupting the economy.[18] Price controls, expropriation, and other government policies have caused severe shortages of food and other goods, including medical supplies.[19] Venezuela has one of the highest inflation rates in the world averaging 29.1% in 2010”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Venezuela
Because that is EXACTLY where Chile would be if they had continued down the extreme socialist route instead of the Chicago boys route. If I may borrow a bit of communist rhetoric… it turns out that libertarianism is actually the ‘greatest good for the greatest number of people’.
OldLefty June 20th, 2014 at 15:01
Actually, it’s pretty much the opposite;
Chile’s Failed Economic Laboratory
http://michael-hudson.com/2003/10/chiles-failed-economic-laboratory/
Free Market Fundamentalism:
Friedman, Pinochet and the “Chilean Miracle”
http://www.bidstrup.com/economics.htm
The Myth of the Chilean Miracle:
As his term came to an end in March 1994, President Aylwin became more openly critical of the neoliberal economic model over which he had presided. At a celebration of International Women’s Day, Aylwin remarked, “There is no point in [free-market-based development] if the majority of human beings see it only on TV.”
http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1994/08/mm0894_12.html
The
one thing that has not changed in Chile’s transition from dictatorship to
democracy is the gap between rich and poor. The richest 20 percent still earns
14 times what the poorest 20 percent does.
Exports of copper, wine, fruit and salmon are fueling economic growth. And everything from water to prisons to highways has been privatized. But the country’s devotion to privatization has produced essentially two Chiles, according to analysts. There are hospitals for the rich which are world class, they say, and hospitals for the poor which provide only minimal care.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6069233