Niall Fergusson and Chile

[littlebabyjesus]

I didn't see the programme, but there appears to be an assumption that military coups are ok if they are aimed at sorting out the economy. Yes, Chile's economy was in a bit of a mess in 1973. As was the UK's that year. As is the UK's economy today. Does that mean we needed a military coup, or need one now?

 

[bluestreak]

Presumably, not a single person bitching about the show on this thread has bothered writing to C4 about it's ahistorical nature WRT Chile, not to mention the inbuilt, biased assumptions the whole series makes?

Another good idea. I may well do so, with links and references. If I get time in my letter-writing feud with Royal mail.

 

[kyser_soze]

http://blogs.channel4.com/fourdocs/ - to upload your own documentaries

Contact details for C4

 

[elbows]

Does that mean we needed a military coup, or need one now?

We probably came closer to one in the 1970's than most think:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4789060.stm

 

[camouflage]

We probably came closer to one in the 1970's than most think:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4789060.stm

I've always suspected as much to be honest.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I've always suspected as much to be honest.

Depressingly, Thatcher was able to do to Britain what Pinochet did to Chile without the need for a military coup.

Speed edit!

 

[butchersapron]

There's a sizeable community of (ex)chileans in Bristol, most of the famlies fleeing here after the coup, helped by the Bristol labour party (John Sullivan to the fore, i know some of you on here will remember him). I got to know a few of them at school and they're still active - some of the most decent committed people i've ever had the luck to know.

 

[nino_savatte]

I didn't see the programme, but there appears to be an assumption that military coups are ok if they are aimed at sorting out the economy. Yes, Chile's economy was in a bit of a mess in 1973. As was the UK's that year. As is the UK's economy today. Does that mean we needed a military coup, or need one now?

Have you ever seen Adam Curtis's The Mayfair Set? There was a group of hardcore right wingers, all members of The Clermont Club (James Goldsmith, Col. David Stirling, Tiny Rowland et al) who were planning to overthrow the Wilson government and even went so far as to put on a tank display at Heathrow airport. In the end the coup idea fizzled out but these men helped to shape Thatcherism.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Have you ever seen Adam Curtis's The Mayfair Set? There was a group of hardcore right wingers, all members of The Clermont Club (James Goldsmith, Col. David Stirling, Tiny Rowland et al) who were planning to overthrow the Wilson government and even went so far as to put on a tank display at Heathrow airport. In the end the coup idea fizzled out but these men helped to shape Thatcherism.

Yes, I'm aware of this plot. To be honest, if the right and the rich aren't plotting against you, you really aren't trying hard enough.

 

[Dan U]

Have you ever seen Adam Curtis's The Mayfair Set? There was a group of hardcore right wingers, all members of The Clermont Club (James Goldsmith, Col. David Stirling, Tiny Rowland et al) who were planning to overthrow the Wilson government and even went so far as to put on a tank display at Heathrow airport. In the end the coup idea fizzled out but these men helped to shape Thatcherism.

superb series that.

 

[nino_savatte]

Yes, I'm aware of this plot. To be honest, if the right and the rich aren't plotting against you, you really aren't trying hard enough.

I guess not.

Who says the "politics of envy" are the sole preserve of the Left?

 

[audiotech]

At the time and I remember it well, if there had been an attempt at a coup here (at a time when the working class was at it's most militant), then I would hazard a guess that the winners would not have been the coup plotters. They probably realised that and that is why they backed off.

 

[Fedayn]

There's a sizeable community of (ex)chileans in Bristol, most of the famlies fleeing here after the coup, helped by the Bristol labour party (John Sullivan to the fore, i know some of you on here will remember him). I got to know a few of them at school and they're still active - some of the most decent committed people i've ever had the luck to know.

A fair few ended up here in and around Glasgow, pal of mine is the daughter of a former Chilean Air Force officer.

 

[gorski]

Or, you can fuck off and stop whinging when someone writes something on here?

AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You old and spent, silly wanker can still put a smile on my face!!!!

 

[gorski]

I used to volunteer for Amnesty International International Secretariat for a while and one of the people I worked for was from Chile... Met a few later on. Met some serious conservatives from there, had to deal with their Embassy... Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!! Chomsky is right re. Latin America in general... and in particular regarding their rich, powerful and influential...

My, my, that was idiotic of Niall... from what I can tell...