4 ms·

https://genius.com/Milton-friedman-letter-to-president-augusto-pinochet-annotated https://genius.com/Milton-friedman-letter-to-president-augus...

• WalterBright 5y ago
  Remarkable how that letter is twisted into being a "big fan" of Pinochet and endorsing his violent behavior.
  • stevebmark 5y ago
    It's remarkable how many of the "Chicago Boys" who helped deregulate the Chilean economy as part of Pinochet's dictatorship studied directly under Milton Friedman. It's remarkable Friedman referred to the whole ordeal as the "Chilean Miracle." I have no belief that Friedman ever directly endorsed the violence his policies often thrive in. Friedman did intentionally take advantage of crises, and pushed others to do the same, to enforce his unpopular ideas. It's remarkable that he got chummy with the dictator who bombed his own country, supported by the CIA. It's remarkable the CIA, out of fear of socialism spreading in Chile and the US losing its investments there (aka, wanting free market policies), supported the junta, and the Chicago Boys. > Committee witnesses maintain that some of the Chicago boys received CIA funds for such research efforts as a 300-page economic blueprint that was given to military leaders before the coup. To say that Friedman didn't endorse the violent behavior directly is a technicality.
    • WalterBright 5y ago
      All Friedman did was give Pinochet some advice on how to improve the Chilean economy, as you can see in the only evidence you've provided - the letter to Pinochet. The rest of those inferences are unfounded.