Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Conservapedia:Articles for deletion

2012-08-25T06:00:31Z

Jukebox: /* Current discussions */

{{policy proposal}}
<big>'''Conservapedia:Articles for deletion''' is a project space designed to explain the process and requirements for proposing the removal of an article, and to list the current discussions.</big>

==Deletion Process==

If you think an article should be deleted because it violates The Conservapedia Commandments, or for any other reason you may nominate it for deletion. The correct process for this is as follows:
# Add the template <nowiki>{{Delete Notice}}</nowiki> to the ''top'' of the page
# List the article on this page under [[Conservapedia:Articles for deletion#Current discussions|current discussions]], using the template <nowiki>{{afd|"title"}}</nowiki>, replacing "title" with the name of the page
# Follow the link from the deletion notice to the AFD page for the article nominated for deletion, and explain why you believe it should be deleted

Discussion will occur on the AFD page before a final decision regarding the article is made.

This is not the appropriate place to discuss copyright issues. Please use [[Conservapedia:Copying]] to track articles that have no problem with topic or content, but which seem to draw too heavily on material copied from elsewhere.


__toc__

= Current discussions =

*{{afd|Barack Obama's Muslim Heritage}}
*{{afd|Leetspeak}}

http://conservapedia.com/Essay:_The_transitional_animal_the_flying_kitty%3F

= Past discussions =

== Kept ==

==Kept with provisions ==

==Deleted==

[[Category:Conservapedia Maintenance]]

Conservapedia:Articles for deletion

2012-08-25T05:59:53Z

Jukebox:

{{policy proposal}}
<big>'''Conservapedia:Articles for deletion''' is a project space designed to explain the process and requirements for proposing the removal of an article, and to list the current discussions.</big>

==Deletion Process==

If you think an article should be deleted because it violates The Conservapedia Commandments, or for any other reason you may nominate it for deletion. The correct process for this is as follows:
# Add the template <nowiki>{{Delete Notice}}</nowiki> to the ''top'' of the page
# List the article on this page under [[Conservapedia:Articles for deletion#Current discussions|current discussions]], using the template <nowiki>{{afd|"title"}}</nowiki>, replacing "title" with the name of the page
# Follow the link from the deletion notice to the AFD page for the article nominated for deletion, and explain why you believe it should be deleted

Discussion will occur on the AFD page before a final decision regarding the article is made.

This is not the appropriate place to discuss copyright issues. Please use [[Conservapedia:Copying]] to track articles that have no problem with topic or content, but which seem to draw too heavily on material copied from elsewhere.


__toc__

= Current discussions =

*{{afd|Barack Obama's Muslim Heritage}}
*{{afd|Leetspeak}}
*{{afd|Essay:_The_transitional_animal_the_flying_kitty}}

= Past discussions =

== Kept ==

==Kept with provisions ==

==Deleted==

[[Category:Conservapedia Maintenance]]

Conservapedia:Articles for deletion

2012-08-25T05:58:18Z

Jukebox:

{{policy proposal}}
<big>'''Conservapedia:Articles for deletion''' is a project space designed to explain the process and requirements for proposing the removal of an article, and to list the current discussions.</big>

==Deletion Process==

If you think an article should be deleted because it violates The Conservapedia Commandments, or for any other reason you may nominate it for deletion. The correct process for this is as follows:
# Add the template <nowiki>{{Delete Notice}}</nowiki> to the ''top'' of the page
# List the article on this page under [[Conservapedia:Articles for deletion#Current discussions|current discussions]], using the template <nowiki>{{afd|"title"}}</nowiki>, replacing "title" with the name of the page
# Follow the link from the deletion notice to the AFD page for the article nominated for deletion, and explain why you believe it should be deleted

Discussion will occur on the AFD page before a final decision regarding the article is made.

This is not the appropriate place to discuss copyright issues. Please use [[Conservapedia:Copying]] to track articles that have no problem with topic or content, but which seem to draw too heavily on material copied from elsewhere.


__toc__

= Current discussions =

*{{afd|Barack Obama's Muslim Heritage}}
*{{afd|Leetspeak}}
*{{afd|_The_transitional_animal_the_flying_kitty}}

= Past discussions =

== Kept ==

==Kept with provisions ==

==Deleted==

[[Category:Conservapedia Maintenance]]

Talk:Essay: The transitional animal the flying kitty?

2012-08-25T05:57:16Z

Jukebox: Created page with "Flying kitty airforce? What the hell is this? Why do we have this page? This page alone probably does more damage to our reputation than any amount of vandals. ---[[User:Juke..."

Flying kitty airforce? What the hell is this? Why do we have this page? This page alone probably does more damage to our reputation than any amount of vandals. ---[[User:Jukebox|Jukebox]]

Talk:John Rawls

2012-08-25T04:40:54Z

Jukebox: Created page with "Why is this article so positive? Rawls was a socialist. --Jukebox"

Why is this article so positive? Rawls was a socialist. --[[User:Jukebox|Jukebox]]

John Rawls

2012-08-25T04:40:24Z

Jukebox:

'''John Rawls''' (1921-2002) was an American [[philosopher]], whose writings are considered as some of the most important in 20th century political philosophy.

He is famous for his book "A Theory of Justice", in which he attempted to offer a solution to the problem of distributive justice while supporting both liberty and equality.

== A Theory of Justice ==

Rawls was a secret socialist, arguing that everyone is entitled to a fair opportunity at success. While claiming that liberty can remain, he fails to see how forcing the successful (which he considers mere luck!) to aid those who got crushed by the Invisible hand in their failure is an actual punishment.

Furthermore, his theory that principles must chosen from behind a "Veil of Ignorance" contradicts God's all just and all knowing powers. God cannot be ignorant and still He choose our morals perfectly.

== Criticism ==

His most notable critic was Robert Nozick, who in "Anarchy, State and Utopia" paid tribute to Rawls' contributions, but defended a libertarian viewpoint, according to which it is unjust to redistribute the earnings of the rich and successful amongst the poorer elements of society without their consent. Often "Anarchy, State and Utopia" is read as a companion to "A Theory of Justice."

== References ==

<references/>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rawls, John}}
[[Category:Philosophers]]

Talk:Todd Akin

2012-08-25T04:28:39Z

Jukebox:

Nothing in Akin's comment suggests he wanted to distinguish between "legitimate" rape and false accusations of rape.--[[User:Jukebox|Jukebox]]

:The context of the remark, as well as common sense, demonstrate that meaning. No other meaning is plausible.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:15, 22 August 2012 (EDT)

:I suspect that a large part of what has worked so many people up is his idea that the female body has ways of shutting down a pregnancy due to rape. --[[User:Bogart12|Bogart 12]] 15:22, 22 August 2012

::Akin's comment was “It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare...If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.” I don't think he would need a doctor to explain that someone who wasn't raped won't get pregnant and that still doesn't address the problem that he seems to think that women can somehow stop pregnancy during rape, which is what the controversy is about. Why not just focus on his concern about the child and the mother as the victims? Half his comment is brilliant and the rest just a mistake. --[[User:Jukebox|Jukebox]]

Why were my comments deleted?--[[User:PatMc|PatMc]] 10:29, 24 August 2012 (EDT)
:I think there has been a major issue with the database. Everything between last night and a few minutes ago seems to have disappeared. It's not just your comments. [[User:Davidspencer|Davidspencer]] 11:03, 24 August 2012 (EDT)

Talk:Todd Akin

2012-08-25T04:28:25Z

Jukebox:

Nothing in Akin's comment suggests he wanted to distinguish between "legitimate" rape and false accusations of rape.--[[User:Jukebox|Jukebox]]

:The context of the remark, as well as common sense, demonstrate that meaning. No other meaning is plausible.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:15, 22 August 2012 (EDT)

:I suspect that a large part of what has worked so many people up is his idea that the female body has ways of shutting down a pregnancy due to rape. --[[User:Bogart12|Bogart 12]] 15:22, 22 August 2012

::Akin's comment was “It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare...If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.” I don't think he would need a doctor to explain that someone who wasn't raped won't get pregnant and that still doesn't address the problem that he seems to think that women can somehow stop pregnancy during rape, which is what the controversy is about. Why not just focus on his concern about the child and the mother as the victims? Half his comment is brilliant and the rest just a mistake.

Why were my comments deleted?--[[User:PatMc|PatMc]] 10:29, 24 August 2012 (EDT)
:I think there has been a major issue with the database. Everything between last night and a few minutes ago seems to have disappeared. It's not just your comments. [[User:Davidspencer|Davidspencer]] 11:03, 24 August 2012 (EDT)

Talk:Occupy Wall Street

2012-08-22T18:06:37Z

Jukebox:

== Antisemitism ==

This section is absurd. Ynet is not a trustworthy source and describing a movement from just a few individuals is exactly what the Occupy is about. The anti-Israel stance is standard of far left groups and is not antisemitic, but instead against colonialism. --Jukebox

That list of demands does not appear to be an official list : http://occupywallst.org/forum/proposed-list-of-demands-for-occupy-wall-st-moveme/

== Anarchism ==

I added the category for [[Anarchism]] but wondering if others feel the definition of anarchism on Conservapedia matches the demonstrations seen with [[Occupy Wall Street|OWS]]? These protests are anti-capitalist and anti-American, but are they currently seen as anarchists too? [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 12:28, 12 October 2011 (EDT)
:You are correct. It is well documented that this is a mob of cretins and misfits. They earned the anarchism category. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 13:21, 12 October 2011 (EDT)

== Demands ==

The very few "demands" that might resemble legitimate questions are discredited by skeptical accusations, or they are backed by some very extremist anti-American philosophies. Let's take a look at some of the ridiculous pro communist, anti-American demands made by socialists, anarchists and other extremist liberals who hate capitalism, are jealous of the Tea Party Movement, and/or getting paid to act as Wall Street protesters.

{{Cquote|On September 21st, 2011, Troy Davis, an innocent man, was murdered by the state of Georgia. Troy Davis was one of the 99 percent.

Ending capital punishment is our one demand.}}

Beginning a protest "demand" list with an argument stating a convicted guilty person is "an innocent man" makes this occupation less credible. Capital punishment exists to deter the crimes that result in its use. Ending capital punishment, while seemingly good in its intention, would have negative consequences. For instance, ending capital punishment might result in more crime - criminal acts that might otherwise be deterred if Capital punishment was a considered form of justice.

{{Cquote|On September 21st, 2011, four of our members were arrested on baseless charges.

Ending police intimidation is our one demand.}}
I highly doubt the charges were "baseless." I don't know anyone who has been arrested for doing, very literally, nothing.

{{Cquote|On September 21st, 2011, the richest 400 Americans owned more than half of the country's population.

Ending wealth inequality is our one demand.}}
This is silly. Using the word "owned" suggests "half of the country's population" is literally enslaved without choice, and that someone who made something out of nothing but gained a lot of wealth in the process is evil. Demands like this suggest extreme positions are pushing this political spectacle in the form of a protest against Wall Street.

We can add '''Ending poverty is our one demand''' to the above, because it's redundant.

How do you go about ending "wealth inequality" or "poverty" anyway? Socialism? That's not gonna work; history has proven this. It won't happen.

{{Cquote|On September 21st, 2011, we determined that Yahoo lied about occupywallst.org being in spam filters.

Ending corporate censorship is our one demand.}}
I guarantee with 100% confidence that Yahoo board members didn't act in some conspiracy to block mass emails getting sent from occupywallst.org servers. For those who have ever worked in support for Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, etc., you would know that there is a process which low tier support teams follow to determine what server are sending Spam and then block those IP addresses from doing so. These processes to block Spammers include the number of email users reporting email from spammers. If enough Spam is reported from an IP address, and it has been determined that a crap ton of email is being send from a particular server, some tier 3 Yahoo! support dude sitting in a chair at his desk probably just clicked a button to block the site after all the flags indicated him to do so, per a standard support model process.

That being said, ending corporate censorship would be interesting, which would include [http://www.bing.com/search?q=Googlegate Google - a search engine that has been known to censor conservative websites]. Perhaps the liberal, anti-American protestors might want to rethink this one.

{{Cquote|On September 21st, 2011, America had military bases in around one hundred and thirty out of one hundred and sixty-five countries.

Ending American imperialism is our one demand.}}

This is straight up anti-American ranting, and spreading disinformation. But it is in-line with the [[Conservative Dictionary Project (U)|liberal false redefinition of the United States]], so I'm not surprised liberals added it to their list of "demands." Imperialist nations would not invade a country to topple a bad regime, rebuild the country into a more free democracy, and then hand back all government and military control to the people of that country. Running with an argument to end something that does not exist discredits this political campaign to 'occupy wall street'.

{{Cquote|On September 21st, 2011, America was at war with the world.}}

America is not at war with the world. It a small group of Leftist extremists who have, in their idealist views, quote "declared war" on America.

The only thing I think of when this political campaign mentions "99%" is that this must be the percentage of people the protesters are shouting at.

God bless the United States of America. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 18:01, 12 October 2011 (EDT)

These Marxists are trying to bring America to the edge. Down here in Florida us tea party patriots held a counter-rally to these communist protests. I think this is a well written article on how desperate the leftists are getting. Barry will NOT have a second term. [[User:Teapartyman]]

== Let’s overthrow American capitalism and the American way!!! ==

That wasn't Bill Ayers according to the link cited. The article is about ayers but has that comment thrown in "Those are the feelings of the far left who started to disrupt Wall Street on Saturday, September 17." The article makes no claims that that was said by Bill Ayers. Nor does that quote appear on his blog or anywhere(by him) as far as I can tell. Everything just seems to link back to the same story though most make no mention of Ayers at all. [[User:Ayzmo|Ayzmo]] 16:32, 15 October 2011 (EDT)
:I deleted the quote since it violates the first Conservapedia commandment and it was added back. [[User:Ayzmo|Ayzmo]] 01:31, 16 October 2011 (EDT)

== Ayers quote ==

Jpatt, I don't think anyone here would defend Bill Ayers, but you are attributing a quote to him that is not supported by the citation, unless I am misreading the citation. It may be that he thinks that (in fact, I'm pretty sure he does), but you're saying that he wrote that. And he simply did not. Why do you keep putting that back? [[User:EricAlstrom|EricAlstrom]] 15:49, 16 October 2011 (EDT)
:Honestly, I don't think he cares. It is very easy to prove that he didn't say it with a Google search. Despite one of the protests against Wiki it seems that libelous statements are just as difficult to get rid of here. [[User:Ayzmo|Ayzmo :)]] 16:27, 16 October 2011 (EDT)
::Why do you think it is a "libelous" statement? You do know Bill Ayers '''is''' a terrorist, right? Are saying this in defense of Bill Ayers, suggesting the quote may somehow damage his reputation? Or are you simply pointing out that the content might no longer exists on the Internet?
::As you can see, someone added the citation needed template, which should have resolved this dispute for you. When I do a search for the quote, there are several sources with video references -- but unfortunately liberal Google owns YouTube and is very good about removing videos with content that may reveal the liberal agenda for what it really is. Likewise, if the quote was taken directly from Bill Ayers website, Bill the terrorist could have just as easily removed the content from his blog after realizing he revealed too much about his agenda. Everything Bill Ayers stands for is exactly as his quote reads.
::That being said, if it is not a verbatim quote from Bill Ayers, then I do understand you concern - just not your approach pointing it out. Jpatt is one of the most honest, credible editors on Conservapedia; it's disrespectful and incorrect to assume he would edit out of malice or libelous intent. Perhaps you could help find appropriate content to replace it with rather than simply delete a quote that is very likely to have been said by Bill the terrorist. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 16:54, 16 October 2011 (EDT)
:::Mainly I said it because I figured it would get a reaction when nothing else seems to. I posted a question about it here and and on the pages of two people who added the quote back. No response was given to any despite what I would consider more than enough time(especially on a weekend). Whether it hurts Ayers' reputation is besides the point and I doubt he would actually care. He's pretty open about what he stands for and has no qualms about expressing it. But from everything I can find he did NOT say that. I spent a while searching yesterday. You can search as much as you want but there is no evidence to suggest he said that other than this page. The article that had been cited makes it pretty obvious that the quote was not his. It is pretty obvious to me that it is not his words. If nothing else I'm sure FOX would have made a news story about it. The fact is that we're supporting a lie here. I don't see how anyone could debate that. You can blame Google for removing things but that's an entirely different problem as far as I can see. [[User:Ayzmo|Ayzmo :)]] 17:10, 16 October 2011 (EDT)
::::Point taken, but I don't think we're supporting a lie. Like most ongoing events with continuously updated content and sources, further edits and updates to this article will continue to occur. Instead of removing important content, try re-wording it or rephrasing it without taking away from the factual intent. Add some value to the article instead of removing valuable points and citations. The fact is Bill Ayers has worked almost his entire life to bring down capitalism and overthrow the American way. He is a terrorist. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 17:24, 16 October 2011 (EDT)
:::::Wow, you responded right as I came to add something. Now I feel creepy for responding immediately. I won't "reword" something and attribute it to someone if they didn't say anything like that about the topic. He endorsed OWS, that's worthy of the article. But throwing in some random statement that he didn't say about the topic makes no sense unless the point is to insult(you get the point) the person. It is disingenuous in my eyes to do that even if that is how he feels. I actually have added some content and I may continue to do so. I just happened to stumble upon this article(from the main page) yesterday and noticed that so I thought I'd read the article cited and noted the discrepancy. I then googled it to see if I could find a better source but found that it wasn't to be so I thought I'd see what I could do about it. I commented on the talk page and got no answer. The rest is semi-amusing history. Regardless, it is awkwardly thrown in and wrongly attributed. The Citation Needed tag doesn't exactly do it for me because the evidence points to him not having said it. I dunno what else to say about it. If anyone can actually find a source for it I'll happily step back. [[User:Ayzmo|Ayzmo :)]] 17:34, 16 October 2011 (EDT)
::::::How's my latest edit for clarity and cleanup? I'm trying to find a compromise while keeping to the facts, and not taking attention away from the underlining agenda of this movement. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 18:51, 16 October 2011 (EDT)
:::::::Ohhh...I see what the problem is here. It seems to me that, according to citation #10, Bill Ayers DID say that quote, but he ''did not say it in the context of the interview or in reference to Occupy Wall Street;'' he said it many years ago. So Bill Ayers DID say the quote, but he didn't say it in the context that the article seems to indicate. How about we reword the statement to make it very clear that Ayers did not say the quote recently or in regard to Occupy Wall Street, but at the same time clearly demonstrate Bill Ayers' ties to Occupy Wall Street and its similarities to Day of Rage? I think that would be a perfect compromise that would, most importantly, be truthful. I don't want Conservapedia to make up lies just because we think they point to the truth. That's just misguided. We should use the ''truth'' to demonstrate the truth, don't you agree? (Not trying to slander anyone's intentions here, mind you.) --[[User:StoryMaker|StoryMaker]] 12:23, 24 November 2011 (EST)

== Somethings to consider about the article ==

The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement wants the government to take action concerning their demands. Obama has received a lot of money from banks and Wall Street plus stepped up the war in Afghanistan. Obama has re-hired the bankster Ben Bernanke plus hasn't fired Timothy Geitner. Yet, the OWS movement isn't really putting much direct pressure on Obama. I am guessing you don't see many anti-Obama signs at their protests and rallies. So how successful can this movement really be for the next 12 months?

Second, the world banksters want to feed off the public trough (bailouts, [[Federal Reserve]], etc.) and the protesters want to feed off the public trough. To me at least, it largely seems to be a liberal vs. liberal struggle. The people of Iceland through a referendum told the banksters to get lost and they were not going to baii them out.[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=127206] Over the short term, I am of the opinion that the banksters have a lot more sway with the Obama administration and with European Union commission officials than the protestors - especially since the OWS are not yet putting a lot of pressure directly on Obama. Plus, the European Union officials don't seem to be directly elected. See: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1rfNlJMsFw Unelected Commission is the Government of Europe - Nigel Farage on Finnish TV]. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 06:02, 22 October 2011 (EDT)

== The American Nazi party ==

Does anybody really think that they're "liberal?" Can you picture them voting for Obama, or supporting affirmative action? Actually, here in Arizona, the neo-nazis all vote for Republicans, and even try joining the Republican party. Let's put them apart.--[[User:CamilleT|CamilleT]] 16:02, 31 October 2011 (EDT)
:Well, they are siding with this liberal movement. Should we have two sections; one for liberals and one for extremists? --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 16:45, 31 October 2011 (EDT)
::Yes. It feels as though lumping the Nazis in with liberals in general is inaccurate and contentious. And yes, there have been neo-nazis at tea parties--[[User:CamilleT|CamilleT]] 17:37, 31 October 2011 (EDT)
Are many of the protestors pro-evolution like [[Adolf Hitler]]? Do they want heavy state interference with private enterprises like Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party? (see: [[Nazism and socialism]]). Has Obama or Nancy Pelosi denounced the anti-semitism which is occuring at Occupy Wall Street yet? [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 16:52, 31 October 2011 (EDT)
::OWS pretty pointless anyways. Obama and Washington is in the pocket of the banksters and the OWS people aren't about to put significant pressure on a liberal ally of crony capitalism like Obama. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 17:21, 31 October 2011 (EDT)

== Official list of supporters? ==

Considering the source I think calling it the "official list of supporters" is a bit unrealistic. If it were announced in the same way as their official demands I'd give you that. Those are some supporters but there are surely others. [[User:Ayzmo|Ayzmo :)]] 14:09, 1 November 2011 (EDT)

:There are probably other supporters of Occupy Wall Street, but [http://pjmedia.com/zombie/2011/10/31/the-99-official-list-of-ows/ the official list of supporters] is the best reference to an "official" list because it also cites about 3 to 5 other references for each supporter. In my opinion, it would be more unrealistic to add supporters to the list who are not necessarily referenced as supporting the leftist protests in various sources. It's more accurate this way with less speculation. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 12:44, 2 November 2011 (EDT)

::Just a minor point about the list of supporters: can we please list them alphabetically by LAST name instead of FIRST name? Listing them by first name is just weird. --[[User:StoryMaker|StoryMaker]] 12:06, 24 November 2011 (EST)

== Proposal to remove the rapists and murderers playground line ==

This sounds like a liberal troll to me. While it may be true, the source doesn't mention it and it sounds like liberal satire aimed to make us appear alarmist. It should be removed but otherwise this is a good article.--[[User:Dylang|Dylang]] 21:50, 11 December 2011 (EST)

Already removed. It was flat-out false anyways. [[User:Factcheck47|Factcheck47: Making sure Conservapedia stays Trustworthy]] 16:33, 18 December 2011 (EST)

:The only thing flat-out false was saying there where no rapes (10) or murders at OWS.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 17:02, 18 December 2011 (EST)
::Exactly. I believe this is an example of liberals caught red-handed trying to [[censor]] conservatives. [[User:NickP|NickP]] 18:56, 18 December 2011 (EST)
:::Yes, rapes have occurred, but they're not directly related to OWS or anything they're protesting for; merely a coincidence. I'm sure there've been rapes at Tea Party events and other conservative things. I'd also bet that the rapist didn't rape because they were conservative or at a conservative rally, either. However, to say that either are a murderer's/rapist's playground is a lie. Also, accusing liberals of censoring things when you're "re-translating" the Bible to remove "liberal bias" (i.e., censorship) is hypocritical. Please watch out for hypocrisy, on both sides (much as I do), in the future. [[User:Factcheck47|Factcheck47: Making sure Conservapedia stays Trustworthy]] 13:25, 19 December 2011 (EST)

== more realistic article ==

I am not a fan of banksters who want bailouts and the Federal Reserve nor radical anachists/communists/progressives/liberals nor whiners with low skills who picked a bad college major and now have a lot of debt. With that being said, I know that some of the Occupy Wall Street people have been aggressive, but not all Occupy Wall Street protests have been filled with mayham. I think the article needs to have a broader description of the protests. I think the aggressiveness of the protests probably often reflects how aggressive the culture is in the area. For example, I would suspect the Canadian and some smaller city Midwest protests were less aggressive than some of the New York City/London/Pacific US ports protests.

For example, in one city that I am aware of the city/police have largely chosen to ignore the protestors because they don't want to give them any publicity or get the city involved in any legal disputes plus the city politicians don't want to lose any votes on the left. Also, the protestors aren't really causing many problems. In short, the city is taking a live and let live policy and the protestors aren't making pests of themselves. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 09:06, 31 December 2011 (EST)
:Would these sane rules also apply to fat atheists that do the nasty with goats, kill babies and Jews? --[[User:NatalyP|NatalyP]] 10:32, 31 December 2011 (EST)
:::One of the articles in question is already 20 pages long and CP does value conciseness so I regret to inform you that article will not see additional content for the foreseeable future. :) However, I did add some additional material to the [[atheism and obesity]] to reflect the heart attacks, etc. etc. of the atheists cited. Should I create a [[Famous obese atheists and heart attacks]] article? :) [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 14:51, 31 December 2011 (EST)

Talk:Chile

2012-08-22T18:01:17Z

Jukebox:

I don't think that "populist" is a good term to qualify the election of Allende. Furthermore, it would good, that the context of the Cold War appear in this article. And best with the more neutrality possible :sarcasm:

While the election was close, Allende did win. The fact he was a Marxist during the Cold War and the US support of the coup should be examined more in this article.

Why is the source used a biased left-wing site? Look at one of their links:
[http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAirancontra.htm | Crime of George H. W. Bush] I vote to get rid of that citation and claim of deaths. --[[User:Octaviohpaz|Octaviohpaz]] 17:07, 21 March 2007 (EDT)

== Sexual tourism industry claim ==

"In the last decade, the sexual tourism industry has invaded Chile from the West".

How is this possible? Chile is on the western coast of South America. [[User:DanH|DanH]] 14:23, 25 September 2007 (EDT)

Talk:Todd Akin

2012-08-22T17:56:04Z

Jukebox: Created page with "Nothing in Akin's comment suggests he wanted to distinguish between "legitimate" rape and false accusations of rape."

Nothing in Akin's comment suggests he wanted to distinguish between "legitimate" rape and false accusations of rape.

Todd Akin

2012-08-22T17:54:47Z

Jukebox:

Rep. '''Todd Akin''' (R - [[MO]]) is a [[movement conservative]] in [[Missouri]] who is the [[Republican Party]] nominee for one of the most-watched races for the [[U.S. Senate]] in 2012. He has represented a portion of the greater [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]] area in the [[House of Representatives]] since 2000. Prior to that he served 12 years in the Missouri General Assembly. In late July 2011 he said, "... at the heart of [[liberalism]] really is a hatred for God and a belief that government should replace [[God]]." [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/rep-todd-akin-refuses-to-apologize-for-saying-at-the-heart-of-liberalism-is-a-hatred-for-god/] [http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/06/28/congressmans-claim-liberals-hate-god/]

Todd Akin has never lost an election, and has repeatedly won upset victories against more [[liberal]] opponents who have spent far more money than he has.

A [[veteran]], Congressman Akin has been a leader on military issues in the [[Republican Party]] in [[Congress]]. He is also a minister who has championed the greater use of [[prayer]] and charity. His family has [[homeschooled]] their children.

== [[Media bullying]] of Akin ==

In August 2012, Akin addressed a suggestion that there should be a broad rape exception to any limits on [[abortion]]. He suggested that females are able to avoid pregnancy during "legitimate" rape:
{{cquote|“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”}}

Akin quickly recieved flak from both the left and right on both the limit of abortions for rape victims and the use of the word "legitimate". Akin's insensitivity to the emotional and physical damage by rape has lead to calls by nearly all public officials for him to step down. Refusing, Akin has claimed he misspoke.

The Romney-Ryan campaign, which had already caved in to [[liberals]] on abortion and other important social issues, then ran away from Todd Akin's principled stance in a manner that reflected poorly on Romney and Ryan.<ref>http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/mitt-romney-slams-lawmaker-todd-akins-rape-comments/story-fnd134gw-1226454546819</ref> [[RINO]]s tried to pressure Akin into withdrawing from the race for the [[U.S. Senate]], so that a more [[liberal]], Establishment-supported candidate could be nominated. Akin stood up against the pressure and rejected the demands.

Todd Akin has stood up against [[media bullying]] and namecalling by [[liberals]] such as Piers Morgan of ''[[CNN]]''.<ref>http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/08/piers-morgan-calls-todd-akin-gutless-little-twerp-132635.html</ref>

== References ==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akin, Todd}}
[[category:politics]]

CE

2011-08-18T18:37:51Z

Jukebox:

One suggestion for the origin of the term '''"Common Era" (CE)''' is an anti-Christian attempt to conceal that Jesus is the historical basis for the primary calendar dating system. "Common Era" has no real meaning, and even the origin of this term is unclear. A later edition (11th) defines it as the Christian Era. The first recorded use of the phrase "common era" was in 1708.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=D_wvAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA515&dq=%22common+era%22&lr=lang_en&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=800&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1740&as_brr=0&cd=2#v=onepage&q=%22common%20era%22&f=false ''History of the Works of the Learned'', January 1703]</ref>

The established calendar dating system, which uses the 'AD' notation, is based on the calculations of [[Dionysius Exiguus]] for the birthyear of [[Jesus]] relative to the foundation of Rome.<ref>[http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/calendars.html Index to Calendars, NASA site]</ref> At the time, dates used the 'AD' system instituted by pagan and murderer Emperor Diocletian, which used his own date of birth as year 0. Because Dionysius Exiguus in the year 525 wanted to end the memorialization of an evil man who persecuted Christians, he invented a new numbering system based on his calculations of the birth year of Jesus Christ.

While the use of the phrase "Common Era" has existed for hundreds of years, only recently have [[political correctness|politically correct]] [[liberals]] attempted to replace all instances of 'AD' with 'CE.' The original use of 'CE' was to avoid the common practice of countries basing their dates on when their rulers reached power <ref>ex. 15 years in the rulership of King Steven the Third</ref> or were born, i.e. the "regal era" from the birthdate of Jesus Christ, which belonged to all men "the common era." While use of "Common Era" attempts to erase recognition for the Christian basis of the calendar, there are no similar attempts to erase non-Christian religious names from the calendar, such as the days of the week named after Norse gods. Numerous texts, particularly schoolbooks, have replaced "B.C./A.D." with "Common Era" symbols over the past decade. This is part on an international effort to establish common values for those of all cultures, not just Christians. While the calendar may be Christian in origin, it is no longer exclusively to Christians. <ref> Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi A. Annan in "Common values for a common era" on 28 June 1999 [http://www.un.org/News/ossg/sg/stories/articleFull.asp?TID=37] </ref>

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Religion]]

CE

2011-08-17T00:10:35Z

Jukebox: Undo revision 901849 by Jcw (talk)

One suggestion for the origin of the term '''"Common Era" (CE)''' is an anti-Christian attempt to conceal that Jesus is the historical basis for the primary calendar dating system. "Common Era" has no real meaning, and even the origin of this term is unclear. A later edition (11th) defines it as the Christian Era. The first recorded use of the phrase "common era" was in 1708.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=D_wvAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA515&dq=%22common+era%22&lr=lang_en&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=800&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1740&as_brr=0&cd=2#v=onepage&q=%22common%20era%22&f=false ''History of the Works of the Learned'', January 1703]</ref>

The established calendar dating system, which uses the 'AD' notation, is based on the calculations of [[Dionysius Exiguus]] for the birthyear of [[Jesus]] relative to the foundation of Rome.<ref>[http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/calendars.html Index to Calendars, NASA site]</ref> At the time, dates used the 'AD' system instituted by pagan and murderer Emperor Diocletian, which used his own date of birth as year 0. Because Dionysius Exiguus in the year 525 wanted to end the memorialization of an evil man who persecuted Christians, he invented a new numbering system based on his calculations of the birth year of Jesus Christ.

While the use of the phrase "Common Era" has existed for hundreds of years, only recently have [[political correctness|politically correct]] [[liberals]] attempted to replace all instances of 'AD' with 'CE.' The original use of 'CE' was to avoid the common practice of countries basing their dates on when their rulers reached power <ref>ex. 15 years in the rulership of King Steven the Third</ref> or were born, i.e. the "regal era" from the birthdate of Jesus Christ, which belonged to all men "the common era." While use of "Common Era" attempts to erase recognition for the Christian basis of the calendar, there are no similar attempts to erase non-Christian religious names from the calendar, such as the days of the week named after Norse gods. Numerous texts, particularly schoolbooks, have replaced "B.C./A.D." with "Common Era" symbols over the past decade due to increasing diversity among students and recongition that not everyone is Christian.

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Religion]]

CE

2011-08-16T21:33:28Z

Jukebox:

One suggestion for the origin of the term '''"Common Era" (CE)''' is an anti-Christian attempt to conceal that Jesus is the historical basis for the primary calendar dating system. "Common Era" has no real meaning, and even the origin of this term is unclear. A later edition (11th) defines it as the Christian Era. The first recorded use of the phrase "common era" was in 1708.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=D_wvAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA515&dq=%22common+era%22&lr=lang_en&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=800&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1740&as_brr=0&cd=2#v=onepage&q=%22common%20era%22&f=false ''History of the Works of the Learned'', January 1703]</ref>

The established calendar dating system, which uses the 'AD' notation, is based on the calculations of [[Dionysius Exiguus]] for the birthyear of [[Jesus]] relative to the foundation of Rome.<ref>[http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/calendars.html Index to Calendars, NASA site]</ref> At the time, dates used the 'AD' system instituted by pagan and murderer Emperor Diocletian, which used his own date of birth as year 0. Because Dionysius Exiguus in the year 525 wanted to end the memorialization of an evil man who persecuted Christians, he invented a new numbering system based on his calculations of the birth year of Jesus Christ.

While the use of the phrase "Common Era" has existed for hundreds of years, only recently have [[political correctness|politically correct]] [[liberals]] attempted to replace all instances of 'AD' with 'CE.' The original use of 'CE' was to avoid the common practice of countries basing their dates on when their rulers reached power <ref>ex. 15 years in the rulership of King Steven the Third</ref> or were born, i.e. the "regal era" from the birthdate of Jesus Christ, which belonged to all men "the common era." While use of "Common Era" attempts to erase recognition for the Christian basis of the calendar, there are no similar attempts to erase non-Christian religious names from the calendar, such as the days of the week named after Norse gods. Numerous texts, particularly schoolbooks, have replaced "B.C./A.D." with "Common Era" symbols over the past decade due to increasing diversity among students and recongition that not everyone is Christian.

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Religion]]

Chile

2011-08-16T21:29:09Z

Jukebox: /* History */

{{Country
|name =''República de Chile''
|map =Chile.JPG
|map2 =Chile1.png
|flag =Flag of Chile.png
|arms =Arms of Chile.png
|capital =Santiago
|capital-raw =
|government =Democratic Republic
|government-raw =
|language =Spanish
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president =Michelle Bachelet
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =
|pm-raw =
|chairman =
|premier =
|area =292,183 sq. mi.
|pop =16,598,074 (2007)
|pop-basis =
|gdp =
|gdp-year =$212.671 billion (2006)
|gdp-pc =$12,983 (2006)
|currency =peso
|idd =
|tld =
}}

'''Chile''' is a country on the Pacific coast of South America, which borders [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Peru]].

==Geography==
[[File:Volcano Osorno and Petrohué waterfalls.JPG|thumb|left|Petrohué Waterfalls and Osorno Volcano in the background.]]
The northern Chilean desert contains great mineral wealth, principally [[copper]]. The relatively small central area dominates the country in terms of population and agricultural resources. This area also is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century, when it incorporated its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in [[forest]]s and grazing lands and features a string of [[volcano]]es and [[lake]]s. The southern coast is a labyrinth of [[fjord]]s, [[inlet]]s, [[canal]]s, twisting [[peninsula]]s, and ''island''s. The [[Andes]] Mountains are located on the eastern border.
*Area: 756,945 sq. km. (302,778 sq. mi.), or nearly twice the size of California.
*Cities: Capital--Santiago (metropolitan area est. 6.25 million). Other cities: Concepcion-Talcahuano (840,000), Viña del Mar-Valparaiso (800,000), Antofagasta (245,000), Temuco (230,000).
*Terrain: Desert in north; fertile central valley; volcanoes and lakes toward the south, giving way to rugged and complex coastline; Andes Mountains on the eastern border.
*Climate: Arid in north, Mediterranean in the central portion, cool and damp in south.

==People==
[[File:Chilean dance.jpg|left|140px]]
About 85% of Chile's population lives in urban areas, with 40% living in greater Santiago. Most have Spanish ancestry. A small, yet influential number of Irish and English immigrants came to Chile during the colonial period. German immigration began in 1848 and lasted for 90 years; the southern provinces of Valdivia, Llanquihue, and Osorno show a strong German influence. Other significant immigrant groups are Italian, Croatian, Basque, and Palestinian. About 800,000 Native Americans, mostly of the Mapuche tribe, reside in the south-central area. The Aymara and Diaguita groups can be found mainly in Chile’s northern desert valleys.
*Population (2009): 16.6 million.
*Annual population growth rate: 0.881%.
*Ethnic groups: Spanish-Native-American (mestizo), European, Native-American.
*Religions: Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3%.
*Language: Spanish.
*Education: Years compulsory--12. Attendance--3 million. Adult literacy rate--96%.
*Health: Infant mortality rate--8.9/1,000. Life expectancy--71 yrs. for men, 78 for women.
*Work force (6.94 million); employed 6.45 million: Community, social and individual services--26%; industry--14.4%; commerce--17.6%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing--13.9%; construction--7.1%; financial services--7.5%; transportation and communication--8.0%; electricity, gas and water--0.5%; mining--1.2%.

==Government==
Chile's Constitution was approved in a September 1980 national plebiscite. It entered into force in March 1981. After Pinochet's defeat in the 1988 plebiscite, the Constitution was amended to ease provisions for future amendments to the Constitution. In September 2005, President Ricardo Lagos signed into law several constitutional amendments passed by Congress. These include eliminating the positions of appointed senators and senators for life, granting the President authority to remove the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, and reducing the presidential term from six to four years.

Presidential and congressional elections were held December 2005 and January 2006. In the first round of presidential elections, none of the four presidential candidates won more than 50% of the vote. As a result, the top two vote-getters--center-left Concertacion coalition’s [[Michelle Bachelet]] and center-right Alianza coalition’s Sebastian Pinera--competed in a run-off election on January 15, 2006, which Michelle Bachelet won. This was Chile’s fourth presidential election since the end of the Pinochet era. All four have been judged free and fair. The President is constitutionally barred from serving consecutive terms. President Bachelet and the new members of Congress took office on March 11, 2006.

Chile has a bicameral Congress, which meets in the port city of Valparaiso, about 140 kilometers (84 mi.) west of the capital, Santiago. Deputies are elected every 4 years, and Senators serve 8-year terms. Chile's congressional elections are governed by a unique binomial system that rewards coalition slates. Each coalition can run two candidates for the two Senate and two Deputy seats apportioned to each electoral district. Historically, the two largest coalitions (Concertacion and Alianza) split most of the seats in a district. Only if the leading coalition ticket out-polls the second-place coalition by a margin of more than 2-to-1 does the winning coalition gain both seats.

In the December 11, 2005 congressional elections, the Concertacion coalition won a majority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. In the 38-member Senate, the Concertacion coalition holds 20 seats and the Alianza opposition holds 17. There is one independent. In the 120-member Chamber of Deputies, the Concertacion coalitions holds 65 seats and the Alianza holds 54. There is one independent.

Chile's judiciary is independent and includes a court of appeal, a system of military courts, a constitutional tribunal, and the Supreme Court. In June 2005, Chile completed a nation-wide overhaul of its criminal justice system. The reform has replaced inquisitorial proceedings with an adversarial system more similar to that of the United States.

===Principal Government Officials===
[[Image:Michelle Bachelet.jpg|thumb|Ex-president Michelle Bachelet. (Photo:Ricardo Stuckert, Agência Brasil.)]]
*President--Sebastián Piñera
*Minister of Interior-- Rodrigo Hinzpeter
*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Alfredo Moreno
*Ambassador to the United States--Joaquin Fermandois
*Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS)--Dario Paya
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Octavio Errazuriz

===Foreign Relations===
Since its return to democracy in 1990, Chile has been an active participant in the international political arena. Chile completed a 2-year non-permanent position on the UN Security Council in January 2005. [[Jose Miguel Insulza]], a Chilean national, was elected Secretary General of the Organization of American States in May 2005. Chile is an active member of the UN family of agencies and participates in UN peacekeeping activities. Chile hosted the Defense Ministerial of the Americas in 2002 and the APEC summit and related meetings in 2004. Chile hosted the Community of Democracies ministerial in April 2005. An associate member of Mercosur and a full member of APEC, Chile has been an important actor on international economic issues and hemispheric free trade.
[[File:Insulza.jpg|thumb|José Miguel Insulza]]
The Chilean Government has diplomatic relations with most countries. It settled its territorial disputes with Argentina during the 1990s. Chile and Bolivia severed diplomatic ties in 1978 over Bolivia's desire to reacquire territory it lost to Chile in 1879-83 War of the Pacific. The two countries maintain consular relations and are represented at the Consul General level.

==Defense==
Chile's Armed Forces are subject to civilian control exercised by the President through the Minister of Defense. The President has the authority to remove the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces.

===Army===
The commander in chief of the Chilean Army is General Oscar Izurieta Ferrer. The Chilean Army is 45,000 strong and is organized with an Army headquarters in Santiago, seven divisions throughout its territory, an Air Brigade in Rancagua, and a Special Forces Command in Colina. The Chilean Army is one of the most professional and technologically advanced armies in Latin America.

===Navy===
Admiral Rodolfo Codina directs the 23,000-person Navy, including 2,500 Marines. Of the fleet of 29 surface vessels, only eight are operational major combatants (frigates). Those ships are based in Valparaiso. The Navy operates its own aircraft for transport and patrol; there are no Navy fighter or bomber aircraft. The Navy also operates four submarines based in Talcahuano.

===Air Force (FACH)===
Gen. Ricardo Ortega Perrier heads a force of 12,500. Air assets are distributed among five air brigades headquartered in Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. The Air Force also operates an airbase on King George Island, [[Antarctica]]. The FACH took delivery of 14 [[F-16]] aircraft in 2006 and will take delivery of 14 more in 2007.

===Carabineros===
After the military coup in September 1973, the Chilean national police (Carabineros) were incorporated into the Defense Ministry. With the return of democratic government, the police were placed under the operational control of the Interior Ministry but remained under the nominal control of the Defense Ministry. Gen. Jose Bernales is the head of the national police force of 30,000 men and women who are responsible for law enforcement, traffic management, narcotics suppression, border control, and counter-terrorism throughout Chile.

==Economy==
After a decade of impressive growth rates, Chile began to experience a moderate economic downturn in 1999, brought on by unfavorable global economic conditions related to the Asian financial crisis, which began in 1997. The economy remained sluggish until 2003, when it began to show clear signs of recovery, achieving 3.3% real GDP growth. The Chilean economy finished 2004 with growth of 6.1%. Real GDP growth reached 6.3% in 2005 before falling back to 4.0% growth in 2006. Higher energy prices as well as lagging consumer demand were drags on the economy in 2006. Higher Chilean Government spending and favorable external conditions (including record copper prices for much of 2006) were not enough to offset these drags. For the first time in many years, Chilean economic growth in 2006 was among the weakest in Latin America.
*GDP (official exchange rate): $150.4 billion.
*Annual real growth rate: -1.5%.
*Per capita GDP (purchasing power parity): $14,700.
*Forestry, agriculture, and fisheries (6% of GDP): Products--fruits, wheat, potatoes, corn, sugar beets, onions, beans, livestock, fish.
*Commerce (8% of GDP): Sales, restaurants, hotels.
*Manufacturing (17% of GDP): Types--mineral refining, metal manufacturing, food processing, fish processing, paper and wood products, finished textiles.
*Electricity, gas, and water: 3% of GDP.
*Transportation and communication: 7% of GDP.
*Construction: 8% of GDP.
*Financial services (12% of GDP): Insurance, leasing, consulting.
*Mining (13% of GDP): Copper, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, and molybdenum.
*Trade: Exports--$57.61 billion: copper, fruits and nuts, fish and seafood, and wood products. Major markets--U.S., Japan, China, Netherlands, South Korea, Brazil, Italy, Mexico. Imports--$40.91 billion: fuels, heavy industrial machinery, motor vehicles, electrical machinery, plastic. Major suppliers--U.S., China, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea.

Chile has pursued generally sound economic policies for nearly three decades. The 1973-90 military government sold many state-owned companies, and the three democratic governments since 1990 have continued privatization, though at a slower pace. The government's role in the economy is mostly limited to regulation, although the state continues to operate copper giant CODELCO and a few other enterprises (there is one state-run bank). Chile is strongly committed to free trade and has welcomed large amounts of foreign investment. Chile has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with a whole network of countries, including an FTA with the United States, which was signed in 2003 and implemented in January 2004. Over the last several years, Chile has signed FTAs with the European Union, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, China, and Japan. It reached a partial trade agreement with India in 2005 and began negotiations for a full-fledged FTA with India in 2006. Chile plans to continue its focus on its trade ties with Asia by negotiating in 2007 trade agreements with Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia.
[[File:Ximena Armas Secrets - Chile.jpg|thumb|left|Ximena Armas, Secrets.]]
High domestic savings and investment rates helped propel Chile's economy to average growth rates of 8% during the 1990s. The privatized national pension system (AFP) has encouraged domestic investment and contributed to an estimated total domestic savings rate of approximately 21% of GDP. However, the AFP is not without its critics, who cite low participation rates (only 55% of the working population is covered), with groups such as the self-employed outside the system. There has also been criticism of the inefficiency and high costs due to a lack of competition among pension funds. Critics cite loopholes in the use of pension savings through lump sum withdraws for the purchase of a second home or payment of university fees as fundamental weaknesses of the AFP. The Bachelet administration plans substantial reform, but not an overhaul, of the AFP during the next several years.

Unemployment stubbornly hovered in the 8%-10% range after the start of the economic slowdown in 1999, well above the 5%-6% average for the 1990s. Unemployment finally dipped to 7.8% at the end of 2006, due largely to the fact that fewer Chileans were entering the workforce rather than to a substantial and sustained creation of new jobs. Most international observers place some of the blame for Chile’s consistently high unemployment rate on complicated and restrictive labor laws. Wages have risen faster than inflation as a result of higher productivity, boosting national living standards. The percentage of Chileans with incomes below the poverty line--defined as twice the cost of satisfying a family of four’s minimal nutritional needs--fell from 46% in 1987 to around 18% by 2004.

Chile's independent Central Bank pursues an inflation target of between 2% and 4%. Inflation has not exceeded 5% since 1998. Chile registered an inflation rate of 3.2% in 2006. The Chilean peso’s rapid appreciation against the U.S. dollar in recent years has helped dampen inflation. Most wage settlements and loans are indexed, reducing inflation's volatility. Under the compulsory private pension system, most formal sector employees pay 10% of their salaries into privately managed funds.

Total foreign direct investment (FDI) was only $3.4 billion in 2006, up 52% from a poor performance in 2005. However, 80% of FDI continues to go to only four sectors: electricity, gas, water and mining. Much of the jump in FDI in 2006 was also the result of acquisitions and mergers and has done little to create new employment in Chile. The Chilean Government has formed a Council on Innovation and Competition, which is tasked with identifying new sectors and industries to promote. It is hoped that this, combined with some tax reforms to encourage domestic and foreign investment in research and development, will bring in additional FDI and to new parts of the economy. As of 2006, Chile invested only 0.6% of its annual GDP in research and development (R&D). Even then, two-thirds of that was government spending. The fact that domestic and foreign companies spend almost nothing on R&D does not bode well for the Government of Chile’s efforts to develop innovative, knowledge-based sectors. Additionally, on January 8, 2007, Chile was placed on the U.S. Trade Representative’s Priority Watch List due to its poor record on protecting intellectual property rights. Chile is only the second U.S. FTA partner ever to be placed on the Priority Watch List. Chile has a poor and deteriorating record of protecting copyrighted music, films, and software. Combined with this is its institutional structure allowing local companies to produce and market pharmaceutical generics that violate existing patents. Beyond its general economic and political stability, the government also has encouraged the use of Chile as an "investment platform" for multinational corporations planning to operate in the region, but this will have limited value given the developing business climate in Chile itself. Chile's approach to foreign direct investment is codified in the country's Foreign Investment Law, which gives foreign investors the same treatment as Chileans. Registration is simple and transparent, and foreign investors are guaranteed access to the official foreign exchange market to repatriate their profits and capital. While Chile and the EU have signed a double taxation treaty, no such agreement exists between the U.S. and Chile.

Mining was temporarily curtailed following an accident in which 33 miners were trapped after a cave-in at the San Jose mine<ref>http://www.minandes.com/s/RoadtoProduction.asp</ref> near Copiapo on August 5, 2010. A rescue attempt - bolstered by national pride at getting the men out alive - ended 67 days later on October 13 as the last of the men were pulled out to safety.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/10/12/rescued-chilean-miner-returns-surface/</ref><ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/7961923/Chilean-miners-trapped-in-San-Jose-mine.html</ref>

===Foreign Trade===
[[File:Commercial Treaties Chile.jpg|thumb|295px|Commercial Treaties, 2006.]]
2006 was a record year for Chilean trade. Total trade registered a 31% increase over 2005. During 2006, exports of goods and services totaled U.S. $58 billion, an increase of 41%. This figure was somewhat distorted by the skyrocketing price of copper. In 2006, copper exports reached a historical high of U.S. $33.3 billion. Imports totaled U.S. $35 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the previous year. Chile thus recorded a positive trade balance of U.S. $23 billion in 2006.

The main destinations for Chilean exports were the Americas (U.S. $39 billion), Asia (U.S. $27.8 billion) and Europe (U.S. $22.2 billion). Seen as shares of Chile’s export markets, 42% of exports went to the Americas, 30% to Asia and 24% to Europe. Within Chile’s diversified network of trade relationships, its most important partner remained the United States. Total trade with the U.S. was U.S. $14.8 billion in 2006. Since the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement went into effect on January 1, 2004, U.S.-Chilean trade has increased by 154%. Internal Government of Chile figures show that even when factoring out inflation and the recent high price of copper, bilateral trade between the U.S. and Chile has grown over 60% since then.

Total trade with Europe also grew in 2006, expanding by 42%. The Netherlands and Italy were Chile’s main European trading partners. Total trade with Asia also grew significantly at nearly 31%. Trade with Korea and Japan grew significantly, but China remained Chile’s most important trading partner in Asia. Chile’s total trade with China reached U.S. $8.8 billion in 2006, representing nearly 66% of the value of its trade relationship with Asia.

The growth of exports in 2006 was due mainly to a strong increase in sales to the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan. These three markets alone accounted for an additional U.S. $5.5 billion worth of Chilean exports. Chilean exports to the United States totaled U.S. $9.3 billion, representing a 37.7% increase compared to 2005 (U.S. $6.7 billion). Exports to the European Union were U.S. $15.4 billion, a 63.7% increase compared to 2005 (U.S. $9.4 billion). Exports to Asia increased from U.S. $15.2 billion in 2005 to U.S. $19.7 billion in 2006, a 29.9% increase.

During 2006, Chile imported U.S. $26 billion from the Americas, representing 54% of total imports, followed by Asia at 22%, and Europe at 16%. Mercosur members were the main suppliers of imports to Chile at U.S. $9.1 billion, followed by the United States with U.S. $5.5 billion and the European Union with U.S. $5.2 billion. From Asia, China was the most important exporter to Chile, with goods valued at U.S. $3.6 billion. Year-on-year growth in imports was especially strong from a number of countries--Ecuador (123.9%), Thailand (72.1%), Korea (52.6%), and China (36.9%).

Chile’s overall trade profile has traditionally been dependent upon copper exports. The state-owned firm CODELCO is the world's largest copper-producing company, with recorded copper reserves of 200 years. Chile has made an effort to expand nontraditional exports. The most important non-mineral exports are forestry and wood products, fresh fruit and processed food, fishmeal and seafood, and wine.

Successive Chilean governments have actively pursued trade-liberalizing agreements. During the 1990s, Chile signed FTAs with Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Chile also concluded preferential trade agreements with Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. An association agreement with Mercosur--Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay--went into effect in October 1996. Continuing its export-oriented development strategy, Chile completed landmark free trade agreements in 2002 with the European Union and South Korea. Chile, as a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organization, is seeking to boost commercial ties to Asian markets. To that end, it has signed trade agreements in recent years with New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, India, China, and most recently Japan. In 2007, Chile plans to begin negotiations with Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia.

After two years of negotiations, the United States and Chile signed an agreement in June 2003 that will lead to completely duty-free bilateral trade within 12 years. The U.S.-Chile FTA entered into force January 1, 2004 following approval by the U.S. and Chilean congresses. The bilateral FTA has inaugurated greatly expanded U.S.-Chilean trade ties, with total bilateral trade jumping by 154% during the FTA’s first three years.

Chile unilaterally lowered its across-the-board import tariff for all countries with which it does not have a trade agreement to 6% in 2003. Higher effective tariffs are charged only on imports of wheat, wheat flour, and sugar as a result of a system of import price bands. The price bands were ruled inconsistent with Chile's World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations in 2002, and the government has introduced legislation to modify them. Under the terms of the U.S.-Chile FTA, the price bands will be completely phased out for U.S. imports of wheat, wheat flour, and sugar within 12 years.

Chile is a strong proponent of pressing ahead on negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and is active in the WTO’s Doha round of negotiations, principally through its membership in the G-20 and Cairns Group.

===Finance===
Chile's financial sector has grown quickly in recent years, with a banking reform law approved in 1997 that broadened the scope of permissible foreign activity for Chilean banks. The Chilean Government implemented a further liberalization of capital markets in 2001, and there is further pending legislation proposing further liberalization. Over the last ten years, Chileans have enjoyed the introduction of new financial tools such as home equity loans, currency futures and options, factoring, leasing, and debit cards. The introduction of these new products has also been accompanied by an increased use of traditional instruments such as loans and credit cards. Chile's private pension system, with assets worth roughly $70 billion at the end of 2006, has been an important source of investment capital for the capital market. Chile maintains one of the best credit ratings (S&P A+) in Latin America. There are three main ways for Chilean firms to raise funds abroad: bank loans, issuance of bonds, and the selling of stocks on U.S. markets through American Depository Receipts (ADRs). Nearly all of the funds raised through these means go to finance domestic Chilean investment. The government is required by law to run a fiscal surplus of at least 1% of GDP. In 2006, the Government of Chile ran a surplus of $11.3 billion, equal to almost 8% of GDP. The Government of Chile continues to pay down its foreign debt, with public debt only 3.9% of GDP at the end of 2006.

==History==
[[File:Pedro Subercaseaux Jura de la Independencia Chile.jpg|thumb|300px|Fray Pedro Subercaseaux, Jura de la Independencia de Chile.]]
About 10,000 years ago, migrating Indians settled in fertile valleys and along the coast of what is now Chile. The Incas briefly extended their empire into what is now northern Chile, but the area's barrenness prevented extensive settlement. The first Europeans to arrive in Chile were Diego de Almagro and his band of Spanish conquistadors, who came from Peru seeking gold in 1535. The Spanish encountered hundreds of thousands of Indians from various cultures in the area that modern Chile now occupies. These cultures supported themselves principally through slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting. The conquest of Chile began in earnest in 1540 and was carried out by Pedro de Valdivia, one of Francisco Pizarro's lieutenants, who founded the city of Santiago on February 12, 1541. Although the Spanish did not find the extensive gold and silver they sought, they recognized the agricultural potential of Chile's central valley, and Chile became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

The drive for independence from Spain was precipitated by usurpation of the Spanish throne by Napoleon's brother Joseph in 1808. A national junta in the name of Ferdinand--heir to the deposed king--was formed on September 18, 1810. The junta proclaimed Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy. A movement for total independence soon won a wide following. Spanish attempts to reimpose arbitrary rule during what was called the "Reconquista" led to a prolonged struggle.

Intermittent warfare continued until 1817, when an army led by Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile's most renowned patriot, and José San Martín, hero of Argentine independence, crossed the Andes into Chile and defeated the royalists. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic under O'Higgins' leadership. The political revolt brought little social change, however, and 19th century Chilean society preserved the essence of the stratified colonial social structure, which was greatly influenced by family politics and the Roman Catholic Church. A strong presidency eventually emerged, but wealthy landowners remained extremely powerful. Toward the end of the 19th century, the government in Santiago consolidated its position in the south by ruthlessly suppressing the Mapuche Indians. In 1881, it signed a treaty with Argentina confirming Chilean sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan. As a result of the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia (1879-83), Chile expanded its territory northward by almost one-third and acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the exploitation of which led to an era of national affluence. Chile established a parliamentary democracy in the late 19th century, but degenerated into a system protecting the interests of the ruling oligarchy. By the 1920s, the emerging middle and working classes were powerful enough to elect a reformist president, whose program was frustrated by a conservative congress. In the 1920s, Marxist groups with strong popular support arose.

Continuing political and economic instability resulted with the rule of the quasidictatorial Gen. Carlos Ibanez (1924-32). When constitutional rule was restored in 1932, a strong middle-class party, the Radicals, emerged. It became the key force in coalition governments for the next 20 years. During the period of Radical Party dominance (1932-52), the state increased its role in the economy.

The 1964 presidential election of Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei-Montalva by an absolute majority initiated a period of major reform. Under the slogan "Revolution in Liberty," the Frei administration embarked on far-reaching social and economic programs, particularly in education, housing, and agrarian reform, including rural unionization of agricultural workers. By 1967, however, Frei encountered increasing opposition from leftists, who charged that his reforms were inadequate, and from conservatives, who found them excessive. At the end of his term, Frei had accomplished many noteworthy objectives, but he had not fully achieved his party's ambitious goals. In 1970, Senator Salvador Allende, a Marxist and member of Chile's Socialist Party, who headed the "Popular Unity" (UP) coalition of socialists, communists, radicals, and dissident Christian Democrats, won a plurality of votes in a three-way contest and was named President by the Chilean Congress. His program included the nationalization of private industries and banks, massive land expropriation, and collectivization. Allende's program also included the nationalization of U.S. interests in Chile's major copper mines.

Elected with only 36% of the vote and by a plurality of only 36,000 votes, Allende never enjoyed majority support in the Chilean Congress or broad popular support. Domestic production declined; severe shortages of consumer goods, food, and manufactured products were widespread; and inflation reached 1,000% per annum. Mass demonstrations, recurring strikes, violence by both government supporters and opponents, and widespread rural unrest ensued in response to the general deterioration of the economy.

A military coup overthrew Allende on September 11, 1973. As the armed forces bombarded the presidential palace, Allende reportedly committed suicide. A military government, led by General Augusto Pinochet, took over control of the country. The first years of the regime in particular were marked by serious human rights violations. The Rettig Report chronicles 2,279 politically motivated killings under Pinochet's reign.<ref>http://www.rrojasdatabank.info/crime1.htm [http://www.rrojasdatabank.info/crime1.htm]</ref> A new Constitution was approved by a plebiscite on September 11, 1980, and General Pinochet became President of the Republic for an 8-year term. In its later years, the regime gradually permitted greater freedom of assembly, speech, and association, to include trade union activity. In contrast to its authoritarian political rule, the military government pursued decidedly laissez-faire economic policies.

[[Milton Friedman]] said,
* "... the really extraordinary thing about the Chilean case was that a military government followed the opposite of military policies. The military is distinguished from the ordinary economy by the fact that it's a top-down organization. The general tells the colonel, the colonel tells the captain, and so on down, whereas a market is a bottom-up organization. The customer goes into the store and tells the retailer what he wants; the retailer sends it back up the line to the manufacturer and so on. So the basic organizational principles in the military are almost the opposite of the basic organizational principles of a free market and a free society. And the really remarkable thing about Chile is that the military adopted the free-market arrangements instead of the military arrangements."<ref> [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/int_miltonfriedman.html#10 Commanding Heights: Milton Friedman on PBS]</ref>

Ignored by Friedman and much of the media, Chile's rapid transition to free market was done by mass executions of liberals and widespread torture. Thousands disappeared in the night, never to seen again. The economic collapse in 1982 is attributed to Pinochet's reforms under the guidance of Friedman. Hyper-inflation and too much privitization destroyed the governments ability to its debt and tripled the poverty levels in Chile. <ref>
Naomi Klein (2007). The Shock Doctrine</ref>

During its 16 years in power, Chile moved away from economic statism toward a largely free market economy that fostered an increase in domestic and foreign private investment. In a plebiscite on October 5, 1988, General Pinochet was denied a second 8-year term as president. Chileans voted for elections to choose a new president and the majority of members of a two-chamber congress. On December 14, 1989, Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, the candidate of a coalition of 17 political parties called the Concertacion, was elected president. Aylwin served from 1990 to 1994 and was succeeded by another Christian Democrat, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (son of the previous President), leading the same coalition, for a 6-year term. Ricardo Lagos Escobar of the Socialist Party and the Party for Democracy led the Concertacion to a narrower victory in 2000 presidential elections. His term ended on March 11, 2006, when President Michelle Bachelet Jeria took office.

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[[Gallery of South-American painting]]
*[[Gallery of Latin-American painting]]

{| style="width: 100%; background:transparent; border: 2px solid #000099;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1"
!colspan=2 style="width: 100%; text-align: center; background-color: #000088; color: white; "|'''Copyright Details'''
|-
!style="background-color: #000088; color:white;"|License:
|style=" background-color: none;"| This work is in the [[Public Domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the U.S. Code
|-
!style=" background-color: #000088; color:white;"|Source:
|style="background-color: none;border-top: 2px solid black"| File available from the {{{1|[[United States Federal Government]] [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1981.htm]}}}.
|}

{{Nb countries south america}}
[[Category:Spanish Empire]]

Chile

2011-08-16T21:28:27Z

Jukebox: /* History */

{{Country
|name =''República de Chile''
|map =Chile.JPG
|map2 =Chile1.png
|flag =Flag of Chile.png
|arms =Arms of Chile.png
|capital =Santiago
|capital-raw =
|government =Democratic Republic
|government-raw =
|language =Spanish
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president =Michelle Bachelet
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
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|pm =
|pm-raw =
|chairman =
|premier =
|area =292,183 sq. mi.
|pop =16,598,074 (2007)
|pop-basis =
|gdp =
|gdp-year =$212.671 billion (2006)
|gdp-pc =$12,983 (2006)
|currency =peso
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}}

'''Chile''' is a country on the Pacific coast of South America, which borders [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Peru]].

==Geography==
[[File:Volcano Osorno and Petrohué waterfalls.JPG|thumb|left|Petrohué Waterfalls and Osorno Volcano in the background.]]
The northern Chilean desert contains great mineral wealth, principally [[copper]]. The relatively small central area dominates the country in terms of population and agricultural resources. This area also is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century, when it incorporated its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in [[forest]]s and grazing lands and features a string of [[volcano]]es and [[lake]]s. The southern coast is a labyrinth of [[fjord]]s, [[inlet]]s, [[canal]]s, twisting [[peninsula]]s, and ''island''s. The [[Andes]] Mountains are located on the eastern border.
*Area: 756,945 sq. km. (302,778 sq. mi.), or nearly twice the size of California.
*Cities: Capital--Santiago (metropolitan area est. 6.25 million). Other cities: Concepcion-Talcahuano (840,000), Viña del Mar-Valparaiso (800,000), Antofagasta (245,000), Temuco (230,000).
*Terrain: Desert in north; fertile central valley; volcanoes and lakes toward the south, giving way to rugged and complex coastline; Andes Mountains on the eastern border.
*Climate: Arid in north, Mediterranean in the central portion, cool and damp in south.

==People==
[[File:Chilean dance.jpg|left|140px]]
About 85% of Chile's population lives in urban areas, with 40% living in greater Santiago. Most have Spanish ancestry. A small, yet influential number of Irish and English immigrants came to Chile during the colonial period. German immigration began in 1848 and lasted for 90 years; the southern provinces of Valdivia, Llanquihue, and Osorno show a strong German influence. Other significant immigrant groups are Italian, Croatian, Basque, and Palestinian. About 800,000 Native Americans, mostly of the Mapuche tribe, reside in the south-central area. The Aymara and Diaguita groups can be found mainly in Chile’s northern desert valleys.
*Population (2009): 16.6 million.
*Annual population growth rate: 0.881%.
*Ethnic groups: Spanish-Native-American (mestizo), European, Native-American.
*Religions: Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3%.
*Language: Spanish.
*Education: Years compulsory--12. Attendance--3 million. Adult literacy rate--96%.
*Health: Infant mortality rate--8.9/1,000. Life expectancy--71 yrs. for men, 78 for women.
*Work force (6.94 million); employed 6.45 million: Community, social and individual services--26%; industry--14.4%; commerce--17.6%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing--13.9%; construction--7.1%; financial services--7.5%; transportation and communication--8.0%; electricity, gas and water--0.5%; mining--1.2%.

==Government==
Chile's Constitution was approved in a September 1980 national plebiscite. It entered into force in March 1981. After Pinochet's defeat in the 1988 plebiscite, the Constitution was amended to ease provisions for future amendments to the Constitution. In September 2005, President Ricardo Lagos signed into law several constitutional amendments passed by Congress. These include eliminating the positions of appointed senators and senators for life, granting the President authority to remove the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, and reducing the presidential term from six to four years.

Presidential and congressional elections were held December 2005 and January 2006. In the first round of presidential elections, none of the four presidential candidates won more than 50% of the vote. As a result, the top two vote-getters--center-left Concertacion coalition’s [[Michelle Bachelet]] and center-right Alianza coalition’s Sebastian Pinera--competed in a run-off election on January 15, 2006, which Michelle Bachelet won. This was Chile’s fourth presidential election since the end of the Pinochet era. All four have been judged free and fair. The President is constitutionally barred from serving consecutive terms. President Bachelet and the new members of Congress took office on March 11, 2006.

Chile has a bicameral Congress, which meets in the port city of Valparaiso, about 140 kilometers (84 mi.) west of the capital, Santiago. Deputies are elected every 4 years, and Senators serve 8-year terms. Chile's congressional elections are governed by a unique binomial system that rewards coalition slates. Each coalition can run two candidates for the two Senate and two Deputy seats apportioned to each electoral district. Historically, the two largest coalitions (Concertacion and Alianza) split most of the seats in a district. Only if the leading coalition ticket out-polls the second-place coalition by a margin of more than 2-to-1 does the winning coalition gain both seats.

In the December 11, 2005 congressional elections, the Concertacion coalition won a majority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. In the 38-member Senate, the Concertacion coalition holds 20 seats and the Alianza opposition holds 17. There is one independent. In the 120-member Chamber of Deputies, the Concertacion coalitions holds 65 seats and the Alianza holds 54. There is one independent.

Chile's judiciary is independent and includes a court of appeal, a system of military courts, a constitutional tribunal, and the Supreme Court. In June 2005, Chile completed a nation-wide overhaul of its criminal justice system. The reform has replaced inquisitorial proceedings with an adversarial system more similar to that of the United States.

===Principal Government Officials===
[[Image:Michelle Bachelet.jpg|thumb|Ex-president Michelle Bachelet. (Photo:Ricardo Stuckert, Agência Brasil.)]]
*President--Sebastián Piñera
*Minister of Interior-- Rodrigo Hinzpeter
*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Alfredo Moreno
*Ambassador to the United States--Joaquin Fermandois
*Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS)--Dario Paya
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Octavio Errazuriz

===Foreign Relations===
Since its return to democracy in 1990, Chile has been an active participant in the international political arena. Chile completed a 2-year non-permanent position on the UN Security Council in January 2005. [[Jose Miguel Insulza]], a Chilean national, was elected Secretary General of the Organization of American States in May 2005. Chile is an active member of the UN family of agencies and participates in UN peacekeeping activities. Chile hosted the Defense Ministerial of the Americas in 2002 and the APEC summit and related meetings in 2004. Chile hosted the Community of Democracies ministerial in April 2005. An associate member of Mercosur and a full member of APEC, Chile has been an important actor on international economic issues and hemispheric free trade.
[[File:Insulza.jpg|thumb|José Miguel Insulza]]
The Chilean Government has diplomatic relations with most countries. It settled its territorial disputes with Argentina during the 1990s. Chile and Bolivia severed diplomatic ties in 1978 over Bolivia's desire to reacquire territory it lost to Chile in 1879-83 War of the Pacific. The two countries maintain consular relations and are represented at the Consul General level.

==Defense==
Chile's Armed Forces are subject to civilian control exercised by the President through the Minister of Defense. The President has the authority to remove the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces.

===Army===
The commander in chief of the Chilean Army is General Oscar Izurieta Ferrer. The Chilean Army is 45,000 strong and is organized with an Army headquarters in Santiago, seven divisions throughout its territory, an Air Brigade in Rancagua, and a Special Forces Command in Colina. The Chilean Army is one of the most professional and technologically advanced armies in Latin America.

===Navy===
Admiral Rodolfo Codina directs the 23,000-person Navy, including 2,500 Marines. Of the fleet of 29 surface vessels, only eight are operational major combatants (frigates). Those ships are based in Valparaiso. The Navy operates its own aircraft for transport and patrol; there are no Navy fighter or bomber aircraft. The Navy also operates four submarines based in Talcahuano.

===Air Force (FACH)===
Gen. Ricardo Ortega Perrier heads a force of 12,500. Air assets are distributed among five air brigades headquartered in Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. The Air Force also operates an airbase on King George Island, [[Antarctica]]. The FACH took delivery of 14 [[F-16]] aircraft in 2006 and will take delivery of 14 more in 2007.

===Carabineros===
After the military coup in September 1973, the Chilean national police (Carabineros) were incorporated into the Defense Ministry. With the return of democratic government, the police were placed under the operational control of the Interior Ministry but remained under the nominal control of the Defense Ministry. Gen. Jose Bernales is the head of the national police force of 30,000 men and women who are responsible for law enforcement, traffic management, narcotics suppression, border control, and counter-terrorism throughout Chile.

==Economy==
After a decade of impressive growth rates, Chile began to experience a moderate economic downturn in 1999, brought on by unfavorable global economic conditions related to the Asian financial crisis, which began in 1997. The economy remained sluggish until 2003, when it began to show clear signs of recovery, achieving 3.3% real GDP growth. The Chilean economy finished 2004 with growth of 6.1%. Real GDP growth reached 6.3% in 2005 before falling back to 4.0% growth in 2006. Higher energy prices as well as lagging consumer demand were drags on the economy in 2006. Higher Chilean Government spending and favorable external conditions (including record copper prices for much of 2006) were not enough to offset these drags. For the first time in many years, Chilean economic growth in 2006 was among the weakest in Latin America.
*GDP (official exchange rate): $150.4 billion.
*Annual real growth rate: -1.5%.
*Per capita GDP (purchasing power parity): $14,700.
*Forestry, agriculture, and fisheries (6% of GDP): Products--fruits, wheat, potatoes, corn, sugar beets, onions, beans, livestock, fish.
*Commerce (8% of GDP): Sales, restaurants, hotels.
*Manufacturing (17% of GDP): Types--mineral refining, metal manufacturing, food processing, fish processing, paper and wood products, finished textiles.
*Electricity, gas, and water: 3% of GDP.
*Transportation and communication: 7% of GDP.
*Construction: 8% of GDP.
*Financial services (12% of GDP): Insurance, leasing, consulting.
*Mining (13% of GDP): Copper, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, and molybdenum.
*Trade: Exports--$57.61 billion: copper, fruits and nuts, fish and seafood, and wood products. Major markets--U.S., Japan, China, Netherlands, South Korea, Brazil, Italy, Mexico. Imports--$40.91 billion: fuels, heavy industrial machinery, motor vehicles, electrical machinery, plastic. Major suppliers--U.S., China, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea.

Chile has pursued generally sound economic policies for nearly three decades. The 1973-90 military government sold many state-owned companies, and the three democratic governments since 1990 have continued privatization, though at a slower pace. The government's role in the economy is mostly limited to regulation, although the state continues to operate copper giant CODELCO and a few other enterprises (there is one state-run bank). Chile is strongly committed to free trade and has welcomed large amounts of foreign investment. Chile has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with a whole network of countries, including an FTA with the United States, which was signed in 2003 and implemented in January 2004. Over the last several years, Chile has signed FTAs with the European Union, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, China, and Japan. It reached a partial trade agreement with India in 2005 and began negotiations for a full-fledged FTA with India in 2006. Chile plans to continue its focus on its trade ties with Asia by negotiating in 2007 trade agreements with Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia.
[[File:Ximena Armas Secrets - Chile.jpg|thumb|left|Ximena Armas, Secrets.]]
High domestic savings and investment rates helped propel Chile's economy to average growth rates of 8% during the 1990s. The privatized national pension system (AFP) has encouraged domestic investment and contributed to an estimated total domestic savings rate of approximately 21% of GDP. However, the AFP is not without its critics, who cite low participation rates (only 55% of the working population is covered), with groups such as the self-employed outside the system. There has also been criticism of the inefficiency and high costs due to a lack of competition among pension funds. Critics cite loopholes in the use of pension savings through lump sum withdraws for the purchase of a second home or payment of university fees as fundamental weaknesses of the AFP. The Bachelet administration plans substantial reform, but not an overhaul, of the AFP during the next several years.

Unemployment stubbornly hovered in the 8%-10% range after the start of the economic slowdown in 1999, well above the 5%-6% average for the 1990s. Unemployment finally dipped to 7.8% at the end of 2006, due largely to the fact that fewer Chileans were entering the workforce rather than to a substantial and sustained creation of new jobs. Most international observers place some of the blame for Chile’s consistently high unemployment rate on complicated and restrictive labor laws. Wages have risen faster than inflation as a result of higher productivity, boosting national living standards. The percentage of Chileans with incomes below the poverty line--defined as twice the cost of satisfying a family of four’s minimal nutritional needs--fell from 46% in 1987 to around 18% by 2004.

Chile's independent Central Bank pursues an inflation target of between 2% and 4%. Inflation has not exceeded 5% since 1998. Chile registered an inflation rate of 3.2% in 2006. The Chilean peso’s rapid appreciation against the U.S. dollar in recent years has helped dampen inflation. Most wage settlements and loans are indexed, reducing inflation's volatility. Under the compulsory private pension system, most formal sector employees pay 10% of their salaries into privately managed funds.

Total foreign direct investment (FDI) was only $3.4 billion in 2006, up 52% from a poor performance in 2005. However, 80% of FDI continues to go to only four sectors: electricity, gas, water and mining. Much of the jump in FDI in 2006 was also the result of acquisitions and mergers and has done little to create new employment in Chile. The Chilean Government has formed a Council on Innovation and Competition, which is tasked with identifying new sectors and industries to promote. It is hoped that this, combined with some tax reforms to encourage domestic and foreign investment in research and development, will bring in additional FDI and to new parts of the economy. As of 2006, Chile invested only 0.6% of its annual GDP in research and development (R&D). Even then, two-thirds of that was government spending. The fact that domestic and foreign companies spend almost nothing on R&D does not bode well for the Government of Chile’s efforts to develop innovative, knowledge-based sectors. Additionally, on January 8, 2007, Chile was placed on the U.S. Trade Representative’s Priority Watch List due to its poor record on protecting intellectual property rights. Chile is only the second U.S. FTA partner ever to be placed on the Priority Watch List. Chile has a poor and deteriorating record of protecting copyrighted music, films, and software. Combined with this is its institutional structure allowing local companies to produce and market pharmaceutical generics that violate existing patents. Beyond its general economic and political stability, the government also has encouraged the use of Chile as an "investment platform" for multinational corporations planning to operate in the region, but this will have limited value given the developing business climate in Chile itself. Chile's approach to foreign direct investment is codified in the country's Foreign Investment Law, which gives foreign investors the same treatment as Chileans. Registration is simple and transparent, and foreign investors are guaranteed access to the official foreign exchange market to repatriate their profits and capital. While Chile and the EU have signed a double taxation treaty, no such agreement exists between the U.S. and Chile.

Mining was temporarily curtailed following an accident in which 33 miners were trapped after a cave-in at the San Jose mine<ref>http://www.minandes.com/s/RoadtoProduction.asp</ref> near Copiapo on August 5, 2010. A rescue attempt - bolstered by national pride at getting the men out alive - ended 67 days later on October 13 as the last of the men were pulled out to safety.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/10/12/rescued-chilean-miner-returns-surface/</ref><ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/7961923/Chilean-miners-trapped-in-San-Jose-mine.html</ref>

===Foreign Trade===
[[File:Commercial Treaties Chile.jpg|thumb|295px|Commercial Treaties, 2006.]]
2006 was a record year for Chilean trade. Total trade registered a 31% increase over 2005. During 2006, exports of goods and services totaled U.S. $58 billion, an increase of 41%. This figure was somewhat distorted by the skyrocketing price of copper. In 2006, copper exports reached a historical high of U.S. $33.3 billion. Imports totaled U.S. $35 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the previous year. Chile thus recorded a positive trade balance of U.S. $23 billion in 2006.

The main destinations for Chilean exports were the Americas (U.S. $39 billion), Asia (U.S. $27.8 billion) and Europe (U.S. $22.2 billion). Seen as shares of Chile’s export markets, 42% of exports went to the Americas, 30% to Asia and 24% to Europe. Within Chile’s diversified network of trade relationships, its most important partner remained the United States. Total trade with the U.S. was U.S. $14.8 billion in 2006. Since the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement went into effect on January 1, 2004, U.S.-Chilean trade has increased by 154%. Internal Government of Chile figures show that even when factoring out inflation and the recent high price of copper, bilateral trade between the U.S. and Chile has grown over 60% since then.

Total trade with Europe also grew in 2006, expanding by 42%. The Netherlands and Italy were Chile’s main European trading partners. Total trade with Asia also grew significantly at nearly 31%. Trade with Korea and Japan grew significantly, but China remained Chile’s most important trading partner in Asia. Chile’s total trade with China reached U.S. $8.8 billion in 2006, representing nearly 66% of the value of its trade relationship with Asia.

The growth of exports in 2006 was due mainly to a strong increase in sales to the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan. These three markets alone accounted for an additional U.S. $5.5 billion worth of Chilean exports. Chilean exports to the United States totaled U.S. $9.3 billion, representing a 37.7% increase compared to 2005 (U.S. $6.7 billion). Exports to the European Union were U.S. $15.4 billion, a 63.7% increase compared to 2005 (U.S. $9.4 billion). Exports to Asia increased from U.S. $15.2 billion in 2005 to U.S. $19.7 billion in 2006, a 29.9% increase.

During 2006, Chile imported U.S. $26 billion from the Americas, representing 54% of total imports, followed by Asia at 22%, and Europe at 16%. Mercosur members were the main suppliers of imports to Chile at U.S. $9.1 billion, followed by the United States with U.S. $5.5 billion and the European Union with U.S. $5.2 billion. From Asia, China was the most important exporter to Chile, with goods valued at U.S. $3.6 billion. Year-on-year growth in imports was especially strong from a number of countries--Ecuador (123.9%), Thailand (72.1%), Korea (52.6%), and China (36.9%).

Chile’s overall trade profile has traditionally been dependent upon copper exports. The state-owned firm CODELCO is the world's largest copper-producing company, with recorded copper reserves of 200 years. Chile has made an effort to expand nontraditional exports. The most important non-mineral exports are forestry and wood products, fresh fruit and processed food, fishmeal and seafood, and wine.

Successive Chilean governments have actively pursued trade-liberalizing agreements. During the 1990s, Chile signed FTAs with Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Chile also concluded preferential trade agreements with Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. An association agreement with Mercosur--Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay--went into effect in October 1996. Continuing its export-oriented development strategy, Chile completed landmark free trade agreements in 2002 with the European Union and South Korea. Chile, as a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organization, is seeking to boost commercial ties to Asian markets. To that end, it has signed trade agreements in recent years with New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, India, China, and most recently Japan. In 2007, Chile plans to begin negotiations with Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia.

After two years of negotiations, the United States and Chile signed an agreement in June 2003 that will lead to completely duty-free bilateral trade within 12 years. The U.S.-Chile FTA entered into force January 1, 2004 following approval by the U.S. and Chilean congresses. The bilateral FTA has inaugurated greatly expanded U.S.-Chilean trade ties, with total bilateral trade jumping by 154% during the FTA’s first three years.

Chile unilaterally lowered its across-the-board import tariff for all countries with which it does not have a trade agreement to 6% in 2003. Higher effective tariffs are charged only on imports of wheat, wheat flour, and sugar as a result of a system of import price bands. The price bands were ruled inconsistent with Chile's World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations in 2002, and the government has introduced legislation to modify them. Under the terms of the U.S.-Chile FTA, the price bands will be completely phased out for U.S. imports of wheat, wheat flour, and sugar within 12 years.

Chile is a strong proponent of pressing ahead on negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and is active in the WTO’s Doha round of negotiations, principally through its membership in the G-20 and Cairns Group.

===Finance===
Chile's financial sector has grown quickly in recent years, with a banking reform law approved in 1997 that broadened the scope of permissible foreign activity for Chilean banks. The Chilean Government implemented a further liberalization of capital markets in 2001, and there is further pending legislation proposing further liberalization. Over the last ten years, Chileans have enjoyed the introduction of new financial tools such as home equity loans, currency futures and options, factoring, leasing, and debit cards. The introduction of these new products has also been accompanied by an increased use of traditional instruments such as loans and credit cards. Chile's private pension system, with assets worth roughly $70 billion at the end of 2006, has been an important source of investment capital for the capital market. Chile maintains one of the best credit ratings (S&P A+) in Latin America. There are three main ways for Chilean firms to raise funds abroad: bank loans, issuance of bonds, and the selling of stocks on U.S. markets through American Depository Receipts (ADRs). Nearly all of the funds raised through these means go to finance domestic Chilean investment. The government is required by law to run a fiscal surplus of at least 1% of GDP. In 2006, the Government of Chile ran a surplus of $11.3 billion, equal to almost 8% of GDP. The Government of Chile continues to pay down its foreign debt, with public debt only 3.9% of GDP at the end of 2006.

==History==
[[File:Pedro Subercaseaux Jura de la Independencia Chile.jpg|thumb|300px|Fray Pedro Subercaseaux, Jura de la Independencia de Chile.]]
About 10,000 years ago, migrating Indians settled in fertile valleys and along the coast of what is now Chile. The Incas briefly extended their empire into what is now northern Chile, but the area's barrenness prevented extensive settlement. The first Europeans to arrive in Chile were Diego de Almagro and his band of Spanish conquistadors, who came from Peru seeking gold in 1535. The Spanish encountered hundreds of thousands of Indians from various cultures in the area that modern Chile now occupies. These cultures supported themselves principally through slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting. The conquest of Chile began in earnest in 1540 and was carried out by Pedro de Valdivia, one of Francisco Pizarro's lieutenants, who founded the city of Santiago on February 12, 1541. Although the Spanish did not find the extensive gold and silver they sought, they recognized the agricultural potential of Chile's central valley, and Chile became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

The drive for independence from Spain was precipitated by usurpation of the Spanish throne by Napoleon's brother Joseph in 1808. A national junta in the name of Ferdinand--heir to the deposed king--was formed on September 18, 1810. The junta proclaimed Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy. A movement for total independence soon won a wide following. Spanish attempts to reimpose arbitrary rule during what was called the "Reconquista" led to a prolonged struggle.

Intermittent warfare continued until 1817, when an army led by Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile's most renowned patriot, and José San Martín, hero of Argentine independence, crossed the Andes into Chile and defeated the royalists. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic under O'Higgins' leadership. The political revolt brought little social change, however, and 19th century Chilean society preserved the essence of the stratified colonial social structure, which was greatly influenced by family politics and the Roman Catholic Church. A strong presidency eventually emerged, but wealthy landowners remained extremely powerful. Toward the end of the 19th century, the government in Santiago consolidated its position in the south by ruthlessly suppressing the Mapuche Indians. In 1881, it signed a treaty with Argentina confirming Chilean sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan. As a result of the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia (1879-83), Chile expanded its territory northward by almost one-third and acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the exploitation of which led to an era of national affluence. Chile established a parliamentary democracy in the late 19th century, but degenerated into a system protecting the interests of the ruling oligarchy. By the 1920s, the emerging middle and working classes were powerful enough to elect a reformist president, whose program was frustrated by a conservative congress. In the 1920s, Marxist groups with strong popular support arose.

Continuing political and economic instability resulted with the rule of the quasidictatorial Gen. Carlos Ibanez (1924-32). When constitutional rule was restored in 1932, a strong middle-class party, the Radicals, emerged. It became the key force in coalition governments for the next 20 years. During the period of Radical Party dominance (1932-52), the state increased its role in the economy.

The 1964 presidential election of Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei-Montalva by an absolute majority initiated a period of major reform. Under the slogan "Revolution in Liberty," the Frei administration embarked on far-reaching social and economic programs, particularly in education, housing, and agrarian reform, including rural unionization of agricultural workers. By 1967, however, Frei encountered increasing opposition from leftists, who charged that his reforms were inadequate, and from conservatives, who found them excessive. At the end of his term, Frei had accomplished many noteworthy objectives, but he had not fully achieved his party's ambitious goals. In 1970, Senator Salvador Allende, a Marxist and member of Chile's Socialist Party, who headed the "Popular Unity" (UP) coalition of socialists, communists, radicals, and dissident Christian Democrats, won a plurality of votes in a three-way contest and was named President by the Chilean Congress. His program included the nationalization of private industries and banks, massive land expropriation, and collectivization. Allende's program also included the nationalization of U.S. interests in Chile's major copper mines.

Elected with only 36% of the vote and by a plurality of only 36,000 votes, Allende never enjoyed majority support in the Chilean Congress or broad popular support. Domestic production declined; severe shortages of consumer goods, food, and manufactured products were widespread; and inflation reached 1,000% per annum. Mass demonstrations, recurring strikes, violence by both government supporters and opponents, and widespread rural unrest ensued in response to the general deterioration of the economy.

A military coup overthrew Allende on September 11, 1973. As the armed forces bombarded the presidential palace, Allende reportedly committed suicide. A military government, led by General Augusto Pinochet, took over control of the country. The first years of the regime in particular were marked by serious human rights violations. The Rettig Report chronicles 2,279 politically motivated killings under Pinochet's reign.<ref>http://www.rrojasdatabank.info/crime1.htm [http://www.rrojasdatabank.info/crime1.htm]</ref> A new Constitution was approved by a plebiscite on September 11, 1980, and General Pinochet became President of the Republic for an 8-year term. In its later years, the regime gradually permitted greater freedom of assembly, speech, and association, to include trade union activity. In contrast to its authoritarian political rule, the military government pursued decidedly laissez-faire economic policies.

[[Milton Friedman]] said,
* "... the really extraordinary thing about the Chilean case was that a military government followed the opposite of military policies. The military is distinguished from the ordinary economy by the fact that it's a top-down organization. The general tells the colonel, the colonel tells the captain, and so on down, whereas a market is a bottom-up organization. The customer goes into the store and tells the retailer what he wants; the retailer sends it back up the line to the manufacturer and so on. So the basic organizational principles in the military are almost the opposite of the basic organizational principles of a free market and a free society. And the really remarkable thing about Chile is that the military adopted the free-market arrangements instead of the military arrangements."<ref> [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/int_miltonfriedman.html#10 Commanding Heights: Milton Friedman on PBS]</ref>

Ignored by Friedman and much of the media, Chile's rapid transition to free market was done by mass executions of liberals and widespread torture. Thousands disappeared in the night, never to seen again. The economic collapse in 1982 is attributed to Pinochet's reforms under the guidance of Friedman. Hyper-inflation and too much privitization destroyed the governments ability to its debt and tripled the poverty levels in Chile. <ref>
[Naomi Klein (2007). The Shock Doctrine]</ref>

During its 16 years in power, Chile moved away from economic statism toward a largely free market economy that fostered an increase in domestic and foreign private investment. In a plebiscite on October 5, 1988, General Pinochet was denied a second 8-year term as president. Chileans voted for elections to choose a new president and the majority of members of a two-chamber congress. On December 14, 1989, Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, the candidate of a coalition of 17 political parties called the Concertacion, was elected president. Aylwin served from 1990 to 1994 and was succeeded by another Christian Democrat, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (son of the previous President), leading the same coalition, for a 6-year term. Ricardo Lagos Escobar of the Socialist Party and the Party for Democracy led the Concertacion to a narrower victory in 2000 presidential elections. His term ended on March 11, 2006, when President Michelle Bachelet Jeria took office.

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[[Gallery of South-American painting]]
*[[Gallery of Latin-American painting]]

{| style="width: 100%; background:transparent; border: 2px solid #000099;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1"
!colspan=2 style="width: 100%; text-align: center; background-color: #000088; color: white; "|'''Copyright Details'''
|-
!style="background-color: #000088; color:white;"|License:
|style=" background-color: none;"| This work is in the [[Public Domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the U.S. Code
|-
!style=" background-color: #000088; color:white;"|Source:
|style="background-color: none;border-top: 2px solid black"| File available from the {{{1|[[United States Federal Government]] [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1981.htm]}}}.
|}

{{Nb countries south america}}
[[Category:Spanish Empire]]

Chile

2011-08-16T21:26:28Z

Jukebox: /* History */

{{Country
|name =''República de Chile''
|map =Chile.JPG
|map2 =Chile1.png
|flag =Flag of Chile.png
|arms =Arms of Chile.png
|capital =Santiago
|capital-raw =
|government =Democratic Republic
|government-raw =
|language =Spanish
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president =Michelle Bachelet
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =
|pm-raw =
|chairman =
|premier =
|area =292,183 sq. mi.
|pop =16,598,074 (2007)
|pop-basis =
|gdp =
|gdp-year =$212.671 billion (2006)
|gdp-pc =$12,983 (2006)
|currency =peso
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}}

'''Chile''' is a country on the Pacific coast of South America, which borders [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Peru]].

==Geography==
[[File:Volcano Osorno and Petrohué waterfalls.JPG|thumb|left|Petrohué Waterfalls and Osorno Volcano in the background.]]
The northern Chilean desert contains great mineral wealth, principally [[copper]]. The relatively small central area dominates the country in terms of population and agricultural resources. This area also is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century, when it incorporated its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in [[forest]]s and grazing lands and features a string of [[volcano]]es and [[lake]]s. The southern coast is a labyrinth of [[fjord]]s, [[inlet]]s, [[canal]]s, twisting [[peninsula]]s, and ''island''s. The [[Andes]] Mountains are located on the eastern border.
*Area: 756,945 sq. km. (302,778 sq. mi.), or nearly twice the size of California.
*Cities: Capital--Santiago (metropolitan area est. 6.25 million). Other cities: Concepcion-Talcahuano (840,000), Viña del Mar-Valparaiso (800,000), Antofagasta (245,000), Temuco (230,000).
*Terrain: Desert in north; fertile central valley; volcanoes and lakes toward the south, giving way to rugged and complex coastline; Andes Mountains on the eastern border.
*Climate: Arid in north, Mediterranean in the central portion, cool and damp in south.

==People==
[[File:Chilean dance.jpg|left|140px]]
About 85% of Chile's population lives in urban areas, with 40% living in greater Santiago. Most have Spanish ancestry. A small, yet influential number of Irish and English immigrants came to Chile during the colonial period. German immigration began in 1848 and lasted for 90 years; the southern provinces of Valdivia, Llanquihue, and Osorno show a strong German influence. Other significant immigrant groups are Italian, Croatian, Basque, and Palestinian. About 800,000 Native Americans, mostly of the Mapuche tribe, reside in the south-central area. The Aymara and Diaguita groups can be found mainly in Chile’s northern desert valleys.
*Population (2009): 16.6 million.
*Annual population growth rate: 0.881%.
*Ethnic groups: Spanish-Native-American (mestizo), European, Native-American.
*Religions: Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3%.
*Language: Spanish.
*Education: Years compulsory--12. Attendance--3 million. Adult literacy rate--96%.
*Health: Infant mortality rate--8.9/1,000. Life expectancy--71 yrs. for men, 78 for women.
*Work force (6.94 million); employed 6.45 million: Community, social and individual services--26%; industry--14.4%; commerce--17.6%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing--13.9%; construction--7.1%; financial services--7.5%; transportation and communication--8.0%; electricity, gas and water--0.5%; mining--1.2%.

==Government==
Chile's Constitution was approved in a September 1980 national plebiscite. It entered into force in March 1981. After Pinochet's defeat in the 1988 plebiscite, the Constitution was amended to ease provisions for future amendments to the Constitution. In September 2005, President Ricardo Lagos signed into law several constitutional amendments passed by Congress. These include eliminating the positions of appointed senators and senators for life, granting the President authority to remove the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, and reducing the presidential term from six to four years.

Presidential and congressional elections were held December 2005 and January 2006. In the first round of presidential elections, none of the four presidential candidates won more than 50% of the vote. As a result, the top two vote-getters--center-left Concertacion coalition’s [[Michelle Bachelet]] and center-right Alianza coalition’s Sebastian Pinera--competed in a run-off election on January 15, 2006, which Michelle Bachelet won. This was Chile’s fourth presidential election since the end of the Pinochet era. All four have been judged free and fair. The President is constitutionally barred from serving consecutive terms. President Bachelet and the new members of Congress took office on March 11, 2006.

Chile has a bicameral Congress, which meets in the port city of Valparaiso, about 140 kilometers (84 mi.) west of the capital, Santiago. Deputies are elected every 4 years, and Senators serve 8-year terms. Chile's congressional elections are governed by a unique binomial system that rewards coalition slates. Each coalition can run two candidates for the two Senate and two Deputy seats apportioned to each electoral district. Historically, the two largest coalitions (Concertacion and Alianza) split most of the seats in a district. Only if the leading coalition ticket out-polls the second-place coalition by a margin of more than 2-to-1 does the winning coalition gain both seats.

In the December 11, 2005 congressional elections, the Concertacion coalition won a majority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. In the 38-member Senate, the Concertacion coalition holds 20 seats and the Alianza opposition holds 17. There is one independent. In the 120-member Chamber of Deputies, the Concertacion coalitions holds 65 seats and the Alianza holds 54. There is one independent.

Chile's judiciary is independent and includes a court of appeal, a system of military courts, a constitutional tribunal, and the Supreme Court. In June 2005, Chile completed a nation-wide overhaul of its criminal justice system. The reform has replaced inquisitorial proceedings with an adversarial system more similar to that of the United States.

===Principal Government Officials===
[[Image:Michelle Bachelet.jpg|thumb|Ex-president Michelle Bachelet. (Photo:Ricardo Stuckert, Agência Brasil.)]]
*President--Sebastián Piñera
*Minister of Interior-- Rodrigo Hinzpeter
*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Alfredo Moreno
*Ambassador to the United States--Joaquin Fermandois
*Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS)--Dario Paya
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Octavio Errazuriz

===Foreign Relations===
Since its return to democracy in 1990, Chile has been an active participant in the international political arena. Chile completed a 2-year non-permanent position on the UN Security Council in January 2005. [[Jose Miguel Insulza]], a Chilean national, was elected Secretary General of the Organization of American States in May 2005. Chile is an active member of the UN family of agencies and participates in UN peacekeeping activities. Chile hosted the Defense Ministerial of the Americas in 2002 and the APEC summit and related meetings in 2004. Chile hosted the Community of Democracies ministerial in April 2005. An associate member of Mercosur and a full member of APEC, Chile has been an important actor on international economic issues and hemispheric free trade.
[[File:Insulza.jpg|thumb|José Miguel Insulza]]
The Chilean Government has diplomatic relations with most countries. It settled its territorial disputes with Argentina during the 1990s. Chile and Bolivia severed diplomatic ties in 1978 over Bolivia's desire to reacquire territory it lost to Chile in 1879-83 War of the Pacific. The two countries maintain consular relations and are represented at the Consul General level.

==Defense==
Chile's Armed Forces are subject to civilian control exercised by the President through the Minister of Defense. The President has the authority to remove the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces.

===Army===
The commander in chief of the Chilean Army is General Oscar Izurieta Ferrer. The Chilean Army is 45,000 strong and is organized with an Army headquarters in Santiago, seven divisions throughout its territory, an Air Brigade in Rancagua, and a Special Forces Command in Colina. The Chilean Army is one of the most professional and technologically advanced armies in Latin America.

===Navy===
Admiral Rodolfo Codina directs the 23,000-person Navy, including 2,500 Marines. Of the fleet of 29 surface vessels, only eight are operational major combatants (frigates). Those ships are based in Valparaiso. The Navy operates its own aircraft for transport and patrol; there are no Navy fighter or bomber aircraft. The Navy also operates four submarines based in Talcahuano.

===Air Force (FACH)===
Gen. Ricardo Ortega Perrier heads a force of 12,500. Air assets are distributed among five air brigades headquartered in Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. The Air Force also operates an airbase on King George Island, [[Antarctica]]. The FACH took delivery of 14 [[F-16]] aircraft in 2006 and will take delivery of 14 more in 2007.

===Carabineros===
After the military coup in September 1973, the Chilean national police (Carabineros) were incorporated into the Defense Ministry. With the return of democratic government, the police were placed under the operational control of the Interior Ministry but remained under the nominal control of the Defense Ministry. Gen. Jose Bernales is the head of the national police force of 30,000 men and women who are responsible for law enforcement, traffic management, narcotics suppression, border control, and counter-terrorism throughout Chile.

==Economy==
After a decade of impressive growth rates, Chile began to experience a moderate economic downturn in 1999, brought on by unfavorable global economic conditions related to the Asian financial crisis, which began in 1997. The economy remained sluggish until 2003, when it began to show clear signs of recovery, achieving 3.3% real GDP growth. The Chilean economy finished 2004 with growth of 6.1%. Real GDP growth reached 6.3% in 2005 before falling back to 4.0% growth in 2006. Higher energy prices as well as lagging consumer demand were drags on the economy in 2006. Higher Chilean Government spending and favorable external conditions (including record copper prices for much of 2006) were not enough to offset these drags. For the first time in many years, Chilean economic growth in 2006 was among the weakest in Latin America.
*GDP (official exchange rate): $150.4 billion.
*Annual real growth rate: -1.5%.
*Per capita GDP (purchasing power parity): $14,700.
*Forestry, agriculture, and fisheries (6% of GDP): Products--fruits, wheat, potatoes, corn, sugar beets, onions, beans, livestock, fish.
*Commerce (8% of GDP): Sales, restaurants, hotels.
*Manufacturing (17% of GDP): Types--mineral refining, metal manufacturing, food processing, fish processing, paper and wood products, finished textiles.
*Electricity, gas, and water: 3% of GDP.
*Transportation and communication: 7% of GDP.
*Construction: 8% of GDP.
*Financial services (12% of GDP): Insurance, leasing, consulting.
*Mining (13% of GDP): Copper, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, and molybdenum.
*Trade: Exports--$57.61 billion: copper, fruits and nuts, fish and seafood, and wood products. Major markets--U.S., Japan, China, Netherlands, South Korea, Brazil, Italy, Mexico. Imports--$40.91 billion: fuels, heavy industrial machinery, motor vehicles, electrical machinery, plastic. Major suppliers--U.S., China, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea.

Chile has pursued generally sound economic policies for nearly three decades. The 1973-90 military government sold many state-owned companies, and the three democratic governments since 1990 have continued privatization, though at a slower pace. The government's role in the economy is mostly limited to regulation, although the state continues to operate copper giant CODELCO and a few other enterprises (there is one state-run bank). Chile is strongly committed to free trade and has welcomed large amounts of foreign investment. Chile has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with a whole network of countries, including an FTA with the United States, which was signed in 2003 and implemented in January 2004. Over the last several years, Chile has signed FTAs with the European Union, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, China, and Japan. It reached a partial trade agreement with India in 2005 and began negotiations for a full-fledged FTA with India in 2006. Chile plans to continue its focus on its trade ties with Asia by negotiating in 2007 trade agreements with Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia.
[[File:Ximena Armas Secrets - Chile.jpg|thumb|left|Ximena Armas, Secrets.]]
High domestic savings and investment rates helped propel Chile's economy to average growth rates of 8% during the 1990s. The privatized national pension system (AFP) has encouraged domestic investment and contributed to an estimated total domestic savings rate of approximately 21% of GDP. However, the AFP is not without its critics, who cite low participation rates (only 55% of the working population is covered), with groups such as the self-employed outside the system. There has also been criticism of the inefficiency and high costs due to a lack of competition among pension funds. Critics cite loopholes in the use of pension savings through lump sum withdraws for the purchase of a second home or payment of university fees as fundamental weaknesses of the AFP. The Bachelet administration plans substantial reform, but not an overhaul, of the AFP during the next several years.

Unemployment stubbornly hovered in the 8%-10% range after the start of the economic slowdown in 1999, well above the 5%-6% average for the 1990s. Unemployment finally dipped to 7.8% at the end of 2006, due largely to the fact that fewer Chileans were entering the workforce rather than to a substantial and sustained creation of new jobs. Most international observers place some of the blame for Chile’s consistently high unemployment rate on complicated and restrictive labor laws. Wages have risen faster than inflation as a result of higher productivity, boosting national living standards. The percentage of Chileans with incomes below the poverty line--defined as twice the cost of satisfying a family of four’s minimal nutritional needs--fell from 46% in 1987 to around 18% by 2004.

Chile's independent Central Bank pursues an inflation target of between 2% and 4%. Inflation has not exceeded 5% since 1998. Chile registered an inflation rate of 3.2% in 2006. The Chilean peso’s rapid appreciation against the U.S. dollar in recent years has helped dampen inflation. Most wage settlements and loans are indexed, reducing inflation's volatility. Under the compulsory private pension system, most formal sector employees pay 10% of their salaries into privately managed funds.

Total foreign direct investment (FDI) was only $3.4 billion in 2006, up 52% from a poor performance in 2005. However, 80% of FDI continues to go to only four sectors: electricity, gas, water and mining. Much of the jump in FDI in 2006 was also the result of acquisitions and mergers and has done little to create new employment in Chile. The Chilean Government has formed a Council on Innovation and Competition, which is tasked with identifying new sectors and industries to promote. It is hoped that this, combined with some tax reforms to encourage domestic and foreign investment in research and development, will bring in additional FDI and to new parts of the economy. As of 2006, Chile invested only 0.6% of its annual GDP in research and development (R&D). Even then, two-thirds of that was government spending. The fact that domestic and foreign companies spend almost nothing on R&D does not bode well for the Government of Chile’s efforts to develop innovative, knowledge-based sectors. Additionally, on January 8, 2007, Chile was placed on the U.S. Trade Representative’s Priority Watch List due to its poor record on protecting intellectual property rights. Chile is only the second U.S. FTA partner ever to be placed on the Priority Watch List. Chile has a poor and deteriorating record of protecting copyrighted music, films, and software. Combined with this is its institutional structure allowing local companies to produce and market pharmaceutical generics that violate existing patents. Beyond its general economic and political stability, the government also has encouraged the use of Chile as an "investment platform" for multinational corporations planning to operate in the region, but this will have limited value given the developing business climate in Chile itself. Chile's approach to foreign direct investment is codified in the country's Foreign Investment Law, which gives foreign investors the same treatment as Chileans. Registration is simple and transparent, and foreign investors are guaranteed access to the official foreign exchange market to repatriate their profits and capital. While Chile and the EU have signed a double taxation treaty, no such agreement exists between the U.S. and Chile.

Mining was temporarily curtailed following an accident in which 33 miners were trapped after a cave-in at the San Jose mine<ref>http://www.minandes.com/s/RoadtoProduction.asp</ref> near Copiapo on August 5, 2010. A rescue attempt - bolstered by national pride at getting the men out alive - ended 67 days later on October 13 as the last of the men were pulled out to safety.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/10/12/rescued-chilean-miner-returns-surface/</ref><ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/7961923/Chilean-miners-trapped-in-San-Jose-mine.html</ref>

===Foreign Trade===
[[File:Commercial Treaties Chile.jpg|thumb|295px|Commercial Treaties, 2006.]]
2006 was a record year for Chilean trade. Total trade registered a 31% increase over 2005. During 2006, exports of goods and services totaled U.S. $58 billion, an increase of 41%. This figure was somewhat distorted by the skyrocketing price of copper. In 2006, copper exports reached a historical high of U.S. $33.3 billion. Imports totaled U.S. $35 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the previous year. Chile thus recorded a positive trade balance of U.S. $23 billion in 2006.

The main destinations for Chilean exports were the Americas (U.S. $39 billion), Asia (U.S. $27.8 billion) and Europe (U.S. $22.2 billion). Seen as shares of Chile’s export markets, 42% of exports went to the Americas, 30% to Asia and 24% to Europe. Within Chile’s diversified network of trade relationships, its most important partner remained the United States. Total trade with the U.S. was U.S. $14.8 billion in 2006. Since the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement went into effect on January 1, 2004, U.S.-Chilean trade has increased by 154%. Internal Government of Chile figures show that even when factoring out inflation and the recent high price of copper, bilateral trade between the U.S. and Chile has grown over 60% since then.

Total trade with Europe also grew in 2006, expanding by 42%. The Netherlands and Italy were Chile’s main European trading partners. Total trade with Asia also grew significantly at nearly 31%. Trade with Korea and Japan grew significantly, but China remained Chile’s most important trading partner in Asia. Chile’s total trade with China reached U.S. $8.8 billion in 2006, representing nearly 66% of the value of its trade relationship with Asia.

The growth of exports in 2006 was due mainly to a strong increase in sales to the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan. These three markets alone accounted for an additional U.S. $5.5 billion worth of Chilean exports. Chilean exports to the United States totaled U.S. $9.3 billion, representing a 37.7% increase compared to 2005 (U.S. $6.7 billion). Exports to the European Union were U.S. $15.4 billion, a 63.7% increase compared to 2005 (U.S. $9.4 billion). Exports to Asia increased from U.S. $15.2 billion in 2005 to U.S. $19.7 billion in 2006, a 29.9% increase.

During 2006, Chile imported U.S. $26 billion from the Americas, representing 54% of total imports, followed by Asia at 22%, and Europe at 16%. Mercosur members were the main suppliers of imports to Chile at U.S. $9.1 billion, followed by the United States with U.S. $5.5 billion and the European Union with U.S. $5.2 billion. From Asia, China was the most important exporter to Chile, with goods valued at U.S. $3.6 billion. Year-on-year growth in imports was especially strong from a number of countries--Ecuador (123.9%), Thailand (72.1%), Korea (52.6%), and China (36.9%).

Chile’s overall trade profile has traditionally been dependent upon copper exports. The state-owned firm CODELCO is the world's largest copper-producing company, with recorded copper reserves of 200 years. Chile has made an effort to expand nontraditional exports. The most important non-mineral exports are forestry and wood products, fresh fruit and processed food, fishmeal and seafood, and wine.

Successive Chilean governments have actively pursued trade-liberalizing agreements. During the 1990s, Chile signed FTAs with Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Chile also concluded preferential trade agreements with Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. An association agreement with Mercosur--Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay--went into effect in October 1996. Continuing its export-oriented development strategy, Chile completed landmark free trade agreements in 2002 with the European Union and South Korea. Chile, as a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organization, is seeking to boost commercial ties to Asian markets. To that end, it has signed trade agreements in recent years with New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, India, China, and most recently Japan. In 2007, Chile plans to begin negotiations with Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia.

After two years of negotiations, the United States and Chile signed an agreement in June 2003 that will lead to completely duty-free bilateral trade within 12 years. The U.S.-Chile FTA entered into force January 1, 2004 following approval by the U.S. and Chilean congresses. The bilateral FTA has inaugurated greatly expanded U.S.-Chilean trade ties, with total bilateral trade jumping by 154% during the FTA’s first three years.

Chile unilaterally lowered its across-the-board import tariff for all countries with which it does not have a trade agreement to 6% in 2003. Higher effective tariffs are charged only on imports of wheat, wheat flour, and sugar as a result of a system of import price bands. The price bands were ruled inconsistent with Chile's World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations in 2002, and the government has introduced legislation to modify them. Under the terms of the U.S.-Chile FTA, the price bands will be completely phased out for U.S. imports of wheat, wheat flour, and sugar within 12 years.

Chile is a strong proponent of pressing ahead on negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and is active in the WTO’s Doha round of negotiations, principally through its membership in the G-20 and Cairns Group.

===Finance===
Chile's financial sector has grown quickly in recent years, with a banking reform law approved in 1997 that broadened the scope of permissible foreign activity for Chilean banks. The Chilean Government implemented a further liberalization of capital markets in 2001, and there is further pending legislation proposing further liberalization. Over the last ten years, Chileans have enjoyed the introduction of new financial tools such as home equity loans, currency futures and options, factoring, leasing, and debit cards. The introduction of these new products has also been accompanied by an increased use of traditional instruments such as loans and credit cards. Chile's private pension system, with assets worth roughly $70 billion at the end of 2006, has been an important source of investment capital for the capital market. Chile maintains one of the best credit ratings (S&P A+) in Latin America. There are three main ways for Chilean firms to raise funds abroad: bank loans, issuance of bonds, and the selling of stocks on U.S. markets through American Depository Receipts (ADRs). Nearly all of the funds raised through these means go to finance domestic Chilean investment. The government is required by law to run a fiscal surplus of at least 1% of GDP. In 2006, the Government of Chile ran a surplus of $11.3 billion, equal to almost 8% of GDP. The Government of Chile continues to pay down its foreign debt, with public debt only 3.9% of GDP at the end of 2006.

==History==
[[File:Pedro Subercaseaux Jura de la Independencia Chile.jpg|thumb|300px|Fray Pedro Subercaseaux, Jura de la Independencia de Chile.]]
About 10,000 years ago, migrating Indians settled in fertile valleys and along the coast of what is now Chile. The Incas briefly extended their empire into what is now northern Chile, but the area's barrenness prevented extensive settlement. The first Europeans to arrive in Chile were Diego de Almagro and his band of Spanish conquistadors, who came from Peru seeking gold in 1535. The Spanish encountered hundreds of thousands of Indians from various cultures in the area that modern Chile now occupies. These cultures supported themselves principally through slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting. The conquest of Chile began in earnest in 1540 and was carried out by Pedro de Valdivia, one of Francisco Pizarro's lieutenants, who founded the city of Santiago on February 12, 1541. Although the Spanish did not find the extensive gold and silver they sought, they recognized the agricultural potential of Chile's central valley, and Chile became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

The drive for independence from Spain was precipitated by usurpation of the Spanish throne by Napoleon's brother Joseph in 1808. A national junta in the name of Ferdinand--heir to the deposed king--was formed on September 18, 1810. The junta proclaimed Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy. A movement for total independence soon won a wide following. Spanish attempts to reimpose arbitrary rule during what was called the "Reconquista" led to a prolonged struggle.

Intermittent warfare continued until 1817, when an army led by Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile's most renowned patriot, and José San Martín, hero of Argentine independence, crossed the Andes into Chile and defeated the royalists. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic under O'Higgins' leadership. The political revolt brought little social change, however, and 19th century Chilean society preserved the essence of the stratified colonial social structure, which was greatly influenced by family politics and the Roman Catholic Church. A strong presidency eventually emerged, but wealthy landowners remained extremely powerful. Toward the end of the 19th century, the government in Santiago consolidated its position in the south by ruthlessly suppressing the Mapuche Indians. In 1881, it signed a treaty with Argentina confirming Chilean sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan. As a result of the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia (1879-83), Chile expanded its territory northward by almost one-third and acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the exploitation of which led to an era of national affluence. Chile established a parliamentary democracy in the late 19th century, but degenerated into a system protecting the interests of the ruling oligarchy. By the 1920s, the emerging middle and working classes were powerful enough to elect a reformist president, whose program was frustrated by a conservative congress. In the 1920s, Marxist groups with strong popular support arose.

Continuing political and economic instability resulted with the rule of the quasidictatorial Gen. Carlos Ibanez (1924-32). When constitutional rule was restored in 1932, a strong middle-class party, the Radicals, emerged. It became the key force in coalition governments for the next 20 years. During the period of Radical Party dominance (1932-52), the state increased its role in the economy.

The 1964 presidential election of Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei-Montalva by an absolute majority initiated a period of major reform. Under the slogan "Revolution in Liberty," the Frei administration embarked on far-reaching social and economic programs, particularly in education, housing, and agrarian reform, including rural unionization of agricultural workers. By 1967, however, Frei encountered increasing opposition from leftists, who charged that his reforms were inadequate, and from conservatives, who found them excessive. At the end of his term, Frei had accomplished many noteworthy objectives, but he had not fully achieved his party's ambitious goals. In 1970, Senator Salvador Allende, a Marxist and member of Chile's Socialist Party, who headed the "Popular Unity" (UP) coalition of socialists, communists, radicals, and dissident Christian Democrats, won a plurality of votes in a three-way contest and was named President by the Chilean Congress. His program included the nationalization of private industries and banks, massive land expropriation, and collectivization. Allende's program also included the nationalization of U.S. interests in Chile's major copper mines.

Elected with only 36% of the vote and by a plurality of only 36,000 votes, Allende never enjoyed majority support in the Chilean Congress or broad popular support. Domestic production declined; severe shortages of consumer goods, food, and manufactured products were widespread; and inflation reached 1,000% per annum. Mass demonstrations, recurring strikes, violence by both government supporters and opponents, and widespread rural unrest ensued in response to the general deterioration of the economy.

A military coup overthrew Allende on September 11, 1973. As the armed forces bombarded the presidential palace, Allende reportedly committed suicide. A military government, led by General Augusto Pinochet, took over control of the country. The first years of the regime in particular were marked by serious human rights violations. The Rettig Report chronicles 2,279 politically motivated killings under Pinochet's reign.<ref>http://www.rrojasdatabank.info/crime1.htm [http://www.rrojasdatabank.info/crime1.htm]</ref> A new Constitution was approved by a plebiscite on September 11, 1980, and General Pinochet became President of the Republic for an 8-year term. In its later years, the regime gradually permitted greater freedom of assembly, speech, and association, to include trade union activity. In contrast to its authoritarian political rule, the military government pursued decidedly laissez-faire economic policies.

[[Milton Friedman]] said,
* "... the really extraordinary thing about the Chilean case was that a military government followed the opposite of military policies. The military is distinguished from the ordinary economy by the fact that it's a top-down organization. The general tells the colonel, the colonel tells the captain, and so on down, whereas a market is a bottom-up organization. The customer goes into the store and tells the retailer what he wants; the retailer sends it back up the line to the manufacturer and so on. So the basic organizational principles in the military are almost the opposite of the basic organizational principles of a free market and a free society. And the really remarkable thing about Chile is that the military adopted the free-market arrangements instead of the military arrangements."<ref> [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/int_miltonfriedman.html#10 Commanding Heights: Milton Friedman on PBS]</ref>

Ignored by Friedman and much of the media, Chile's rapid transition to free market was done by mass executions of liberals and widespread torture. Thousands disappeared in the night, never to seen again. The economic collapse in 1982 is attributed to Pinochet's reforms under the guidance of Friedman. Hyper-inflation and too much privitization destroyed the governments ability to its debt and tripled the poverty levels in Chile.

During its 16 years in power, Chile moved away from economic statism toward a largely free market economy that fostered an increase in domestic and foreign private investment. In a plebiscite on October 5, 1988, General Pinochet was denied a second 8-year term as president. Chileans voted for elections to choose a new president and the majority of members of a two-chamber congress. On December 14, 1989, Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, the candidate of a coalition of 17 political parties called the Concertacion, was elected president. Aylwin served from 1990 to 1994 and was succeeded by another Christian Democrat, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (son of the previous President), leading the same coalition, for a 6-year term. Ricardo Lagos Escobar of the Socialist Party and the Party for Democracy led the Concertacion to a narrower victory in 2000 presidential elections. His term ended on March 11, 2006, when President Michelle Bachelet Jeria took office.

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[[Gallery of South-American painting]]
*[[Gallery of Latin-American painting]]

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{{Nb countries south america}}
[[Category:Spanish Empire]]