Political effects of the miner crisis
In addition to the pretty amazing drama of the Chilean miners, there is also much speculation about the political effects, both domestic and international. Here are some of the possibilities, and they are not mutually exclusive:
1. Chilean-Bolivian relations improve because Evo Morales came to Chile
2. Sebastián Piñera becomes more popular in the short term
3. Sebastián Piñera becomes more popular in the long term
4. Mining Minister Laurence Golborne runs for president in 2014 because suddenly everyone knows who he is
5. The crisis helped Piñera negotiate a new mining royalty with the Concertación in the legislature
6. Chile's international image is enhanced, particularly when compared to the response to disasters elsewhere, including the United States
10 comments:
If there aren't any positive political effects for Piñera, it won't be for lack of trying on his part. Seemed to be milking it for all it was worth.
Clean Energy Organization : America’s NASA provided life-saving advice to Chile to keep the miners mentally and physically fit during the months of confinement and it was the American drilling team which successfully reached the miners in September :
Successful International Cooperation and Friendship :
Clean Energy Organization
Will we learn lessons from the Chilean mining rescue?
By Jennifer Rennicks
October 14th, 2010
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2010/10/14/lessons-from-chile/
Some excerpts :
But I was struck by one critical difference: the Chilean president and government eagerly accepted help from the world community in order to resolve the crisis in 69 days, saving the lives of every miner. On the other hand, President Obama and our government declined offers of international help until Day 71 of Gulf Oil crisis when it had become obvious that our resources and BP alone were not up to stopping the gushing oil.
In fact, it was America’s NASA that provided life-saving advice to Chile to keep the miners mentally and physically fit during the months of confinement and it was the American drilling team (executing “Plan B”) which successfully reached the miners in September. As a commentator on Larry King Live said last night, “It took us 3 months to plug a 7 inch hole in the Gulf of Mexico after 11 lives were lost. It took Chile 2 months to save 33 men from a 21 inch hole. It just shows what you can do when your priorities are straight.”
Youth, Minorities, Demography and Politics :
Milenials.com
Vicente Duque
More International Cooperation :
The high-strength cable winding around the big wheel atop that simple rig is from Germany. Japan supplied the super-flexible, fiber-optic communications cable that linked the miners to the world above.
Samsung of South Korea supplied a cellphone that has its own projector. Cupron Inc. in Richmond, Va., supplied socks made with copper fiber that consumed foot bacteria, and minimized odor and infection.
Vicente Duque
How about:
7. The Government of Chile puts the crunch on Chilean mine owners to comply with all mine safety regs such that no one dies in their mines....
Or, better yet:
7. Supporters of left-leaning governments begin to realize that putting professional business people in charge of government (Pinera, Golborne, etc) works far, far better than having leftist revolutionaries or socialists running things. Compare this impeccable operation with Bachelet's pathetic response to the earthquake. In summary, figure out the problem, then fix it using all available resources, press, unions, or nationalists be damned.
According to your logic, George W. Bush should've done a great job with Katrina.
Not to mention Henry Paulson would have resolved the financial crisis without the need for TARP.
I did find it odd that Morales was welcomed into Chile after he said the earthquake was a result of Chile's failure to adopt statism (i.e. "neoliberal" policies).
I suppose Pinera felt he was being magnanimous but still, it was really appalling comment by Evito.
If it were not for Hank Paulson, the entire global banking system would have collapsed in the fall of 2008, plain and simple.
As far as Bush and Katrina are concerned, you are correct. What he should have done is sent in the National Guard as the hurricane winds were still blowing. But how would that have played out in the liberal press? "Bush sends in troops to abuse the inner city." Bush became a punching bag for to letting the locals and their "leaders" (Ray Nagin, Kathleen Blanco, etc) try to save themselves.
If it were not for Hank Paulson, the entire global banking system would have collapsed in the fall of 2008, plain and simple.
He was also there when the shit was making it's way towards the fan and did nothing to stop aforementioned shit from hitting said fan.
That amounts to crediting him for pulling everyone out alive after driving the car into the river.
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