Monday, December 18, 2006
The Allende Myth
It's not often that I disagree with the guys at the Power Line blog. However, the following comment, in a recent post dealing with the death of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, really touched a nerve:
"In 1973, I was outraged when Pinochet (quite possibly with American backing) seized power from the elected leftist ruler Salvador Allende, whom I admired, and commenced a bloody campaign of repression. Today, I have a different view of Allende, but not of Pinochet."
A rather pernicious myth has been propagated by statists the world 'round concerning Salvador Allende's overthrow. The myth in question goes like this: Allende was overseeing a peaceful and democratic transition to socialism that was destroyed by the machinations of the CIA, which was acting as a puppet master for Augusto Pinochet and his henchmen.
The Allende Myth may be good for keeping the socialist faith alive, but it totally contradicts the historical facts. This is a quick synopsis of the facts in question:
Salvador Allende was elected President of Chile in 1970 with only 36% of the vote. At no time during his presidency did his political party, Popular Unity, have a majority in the Chilean Congress.
Opposition to President Allende had been growing for months prior to the September 11, 1973 coup d'état. His attempts to restructure the nation's economy led to soaring inflation and food shortages. A prolonged strike by truck drivers who opposed his plans for nationalization quickly brought the country to a standstill. The truckers were soon joined by shopkeepers angry because they had nothing to sell; and housewives marched through Santiago banging pots and pans because to protest the lack of food in Chile's stores.
President Allende brought senior army officers into his government in August 1973 in a feeble attempt to head off a revolt. The final crunch, however, came three days prior to the Pinochet-led coup when Chile's two major opposition parties called for the president's resignation. Allende refused and his fate was sealed.
Augusto Pinochet's brutal post-coup repression can in no way be justified. But in 1973, many Chileans welcomed the overthrow of an individual who from day one had actively subverted the Chilean constitution. Allende not only got what he deserved, he's an individual who should not be admired by anyone -- especially those with right-of-center political views.
"In 1973, I was outraged when Pinochet (quite possibly with American backing) seized power from the elected leftist ruler Salvador Allende, whom I admired, and commenced a bloody campaign of repression. Today, I have a different view of Allende, but not of Pinochet."
A rather pernicious myth has been propagated by statists the world 'round concerning Salvador Allende's overthrow. The myth in question goes like this: Allende was overseeing a peaceful and democratic transition to socialism that was destroyed by the machinations of the CIA, which was acting as a puppet master for Augusto Pinochet and his henchmen.
The Allende Myth may be good for keeping the socialist faith alive, but it totally contradicts the historical facts. This is a quick synopsis of the facts in question:
Salvador Allende was elected President of Chile in 1970 with only 36% of the vote. At no time during his presidency did his political party, Popular Unity, have a majority in the Chilean Congress.
Opposition to President Allende had been growing for months prior to the September 11, 1973 coup d'état. His attempts to restructure the nation's economy led to soaring inflation and food shortages. A prolonged strike by truck drivers who opposed his plans for nationalization quickly brought the country to a standstill. The truckers were soon joined by shopkeepers angry because they had nothing to sell; and housewives marched through Santiago banging pots and pans because to protest the lack of food in Chile's stores.
President Allende brought senior army officers into his government in August 1973 in a feeble attempt to head off a revolt. The final crunch, however, came three days prior to the Pinochet-led coup when Chile's two major opposition parties called for the president's resignation. Allende refused and his fate was sealed.
Augusto Pinochet's brutal post-coup repression can in no way be justified. But in 1973, many Chileans welcomed the overthrow of an individual who from day one had actively subverted the Chilean constitution. Allende not only got what he deserved, he's an individual who should not be admired by anyone -- especially those with right-of-center political views.
# posted by Joltin' Django @ Monday, December 18, 2006 
