"A Chile Report"

A U.S.A.- driven Economic Rationalism Experiment in a Third World Country and its Impact on Local Government and Social Justice.

This paper provides an outline of almost two decades of a right wing dictatorship in Chile, the CIA involvement in the overthrown of an elected president and the direct impact on the creation of a society divided by the have and have nots. Despite achieving the expected high economic growth heralded as the economic panacea for solving all the social and economic quandary of today societies, Chile has failed in reducing poverty and social cohesion.

A lesson for Australia and other similar countries believing in the virtues of economic rationalism, is that a market driven economy alone is not sustainable.

Kiama Municipal Council at its meeting held on 29th July 1997 received a report regarding this paper and resolved to submit the following motions to the next Local Government Association conference:

The Commonwealth and State programs should apply the principles of social justice in the provision of community services and in any restructuring of such programs.

This Association will encourage both State and Commonwealth Governments to apply social justice principles when implementing economic or structural reforms and to recognise their community service obligations in any such reforms.

In relation to such reforms, the Association will encourage both levels of government to:

a) adopt, as a core responsibility, the policy of enhancement of the public good to achieve social cohesion and appropriate living standards for all;
b) provide a balance in assessing structural issues which will balance the global factors at play, social justice and community participation in the reform agenda.

The Annual Conference of the Local Government Association of NSW held at Port Macquarie from 26th to 29th October 1997 adopted the above motions and these are now included as the Association's policy.

CONTENTS

Introduction
Chile - A Profile
San Carlos - A Profile
Social Justice - Short Lived In Chile
The Chicago Boys
Local Government in Chile
Conclusion

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