Writing for The Cato Institute, Juan Carlos Hidalgo reports that Chile is by far the success story of Latin America: highest income, lowest poverty, most freedom, lowest corruption, best civil rights, etc. So why have its voters given a healthy plurality to a leftist candidate who promises to do their thriving economy considerable harm via government regulation and give-aways?
The U.S. has no monopoly on low information voters (LIVs) who elect unqualified, nonperforming candidates to national office. A near-majority of Chilean voters have taken careful aim and shot their national government in the foot.
The lure of something for nothing is a will-o'-the-wisp chased by humans of all nationalities, including both Chileans and Americans. It is one of our species' least attractive qualities.
