November 2019

Constitution

Objective is to make a new constitution. Might not be fast. Probably a long process. Constitution created during military rule. The problem is that the people were not part of this process.

One problem is the water supply. Private companies can drill deeper and take water from local villages. The constitution allows this. Families have to buy water. On the other side of this village is a huge farm with lush trees and a huge reservoir.

Higher education

Chile

• Private vs public universities. Can’t 100% remember this part of the conversation. But there is corruption between government and private universities. Instead of giving money directly to the students, government will give money to the private universities. There are also many sneaky ways to indirectly bribe and fund private universities. Lots of corruption between government and private universities. Free education for all. However, they draw a very low poverty line. So most people cannot qualify. And it is not really free, because once you graduate, you end up paying high taxes.

Government makes “deals” on things like education. Money goes towards private universities.

"Meanwhile college tuition costs there are among the highest in the world and as much as 75 percent of the average Chilean's income goes to debt."

How does pre-k work? Who pays?

Talked about daycares. Government day care works angry that government pushes private daycares. They work hard, yet the government does not use them.

Are there mandatory employment hours?

Example. A woman works 9 hours in a supermarket. Plus 4 hours of commuting time. After factoring in sleeping, that leaves very little time to spend time with family.

There are also mandatory 45 work weeks for some employees – this means they have to work 5 hours on the weekend. And it is also important to factor in the commute times. Very little time left for families.

Update (11 April 2023): "The National Congress passed the labor reform bill in Chile on April 11, 2023. The country will experience a progressive decrease in the work week, going from 45 to 40 hours. Chile will now be in line with the majority of OECD member nations, which have a standard 40-hour work week."

Loans

Chile

Almost impossible to get a loan if poor. So poor cannot pursue their dreams. Maybe 2 percent of GDP. Lend money with no strings attached. Studies in youtube. Best way to give money. Don’t ask how it will be used. If we give money the traditional way, 50% will be bureaucracy.

He helped a lady who had a clothes repair business. He helped her get signs. It was not much, but she was poor and could no afford.

Misc topics

• Chile - Chile has more free markets than the states. More free trade agreements. 
• What is the solution to this problem? He thinks there are very different solutions per country. Many different recipes for success.

Objective is to make a new constitution. Might not be fast. Probably a long process. Constitution created during military rule. The problem is that the people were not part of this process.

Water

Running water is a basic human right.

Constitution

What is the solution to this problem? He thinks there are very different solutions per country. Many different recipes for success.

Objective is to make a new constitution. Might not be fast. Probably a long process. Constitution created during military rule. The problem is that the people were not part of this process.

Extreme politics

Military coup in 1970s. Either move to American or Russian side. Today there is no cold war. The military is hesitant today. We don’t have a fight between the extreme right or extreme left. Maybe 15% on each side. They do not reason.

Delegation process

Government candidates delegated. There are sneaky ways to get candidates onto the ballot.

Materialism

Tour guide believes many suffer from materialism. He chooses to be more careful with money so he can have freedom to do what he enjoys.

Protests

Overall, the protests are about the massive imbalance in the distribution of wealth and social injustices. It is a warning, maybe, that corruption can make free market systems go bad as well.

Talked about daycares. Government day care workers angry that government pushes private daycares. They work hard, yet the government does not use them.

Gender rights

There was a protesters sign that said to please use gender natural language, instead of masculine and femine. I asked what this was about. He said it was about Chile being dominated by what he called a “macho” culture. He gave examples. For example, men can force women to get pregnant. Pension funds do not go to the wives if husband dies. Husbands and boyfriends have been known to kill wives/girlfriends.

Running water is a basic human right.

Wealth distribution

Chilean people probably have half of the income as those in the states. The wealth in the states are also better distributed. In Chile, there is a substantially higher concentration of wealth at the very top. President is fifth wealthiest – he is wealthier than Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos. And only the fifth wealthiest.

There is someone by the name of Hausner from the states. Super rich. He can’t have 1000 dinners.