Free markets vs. Communism: In Chile, 33 miners rescued; in China, 37 dead

A few pseudo-liberals tried to blame capitalism for the Chile mine cave-in, which trapped 33 men for two months before they were rescued. But if by “capitalism” the critics meant a free market with the reasonable regulations of a democracy, they were dead wrong.

The worst mine disasters have been in command-economy dictatorships, China being the most obvious example. (And by the way, if by “capitalism” you mean industrial monopolies without serious safety regulations, you are talking about China, Cuba and the other Communist-brand economies.)

On Saturday, Oct. 16, three days after the 33 Chileans were brought back safe and sound, a Chinese coal mine explosion killed 37 miners. Two years earlier, 23 Chinese were killed in the same mine. This is normal in China, where the coal mine fatality rate, per 1 million tons mined, is 37 times the U.S. miner death rate.

Protective freedom. As the Chinese dictatorship has loosened Communist control over the economy over the last two decades, mine safety has improved. And when China is free politically, safety is likely to improve a whole lot more. Never underestimate the protective, creative and healing power of liberty.

Frank Warner

Comments

[MDC]

I was thinking about this scenario a few weeks ago, while the Chilean miners were awaiting rescue and there was talk about how various companies - all from free market economies - were helping in the effort. Interesting that an example came up so quickly.

But here are the thoughts. In China, the state also controls the media. There may or may not be 37 dead miners in China right now. There's actually a chance that the 37 men are also underground awaiting a rescue that'll never come, while those on the surface are being told that they're dead. Who would ever know?

Given how the citizenry is treated there, it doesn't seem beyond the realm of possibility.

[Frank Warner]

MDC, yes.

Not only are free nations more likely to put the spotlight on dangerous practices, and then act to reduce the danger, free nations also are more likely to create the wealth that makes the best safety measures possible.

Right now, China has created a lot of wealth because its dictatorship allowed a much freer economy. If the Chinese government were more accountable -- to a free press, an independent court system and free elections -- it might be more interested in applying some of that wealth to worker safety.

Workers of the world unite, for freedom!

[Jerry]

Pleaser note that those Chilean miners were saved by extreme help provided by United States. Expert US drilling expert rushed to Chile to use his machinery and skills to drill not one but three holes to save those miners. Three holes to make sure that it will be possible to extract those miners - First to use for extraction, second hole in case there would be problem with first and third in case the second would fail. Then he left, to leave all attention to survivors. Also trpped miners received specially developed food from NASA agency and expensive dark glasses donated by american compaqny. When miners were pulled out from the mine none of them mentioned any of gratitude to United States. Only at very end only president of Chille thanked United States for saving those miners.

[Frank Warner]

Interesting, Jerry. Fortunately, people are willing to do good things without any expectation of thanks.

[jj mollo]

The same crew are also blatant violators of any sane environmental standards, as was the USSR before its collapse. Witness the recent residual result in Hungary. How long will the wounds of that evil empire continue to plague us?

The ability of citizens to access and process honest information about the actions of supposedly responsible decision-makers can lead to remarkable changes. As they say, sunlight is the best sanitizer.