Chile: Allende vs. Pinochet, who was worst?

(An answer to a question on quora.com)


Like Aldof Hitler before him, Salvador Allende was elected with a weak plurality (36% for
Allende in 1970, 44% for Hitler in 1933), and, like Hitler before him, upon his election
Allende set about dismantling the democratic system that had made his election possible.

Both Allende and Pinochet were anything but democratic, and both had violent gangs of armed
supporters who killed, kidnapped and terrorized their opponents.  But Allende was stripping
the people of their basic rights, militarizing the political process with Cuban arms & the
MIR & his "Grupo de amigos personales," crippling the economy, impoverishing the people,
and consolidating power under Marxist authority, provoking the Chamber of Deputies and
Supreme Court to demand his removal, which he ignored.  Pinochet, in contrast, after
instituting free-market reforms, which were extremely successful, oversaw the adoption of
a democratic constitution, reestablished democracy, and relinquished power voluntarily.

I would not have wanted to live under either Allende or Pinochet, but, on balance, Allende
was the worst of the two.

Here are some supporting references:
Brian W. Doss: http://www.webcitation.org/6Aygxo1c1 
Nathaniel Davidson: http://www.webcitation.org/6AyghIMxE 
The late Val Dorta: http://www.webcitation.org/6AyiBlLKb 

And, for the sake of balance, a contrary opinion:
David Frum: http://www.webcitation.org/6AyjRIYy5 
(and a reply to it http://www.webcitation.org/6AykGy59n) 

And a balanced view:
John O'Sullivan: http://www.webcitation.org/6AyleujFI 

And a very detailed 3-part history by Eugenio Velasco, Loyola Law Review:
Part 1: http://www.webcitation.org/6AymdqN7a 
Part 2: http://www.webcitation.org/6AymW3PoP 
Part 3: http://www.webcitation.org/6Aymp0usj 

And here's a glimpse from Time Magazine of Allende's Chile: http://www.webcitation.org/6Ayx9tcgs 
(or http://www.webcitation.org/6AyvofomS)