How to reform Chile
For much of the past 30 years Chile has stood out from the rest of Latin America as a country that seemed to be doing most things right. It combined an open market economy with the rule of law, stable institutions and growing social provision.
在过去的30年里智力似乎因为做的很多事情都是正确的而从其他拉美国家中脱颖而出。他将法律规定、稳定的制度和增长的社会供应与开放的市场经济结合起来。
Poverty rates fell steeply and most Chileans became middle-class by official measures. The large, sustained and sometimes violent protests that have shaken the country since last October have therefore come as a shock. They have called into question the success of the “Chilean model” and its future.
根据智力官方的统计数据，贫穷指数显著下降，且越来越多的智利人变成了中产阶级。从去年10月起出现的持续的带有些许暴力色彩的大的反对活动变成了动荡，他们开始质疑“智利模式”和它未来的发展方向。
What happens now in Chile matters beyond its borders. Its protests, which have resumed this month (see Books & arts section), are just one manifestation of the discontent sweeping Latin America.
现在正在智利发生的已经超越了国界。于本月恢复的反对活动正是席卷拉美的巨大不满的一员。
Several other countries have also seen protests, though these have mainly been more narrowly focused. The election of contrasting populists in Brazil and Mexico in 2018 was a further sign of anger. So were opposition victories in recent presidential elections across the region.
其他国家也有类似的反对活动，只是被有限的关注。2018年发生在巴西和墨西哥的民粹主义者的选举就是愤怒的延申的征兆。在这个地区近期发生的总统选举中反对党获胜也是一样。
It is not hard to divine the causes of this discontent. Latin America has seen little or no economic growth since 2013. Its new middle classes fear that they have fewer opportunities. Corruption has discredited the political class. And there is a widespread sense that democracy has not brought equal treatment and equal access to basic services for all citizens.
找出这些不满的来源并不困难。2013年以来拉丁国家经济几乎没有增长。新中产阶级担心他们没有足够的机会。腐败使政治阶层的信用崩溃。而且有一种广泛的认识是民主并没有带来平等的对待和相同的机会享受为所有人的基础服务。
Several of these factors apply in Chile (see Americas section). The right identifies the problem as slow growth combined with a more demanding middle class. For the left, the protests are a rebellion against inequality and the “neoliberal model” imposed by the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.
其中一些因素适用于智利。右派指出问题在于正确的认识缓慢增长但中产阶级有更高需求。对于左翼来说，反对者是反对由于奥古斯特将军所施行的独裁统治导致的不公正和所谓的“新自由主义”。
On the face of it the left’s complaint is far-fetched. Since 1990 democratic governments have made many reforms. Yet, the main grievances really do concern legacies of the dictatorship: a private pension system that fails to offer security in old age, a segregated health system and a sense of impunity for the rich.
所面临的左翼的抱怨是牵强的。从1990年起民主政府就采取了多个改革。事实上主要的抱怨与独裁统治的遗产有关。真正影响独裁统治立法的是私人养老金不足以保证老年时的需求；分别对待的健康系统和对富人的有罪不罚。
In addition, violence and vandalism have called into question the ability of the state to maintain public order. The police, once respected and left to run themselves, have in recent years shown themselves to be corrupt, brutal and incompetent. They need to be thoroughly reformed.
此外，暴力和游行的出现也对政府保证公共秩序的能力提出质疑。曾经被尊敬的警察任由他们发展，近些年逐渐暴露出的腐败、野蛮和不称职。他们需要进行彻底的改革。
In an effort to placate popular anger Sebastián Piñera, the embattled president, struck an agreement to hold a plebiscite on April 26th on whether to set up an assembly to write a new constitution. Mr Piñera, a billionaire former businessman, has veered between sounding tough and acknowledging that Chile needs big changes.
在一次安抚愤怒的民众行动中，陷入困境的总统与其达成协定进行全民投票，在4月26日决定是否举行集会重新拟定宪法。一个百亿富翁在听起来艰难中转变观点，声称智利需要大的改变。
As if haggling over a business deal, he offered concessions at the margin in pensions, health subsidies and so on. A bolder approach is needed. Many Chileans want the promise of a pension system with a stronger safety-net and a universal public-health system.
就像达成一个金融合作中的讨价还价，他提出了在养老金、健康补贴和其他方面的让步，勇敢的一步需要跨出。很多智利人希望这样一个关于养老金的保证能够有更加强大、安全的网络和通广泛的公众卫生系统。
That means allowing private insurance but abolishing health bodies known as Isapres, a Pinochet invention, which drain contributions into a high-priced private system. It also means a commitment to raise taxes, which are only 20% of gdp. Better public services must be paid for.
这意味着允许私人保险但废除医疗机构，这是由Pinochet 发明的导向更高价格的私人保险体系。这同样意味着增加税收的承诺，而这仅占GDP的百分之20.更好的公共服务必须被支付。
Is a new constitution essential to achieve these changes? It has been a device of the far left in several Latin American countries to seize control and impose a (failed) socialist model. But in this respect Chile is different.
这是一个为实现这些改变而必要得到新的宪法吗？这是一个在多个拉美国家使用过的被废弃的设施，用来实现控制和已经失败的社会主义模板。但在智利这个观点是不同的。
Although much-amended, its constitution is branded illegitimate by its origin under Pinochet. Polls have long shown that two-thirds of voters favour a new charter. The existing constitution is very hard to reform. Matters of routine disagreement, such as health care and education, require a supermajority to change.
尽管已经经过大量的修正，在ph这宪法仍然被认为是违背其初衷的。全民公投显示超过2/3的民众支持一个新的宪章。现行的宪法是很难进行改革的。有关道路的事宜，如健康和教育，需要一个很高等级的权限来改变。
That is not to deny the risks. On April 26th Chileans will vote not just on whether to set up the constitutional convention but also on whether this should be wholly elected or composed partly of existing legislators. The new body may suffer from inexperience.
这并不是否认风险。在4月26日智利人将在设置宪法公约和全部或部分包含现有的立法者进行投票。这个新的今后可能会因缺乏经验经受困难。
Many recent Latin American constitutions have been prolix and Utopian, stuffed with unaffordable “rights” and spending promises. But Chile has safeguards. Unless the new document is approved by a two-thirds vote of the assembly and then in a referendum, the existing constitution will remain.
一些最近设置的宪法表现出乌托邦式的，充斥着无法提供足够的权力和消费信用。但是智利有安全保障。除非新的文件得到2/3以上选民得到支持且通过议会，否则现行宪法将继续保持。
Above all, the convention offers Chile a path out of its labyrinth. The new constitution should embody a new social contract. It should remove the obstacles to reforming the police, providing universal health care and regulating private universities.
综上，公约能够为智利提供一种走出迷宫的道路。新的宪法应当实行新的社会契约。应当去除对改革警察、提供广泛健康服务、监控私立大学的限制。
A healthier, better-educated population would be more productive. A stronger safety-net would encourage workers to be more flexible. A new basic law could give Chile a fresh start—and Latin America a new model from which to learn.
一个更加健康、受到更好教育的群体将有更高的生产力。一个更加强大的安全网络将鼓励员工更加灵活。一个新的基础法律能够给予智利一个全新的开始，也给拉丁美洲一个学习的榜样。
