I was present at the Casa Piedra event Ciencia y Evolución, and found your talk fast, funny, and very energizing. Congratulations.

Your mentioning of Pinochet was brief, but very, very controversial. Though most chileans here have formed the opinion (in my opinion correct) that his record for abuses leaves him in a bad position, most people are more umcomforatble with the other side of the story. There is a general belief that his introduction liberalism (“savage capialism”) has been bad for Chile (“He brought the evil of competition to peace-loving cooperative chilenos who now have a cult-relationship to shopping malls.”).

In a society accustomed to paternalistic caudillo-inquilino relationships, it is very tough to defend the (ultimately correct) libertarian stance. Somehow, people reap the economic benefits of liberal trade, but wish, deeper, to secure guaranteed welfare.

Your visit was extremely valuabe and refreshing. One more step in the right direction.

Thank you.