Chile: Body Politic

Chile's President Eduardo Frei is a Christian Democrat who came to office on a platform of sweeping social reform. He has turned out to be a reformer, all right, but of a kind that Chilenos had not quite expected. Seven months ago, he put a crimp in the national afternoon siesta by banning the three-hour lunch break. Then came a prohibition of movies after midnight and the closing of television stations at 11:45 p.m. "A nation that goes to bed late cannot work well the next day," the government explained.

Last month came a ruling that threatened another aspect of bedtime...

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