-- allow dangerous environmental dumping on its soil,
-- surrender to IMF, World Bank, WTO and international banking rules; accept exploitive structural adjustments and debt slavery as a way of life;
-- relinquish control of its natural resources, especially if they're large oil and gas deposits,
-- surrender all freedoms and call it democracy,
-- permit US military bases on its soil, and
-- agree unquestionably to all other imperial demands.
Countries unwilling to oblige are called "bad examples (and) reduced to basket cases." In addition, their leaders are replaced by "friendlier" ones. It's an ugly story of the rich against the poor, the monied interests against all humanity, and if outliers are tolerated, they'll be "bad examples" for others to follow.
Chavez became one of them after his 1998 election. Ever since, he's been a thorn in America's craw and its greatest threat - a "good example" that's a model for other nations. He also inspires social movements throughout the Americas, even though none so far are dominant or even even close, and he shows signs of wavering on some of his earlier commitments. More on that below.
Imperialism is safe in the Americas, and James Petras explained it in his new article: "Movements in Flux and Center-Left Governments in Power." He states: "The singular fact about Latin America is that, despite a number of massive popular upheavals, several regime changes and (some ascendant) mass social movements, the continuity of property relations remains intact." In fact, they're more concentrated, "giant agro-mineral export enterprises" are prospering, and "class structure (and) socio-economic inequalities" persist, even though Hugo Chavez stands out, in part, as an exception. Petras calls him "pragmatic."
He "reversed (some of) the corrupt privatizations of previous rightest neo-liberal regimes," but still supports business. Nonetheless, Washington sees him as a threat because he embraces participatory democracy, practices redistributive social policies, and envisions a "new socialism of the 21st century....based in solidarity, fraternity, love, justice, liberty and equality." Those ideas and his expressive language are anathema to America and its hard line neoliberal model.
As a result, he tops George Bush's target list outside the Middle East, and that status won't change under a new administration in 2009, especially if a Republican heads it. But even Democrats are hostile. When candidates discuss Latin America, Chavez is Topic One and their comments aren't friendly.
Earlier (but no longer), John McCain's web site was outrageous. It featured a petition to "stop the dictators of Latin America" and supported ousting Chavez "in the name of democracy and freedom throughout the hemisphere." He lashed out at a news conference in Miami's Little Havana stating that "everyone should understand the connections" between (Bolivia's) Evo Morales, Castro and Chavez. "They inspire each other. They assist each other. They get ideas from each other. It's very disturbing." He also calls Chavez a "wacko" and a "two-bit dictator."
These comments aren't surprising from a man who headed the hard right International Republican Institute (IRI). Along with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and USAID, these organizations front for imperialism, support rightest dictators, and plot the overthrow of independent democrats like Chavez who dare confront America.
Think hard about this man from what his fellow Republicans say about him. Some call him psychologically unhinged and unqualified to be president. Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran said: "The thought of (McCain) being president sends a cold chill down my spine." Others from the far right, like Alabama's Dick Shelby, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, and Oklahoma's Jim Inhofe, mention times McCain screamed four-letter obscenities at them in the Senate cloak room. Another senator said: "He is frighteningly unfit to be Commander-in-Chief."
I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.
As one retired, progressive, US geezer to another, I tip my hat to you, Stephen. You've done a superb job of righting the balance in US coverage of Venezuelan affairs. Most of our compatriots, even those who consider themselves well-informed, know NOTHING, thanks to the corporate media, about what is really going on around them. Which suits the corporations just fine. Well done! Power to your pen! Scott Griffith.
by
Scott Griffith (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 18 comments)
on Monday, February 18, 2008 at 2:50:01 PM
Let's start with what I'm sure we agree on, Bush & the neocons are bad, & the US gov should stay out of venezuela's affairs. The things you cite, such as NED & covert involvement, are wrong & should end immedeately.
Where I disagree with you is on your positive asesment of Chavez. To give you some background I lived in venezuela form '93 to the begining of '00, in other words, through the forst year of Chavez administration. It was terrible. The economy contracted 19% during the first six months of '99 & hasn't recovered to '98's level of GDP even after 10 years of the red paratrooper's reign.
Corruption is still rampant in the gov there despite the fact that ending it was one of the major issues Chavez ran on in '98.
Crime is out of control in Venezuela. Murder rates have increased greatly & kidnappings are way up.
You mentioned the shorages of food, enough said about that.
Chavez has made himself a dictator ruling by decree with a rubberstamp congress giving him such power. Simón Bolívar had this to say about such a concentration of power in the executive:
"Huid del país donde uno solo ejerce todos los poderes: es un país de esclavos."
When you ad it all up, it's just another example of how socialism doesn't work, the "Bolivarian" revolution has failed.
by
Darren Wolfe (5 articles, 155 quicklinks, 93 diaries, 695 comments)
on Monday, February 18, 2008 at 6:34:16 PM
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
