Venezuela's Chavez threatens to kick out carmakers

[pampango]

Source: BBC

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has told car companies they must share their technology with local businesses or leave the country.

Mr Chavez gave the ultimatum to Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Fiat during a public address. If the demand isn't met, he said: "I invite you to pack up your belongings and leave. I'll bring in the Russians, the Belorusians, the Chinese."

Mr Chavez attacked Toyota in particular, saying it was not producing enough four-wheel drive vehicles, which are used for public transport, and ordered an investigation. So far, the carmakers have not responded.

Last year, car plants in Venezuela produced 135,042 cars and trucks. Currency controls in Venezuela mean the industry is struggling to get enough money to import parts and pay off debts.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8429427.stm

[dipsydoodle]

1. Sounds fair enough.

.

[WriteDown]

6. Seriously?

Why not just bring in the Chinese and Russians now and let them compete with the existing manufacturers. Why would Toyota make cars that the public doesn't want in the first place?

I can't wait until he demands that Apple share their technology. Or maybe open up the iPhone operating system.

[Bacchus39]

12. exactly, invite more companies to come in to meet demand

if there is shortfall of vehicles then bringing more manufacturers is the answer. hello Hugo!!!

sounds like a good business opportunity to start sending 4WD from the States to Venezuela. then again, you'd have to deal with the corrupt Chavez government.

[Pavulon]

13. Ford sells cars there now.

cars that I would like to have here. Like diesel quarter ton trucks. He is trying to manipulate the supply side, not the demand.

[Bacchus39]

14. right, just saying he could bring in Chinese and Russian companies without

throwing out the existing Ford and Toyota companies there. of course that might make sense, but we are talking about Hugo the Payaso

[LynneSin]

2. Good - let them come to the US and build their cars instead

works for me!

[FLPanhandle]

11. My feelings exactly.

Bring some union manufacturing jobs back to this country.

[kiranon]

37. Works for me too. n/t

[JonQ]

117. Seems like a good deal

I have no problem profiting off their mistakes.

[Pavulon]

3. Have done work for car manufacturers there

they are staffed by vz nationals and the cars are consumed by that market. He is looking for a bigger cut from them. He is bullshitting unlike oil, a commodity, people will not buy shitty russian or chinese cars. Guess I will be doing some travel to Brazil next year. If they go idle hugo's brother may have to get a real job.



Hugo is very busying fucking himself all up with this.

[comtec]

7. It looks like he wants to create local competition

from venz. car companies.

[Pavulon]

9. The companies there are Venezuelan

they are staffed by locals and provide a local market with vehicles. Toyota and Ford do not ship cars from there to the US.
There are no local companies. Now he can try to take over these operations and change the name on the front door but that will fail.

This would be like the US taking control of Toyota plants here because they dont make enough priuses.

[Naked_Ape]

10. good post nt

[ensho]

4. sounds good to me

nt

[WriteDown]

5. Chavez lovers vs. Toyota lovers

:popcorn:

[Dave From Canada]

8. I guess KIng Hugo thinks he can run the most successful car company better than they can?

Why should Toyota have to "share" its researched and developed technology? What's the incentive into pouring millions of dollars a year into R&D if you have to give it away?

And if Toyota thought it could sell more four-wheel drive vehicles, I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem manufacturing more to sell. I'm guessing they're not against selling more cars.

Just when I think Chavez can't get any dumber, he opens his mouth, and proves me wrong! LOL

[Crzyrussell]

24. It is called

"social justice". hugo the payaso is attacking the "enemy" who provides jobs and products in oreder to make the down trodden feel good.

At the same time hugo the payaso is scaring away foreign investment.

[EFerrari]

38. Yes, it is called social justice. You say that like it's a bad thing.

lol

[Crzyrussell]

42. Hugo's style

of social justice makes people feel good, but in the long run it destroys jobs, scares away foreign investment and hurts the people he is trying to reach.

It is hardly a good thing in the long run.

[EFerrari]

45. Produce any evidence whatsoever to back up your claims.

And, good luck with that.

[hack89]

55. Why would any foreign company invest in Venezuela?

when they won't make any money, have to give away any competitive advantage and have no guarantees that their contracts will be honored?

How does this help the poor of Venezuela?

[EFerrari]

59. That's not evidence, is it? What can you tell me about foriegn investment

in Venezuela?

[anigbrowl]

78. That there's so little of it they're offering almost 18% on 3-month govt bonds

Take a look at Venezuela's (or any country's) bond price. The interest rate is the amount the government is offering for 3 months ahead. In the case of Venezuela it keeps going up because people are increasingly skeptical about the probability of getting their investment back.

Other data suggest it has been consistently falling: http://www.fita.org/countries/investing_71.html#figures

[hack89]

93. It was a question

Why would any foreign country invest in Venezuela? What incentive do they have?

[Dave From Canada]

85. All one has to do is look at the Venezuelan economy for all the proff one needs.

[Kalun D]

106. Economy

you mean like the standard of living that's risen ever since Chavez got in power? That economy?

Or is it the filthy greed pig oil companies economy that you refer to?

[Kalun D]

97. Got any Facts

to back up those assertions?

or are you just repeating the corporate media whore talking points?

The standard of living has consistently gone up in Venezuela under Chavez, for everyone except the top 1 percent. Maybe that's why the corp media whores are trying to paint Chavez bad?

Read some Greg Palast if you want to find what's really going on in Venezuela, you aren't going to find it from the corps that had to give up a little bit higher percentage to the Venezuelan people because of Chavez policy.

You aren't going to find any accurate information about Venezuela on the wholly owned corporate TV (sheeple indoctrination tool)

[WestSeattle2]

34. Exactly. Amazing how many idiots make it to the top. n/t

[Peace Patriot]

15. One more reason to 'nuke' Venezuela. Their government tries to represent the interests of

the vast majority of their people NOT those of multinational corporations and the filthy rich. And it dares to assert its sovereign right to do so.

:sarcasm:

-------------------------------

Remember this, when the Pentagon springs its new "Gulf of Tonkin" on the Colombia/Venezuela border or in the Gulf of Venezuela, and we wake up and find ourselves in another oil war.

[WriteDown]

16. Nice strawman....

So Toyota is forcing their cars on the Venezuelan people and hoarding their technology? Do tell.

[COLGATE4]

17. If there is an armed conflict

between Colombia and Venezuela, don't blame the US. Blame the unstable egotistical demagogue of Venezuela.

[roody]

30. Do you know any Latin American history?

[COLGATE4]

36. Yes. Do you?

[Goldstein1984]

69. You don't have to go very far back...

Like the 2002 coup supported by Bush/Cheney, which was backed by U.S. companies.

At that time I worked for Williams Energy, one of the U.S. companies backing the coup.

Our government likes to demonize Chavez and other socialist leaders because they oppose imperialism and the disaster capitalism practiced by the IMF and World Bank.

Latin America has been the playground of empires for 500 years. Cut Hugo some slack.

[EFerrari]

41. Baloney. And Chavez is joined by the rest of Latn American leaders

in deploring the US build up in the region -- except of course for the homocidal criminals in Colombia and in Peru.

[WriteDown]

52. Wait a sec. Toyota has a regime?

I guess hoarding their private tech has enabled that.

[Bacchus39]

18. when do you predict that attack ordered by President Obama PP??

you've been saying that for years now.

do you think throwing out car companies that produce in Venezuela and provide jobs to Venezuelans and then replacing them with Russian and Chinese companies who aren't yet producing in Venezuela is a good idea?? it seems you do.

[Kalun D]

98. But what is the real story?

do you think you're getting the real story about what's really happening in Venezuela from the corporate media that's owned by the same corps that would profit if Chavez lost power?

[Bacchus39]

19. this will be the Gulf of Toyota I guess n/t

s

[fascisthunter]

28. lol

the antileft contingency is a perfect example of how split our political party really is. And they wonder why we dispise fellow dems who are "conservative/neo-cons".

[Dave From Canada]

86. Driving jobs out of the country and lowering their standard of living isn't "looking out for the

interests of the majority of the people. What ever happened to property rights? And intellectual property rights? If I invent something good, why do I have to share it for free with everyone?

[Kalun D]

99. Standard of Living

Standard of Living has risen consistently in Venezuela since Chavez took over, except for the top 1 percent.

You're arguing for the greed pigs if you take the position presented by the corporate media.

Check Greg Palast for the real story on Venezuela.

[Vidar]

20. Chavez keeps the corporations in their place. They can be replaced.

[WriteDown]

21. I think GM should demand Toyota's tech immediately!

Power to the American people!

[Pavulon]

22. No, he just wants more skim.

nothing special there.

[EFerrari]

43. You've said that on this board countless times.

And have yet to produce a single instance of corruption on Chavez's part. Pathetic.

[Pavulon]

46. I have linked the NPR story

several times. He juiced in him mom and brothers. This is about money. It is always about money.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16727303

[ronnie624]

67. The accusations are strictly by implication and gossip.

There is nothing in that article detailing any corruption.

[Pavulon]

68. Take it up with the rightist and evil NPR

they are known for bad reporting...

[ronnie624]

71. Provide some details about the corruption by the Chavez family. n/t

[Pavulon]

73. He is a politician, not a deity.

you guys should stop anointing him and oil and hit up the google.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2008/sep/21/usa.venezuela
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-oe-naim10nov10,0,4967237.story

[EFerrari]

83. Only knee jerks call him a Deity because that's all you have.

Maybe you should do a self-exam and figure out why you're slamming a very successful Latin American leader with the same tired, stupid and untrue slams in every single Venezuela thread. Free yourself.

[ronnie624]

94. Two lonely little articles that were breathlessly posted here years ago.

Are you accusing the Chavez family of smuggling diamonds? That LA times article does not accuse Chavez or his family of anything, and neither of them accuse him of 'skimming', which was your original accusation. You said, "It is always about money", implying nefarious, greed-driven activities, such as embezzlement.

Is this all you can find to support your venomous ad hominem attacks, even after the tenth year of the Chavez Administration?

[Kalun D]

100. NPR

N ational
P etroleum
R adio

it's "token" left

[EFerrari]

75. And yet not one single bit of evidence of him enriching himself.

You want a map of Clinton or Obama or any Democrat's appointments that were close to home?

Good grief. Slam the man on what he has done but you can't slam him on enriching himself and do it honestly.

[Pavulon]

79. I linked to articles on his juicing family..

again these are elected officials not God. You would think I was insulting someones faith with some responses.

I am linking (in earlier posts) to news outlets.

[EFerrari]

81. And still not a single bit of evidence he put anything in his pocket.

That's not insulting faith, it's insulting reason.

[Dave From Canada]

87. Hugo doesn't have to enrich himself, he already lives the good life!

[EFerrari]

89. And that's not evidence either, is it?

[Dave From Canada]

108. Um, have you seen the house he lives in? Or the car he gets driven around in? Or the planes he

gets flown around in?

[EFerrari]

112. (Dave, he's the president.)

[bitchkitty]

95. Oh, please. Some gossip piece from 2007?

That's all you've got? You need to go to tool school, fool! LOL

[LynneSin]

23. Yes because the world is clamoring for cars from "Russians, the Belorusians, the Chinese"

:eyes:

[WriteDown]

26. You just haven't experienced Belorusian luxury and design. nt

[jmowreader]

32. Uhh...you might actually WANT to

Belarus' car company is a branch of Iran Khodro--Iran's state-owned car company. They are building the "Samand" car. This is what it looks like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJDx62gSnH0

Apparently it's of decent quality--not up to the standards of, say, Honda but certainly much better than Chinese cars.

[fascisthunter]

29. indeed

but investors want to protect their fucked up antidemocratic anti-populist agenda so they and their bosses can keep making money. Their agenda is antithetical to democracy itself, and yet they call themselves Democrats, when at one time they probably called themselves Republicans.

[WriteDown]

54. Don't think Toyota call themselves either.

Could be wrong.

[robcon]

25. He's going to drive Venezuela into mass poverty.

He's looking at Cuba, with its rationed food, as some kind of model for Venezuela.

[Andronex]

27. Cuba has the longest life expectancy in south America

comparable to the US, and Venezuela business is booming, unemployment is down and poverty rate has been cut in half since a decade.

[robcon]

40. Business is not booming. The only thing "booming" is inflation.

UPDATE 4-Venezuela economy shrinks for first time in 5 years
Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:26pm EDT
By Frank Jack Daniel

CARACAS, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Venezuela's economy shrunk for the first time in over five years in the second quarter, after a government-driven consumer boom petered out and the global recession finally bit South America's biggest oil exporter.

High public spending by President Hugo Chavez during an oil bonanza meant even the poor had some money to burn, spurring a long shopping spree defined by double-digit growth. But the boom ended abruptly in the April-June period.

Venezuela's finances were hard hit when oil prices started a free fall late last year, while a string of nationalizations has dampened the private sector's appetite for investment.

Growth had already slowed late last year and the economy expanded a slim 0.3 percent in the first quarter.

The OPEC nation's gross domestic product contracted 2.4 percent in the three-month period, with most of the fall in the oil sector, which was down 4.2 percent.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2052572820090821

[ronnie624]

31. The claims in your post are completely and demonstrably false.

Under Chavez, Venezuela has had the most successful economic growth in Latin America, with a dramatic reduction in the poverty rate. And the food rationing in Cuba has always been a direct result of the brutish and immoral U.S. embargo.

But you will shamelessly post similar nonsense at the next opportunity.

[slackmaster]

33. But in spite of having huge amounts of developed oil sources, they're rationing electricity

Maybe Chavez should nationalize the electric utilities.

Oh wait, he already did that.

:crazy:

[ronnie624]

35. Your claims are innuendo.

The power shortages are caused by drought (Venezuela depends mostly on hydroelectric power) and because of the dramatic increase in demand during the last decade - a direct result of the tremendous economic growth - not mismanagement by Chavez (as if everything in Venezuela is micromanaged by President Chavez).

[slackmaster]

53. The drought was easily foreseeable - They should have built backup infrastructure years ago

I call it piss-poor planning.

[ronnie624]

57. Maybe you should apply for a job with the Venezuelan government.

They would doubtless find your expertise as a policy planner quite valuable.

[slackmaster]

63. Maybe you should apply for one too

As a lap-dog propagandist.

[ronnie624]

65. What propaganda are you referring to? n/t

[slackmaster]

66. Everything you have written about Venezuela in this thread

And probably everything else you will ever write about it. Nothing but Chavez worship, whether or not what you present as fact is accurate.

[ronnie624]

70. Which facts? n/t

[slackmaster]

109. See reply #31

:hi:

[laughingliberal]

111. exactly. luckily here in the US we invest and foresee our infrastructure problems coming

Imagine how Katrina could have devastated New Orleans if we hadn't addressed those levees...oh, wait....never mind

[slackmaster]

116. At least people on this board tend to place the blame for US infrastructure problems correctly

On our elected so-called leaders, at least the Republican ones.

Chavez is immune from blame, for some of us. He could drop his drawers and take a crap during a speech on live TV, and his sycophants would blame it on the weather.

[laughingliberal]

118. Neither party has invested in infrastructure as they should have here

Ours does, at least, talk about it but not enough done by either party.

I am sure Chavez has many faults. What I do know, though, is that he was elected at a time in Venezuela where the disparity in wealth had reached draconian levels and he has started reversing the trend. The resistance to Chavez in Venezuela comes from those who were of the wealthy ruling class who, typically, want to keep things as they are just as our top 1% prefers the increasingly regressive nature of our system.

[robcon]

39. I certainly have no "shame" about reporting the truth about Venezuela.

"Hit by a global recession, the economy contracted by 2% in early 2009.

The economy contracted 4.5% in the third quarter, 2009. Chavez stated that this mis-stated economic facts; that the economy should cease to be measured by "capitalistic standards"; that socialistic ones were needed.

The central bank reported on 17 November 2009, that private sector activity declined by 4.5% and that inflation was averaging 26.7%."

[EFerrari]

44. And since Ven has a mixed economy, Chavez is right.

That doesn't give you a global view of the economy there. It is true that the economy shrank in the third quarter and that inflation is high. But measuring only by the private sector doesn't really work, especially in the context of a global meltdown and in the context of their mixed economy.

[robcon]

48. Huh? "Only" the private economy????????

wtf are you talking about? All economies are measured by both private and public parts of the economy.

It seems you're 'desperate' to find some reason to believe in an economy where the amount of goods and services (public AND private) are declining while prices are going up 25%.

Chavez is responsible for the inflation, as well as the capital flight, the decline in value of the value of the
Venezuelan currency (0.000466 U.S. dollars per bolivar = 1/21 of a cent per Bolivar) and the misery he is intentionally causing by trying to develop the failed socialist model in his country.

He will achieve Cuba-like destitution, with rationed food and $20 per month disposable income, fairly soon, IMO.

[EFerrari]

50. I'm not desparate in the least, I'm drinking coffee and reading the internets.

lol

And since the economy grew for 10 straight quarters before the meltdown, it looks more like you are "desperate" to bash a model that is working pretty well in numerous mixed economies all around the world.

But knock yourself out.

[ronnie624]

47. Your excerpt says "Hit by a global recession, the economy contracted by 2%".

You said, "He's going to drive Venezuela into mass poverty", implying that any economic problems in Venezuela are the fault of Chavez. You also implied that the food rationing in Cuba is the fault of Castro, when in fact, it is clearly a result of the U.S. embargo.

The excerpt you provided does not support any of your accusations.

[robcon]

49. Sorry 4% decline in the economy, measured by a 25% inflated currency = 24% decline in real terms.

You seem desperate, as I've said, to defend the Cuba-style deprivations in Venezuela.

[ronnie624]

51. Are you going to post a link to your source or not?

[hack89]

56. Care to actually refute the claims

instead of expecting us to simply to take your word for it?

[ronnie624]

62. Refute his claims

that his predicted economic hardship in Venezuela will be Chavez's fault? Or that the food rationing in Cuba isn't because of the U.S. embargo?

You poor thing.

[WriteDown]

64. What happened to the thread about demanding Toyota give its technology away?

I'm lost apparently.

What are Chavez's thoughts on Apple? Will I be able to install Opera on my iPhone in Venezuela?

[47of74]

58. I take it you worship at the church of Saint Hugo?

[EFerrari]

60. What a compelling argument.

[Kalun D]

101. Big Diff

No there's a big diff between Venezuela and Cuba

The largest heavy oil reserves on the planet.

why the hell do you think the CORPORATE WHORE MEDIA is beating the war drums?

the greed pig oil corps profits aren't high enough, they need the people to get back in those cardboard shacks that Chavez moved them out of.

you argue the corp whore media line(TV, the sheeple control tool) you argue for the filthy greed pigs

[laughingliberal]

110. Oh, I see. He's been playing chess. First reverse the trend of mass poverty when you come to power

...then...whammo! Brilliant!

[grahamhgreen]

61. Hugo is better then the previous admin, but this is really stupid.

[Goldstein1984]

72. Suggested Reading: "Open Veins of Latin America"

by Eduardo Galeano. Hugo Chavez gave this book to Barack Obama.

As for Chavez...

Making business accountable to the people. What a concept.

I think the peasants of the world are waking up. There are going to be fewer and fewer places for businesses can go to exploit workers. What's the wold coming to?

Go get 'em Hugo.

[WriteDown]

74. So having Toyota give up their tech is "making business accountable to the people?"

I'm just trying to understand this.

What are Hugo's thoughts on Apple and its app approval process. Will I be able to install Opera on my iPhone in Caracas? What about the Colonel's secret 11 herbs and spices. Can I get that recipe?

[Goldstein1984]

76. I doubt we're talking about anything more significant

then when we taught Japan U.S. manufacturing techniques. We're talking about automobile production, in which many thousands of people without secret clearances work.

By the way, the Colonel's secret recipe is lots of salt and lots of grease.

I understand your emotions, though. It is a huge paradigm shift, making business accountable to the people.

We've grown so accustomed to imperialism that we hardly even notice it anymore, and it offends our sensibilities when someone else does.

Chavez received multiple standing ovations from representatives of the Third World and developing nations when he condemned capitalism and imperialism in Copenhagen. He receives my applause, as well.

You and I appear to be on opposite sides of the capitalism/socialism fence, so we're unlikely to agree.

[WriteDown]

77. Don't doubt, read the article....

"Mr Chavez attacked Toyota in particular, saying it was not producing enough four-wheel drive vehicles, which are used for public transport, and ordered an investigation."

Why is Toyota not producing enough four-wheel drive vehicles? What is their evil plot? Have they been in contact with Coke Zero?

Also, I have been frying chicken for many years and still have not been able to duplicate the Colonel. Also, if Hugo could make the Chick-Fil-A recipe available I would be appreciative.

And yet Chavez never condemns China, Russia, Iran...Zimbabwe. It is odd.

[Goldstein1984]

82. You are a Hugo Chavez opponent...

I am a Hugo Chavez supporter.

I am a democratic socialist, and you write like a capitalist.

We aren't going to agree on this.

Chavez expects companies doing business in Venezuela to benefit the Venezuelan people.

We also disagree on KFC. I don't like the recipe--too much salt and grease.

China, Russia, Iran and Zimbabwe have not backed coup attempts, and are not setting up military bases in a neighboring country.

Again, I recommend you study Latin American history a bit more. Recommended reading:

"A People's History of the United States," by Howard Zinn
"Open Veins of Latin America," by Eduardo Galeano
"The Epic of Latin American," by John A. Crow
"Stripping Bare the Body," by Mark Danner

[Dave From Canada]

88. Me too! I also want Micrsoft to reveal all of their code for all of their products!

[Kalun D]

102. MS

Microsoft, the greed pigs of software, a predatory capitalist monopoly.

half their code is probably stolen and the other half "borrowed for an indefinite period"

[Dave From Canada]

107. LOL, of course! Half their code is stolen and the other half borrowed. They just hire thousands

or programmers for show. LOL.

[David__77]

80. Chavez is asking for "spillovers" from foreign direct investment.

I actually wrote a journal article on how such spillovers do not really exist, to the extent claimed by neo-liberal economists. The best way for Venezuela to gain this technology is by stealing it through planned espionage.

[Turbineguy]

84. Is he bowling with

Li'l Kim?

[Peace Patriot]

90. "Class war is over. The working people lost." --Dennis Kucinich

But not in Latin America, where numerous organizations, grass roots groups and individuals have worked hard for over a decade to build democratic institutions--including, crucially, fair and transparent elections--that produce leaders who act in the interest of the vast majority--the workers, the poor, small business, young people, the elderly, the sick and the vulnerable, such as those who suffer discrimination.

A lot of commenters here don't seem to have a clue what the Chavez government is about and merely repeat the idiocy, slander, 'knownothingism' and "impressionistic journalism" of our corpo-fascist press. So I'm posting the following to give those who are interested in the leftist democracy movement in Latin America some notion of what it's about. I just ran across this article about the newly elected leftist government of El Salvador--the FMLN--and their endorsement of Chavez's call for a new international socialist convention--the Fifth International...

-------------------------------------

El Salvador's FMLN welcomes Hugo Chavez's call for a Fifth International


December 23rd 2009, by FMLN - Links
Resolution of the XXV Ordinary FMLN National Convention on the initiative to establish the 'Fifth (V) Socialist International'

This FMLN National Convention,

CONSIDERING:

1. That the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) is a political organisation that has the responsibility, recognised by popular majority and as a consequence of our long history of struggle, of constructing in El Salvador a society based on social justice; which is economically productive, environmentally sustainable and wherein all exercise and respect fundamental freedoms and inherent rights of the human being, as recognised in the Constitution of the Republic.

2. That the progressive and left-wing political and social movements, which are leading the struggles for democracy and social progress, are experiencing a period of growth and gain in various parts of the world, and particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean; proposing and winning solutions to the major problems confronting the world today.

3. That it is evident that neoliberalism, that extreme form of uncontrolled capitalism, has not and will not be able to resolve the great challenges faced by modern civilisation, currently immersed in a deep economic and financial crisis that has deepened the conditions of poverty and misery for millions of human beings. To this is added, among other calamities that afflict humanity, the evident and destructive effects of climate change, the growth of diseases and illness, the energy crisis, the food crisis, the rise in transnational delinquency, and the threats to peace and democracy in various regions of the planet.

4. That in this context it is of paramount importance that all of the social movements and political organisations that characterise themselves as progressive, left and socialist, wherever they are around the world, intensify our theoretical discussion and the formulation of alternative development projects -– in order that we meet the aspirations of prosperity, freedom and self-determination of the people, and that this in turn stimulates solidarity and fraternal cooperation between us all.

5. That it is the right of any national political force, whatever its ideology, to promote links of friendship and the exchange of experiences with likeminded political organisations around the world, without undermining their independence and identity, and respecting the realities of their socio-political process.

THEREFORE, RESOLVES:

1. To intensify our efforts in the international arenas to strengthen the opportunities for reflection, debate and the development of creative proposals and alternatives for economic development, social emancipation and sovereignty of peoples; including within the Sao Paulo Forum and the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean.

2. To acknowledge and welcome the initiative of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela to promote a new space that has become known as "V Socialist International”: to promote discussion, theoretical, political and ideological reflection, and solidarity between political forces around the world who promote the path of socialism as the way to guarantee our peoples' human development, economic prosperity, democracy and national independence, while preserving peace and the environmental sustainability of the planet.

3. To reiterate our solidarity, and that of the vast majority of the Salvadoran people, with the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and other South American nations who have undertaken structural changes; and who now face a new and serious threat to self-determination and sovereignty from the installation of foreign military bases near their borders.

NATIONAL CONVENTION

San Salvador, 13 de Diciembre de 2009.

Translated by Lara Pullin of the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5029
(my emphases)

---------------------------------

And here is an article about Chavez's call for a Fifth International...

---------------------------

Hugo Chavez's Call for a Fifth Socialist International


December 15th 2009, by Bill Leumer & Ann Robertson - Workers Action

Recently a conference was held in Caracas, Venezuela that included representatives from socialist and left parties from around the world and that culminated in an official statement, referred to as The Commitment of Caracas. As reported by Venezuela Analysis, one of the points included in this statement was reference to a call by Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, for the formation of a Fifth International in order to promote the defeat of capitalism and the creation of “Socialism of the 21st Century.”

This conference and the official statement hold tremendous significance for socialists in particular and the working class in general around the world. It contains several points we wish to highlight.

First, the statement calls for the replacement of capitalism by socialism, pointing out that capitalism threatens the survival of humanity as well as the survival of all life, because capitalism combines “the economic crisis, with an ecological crisis, a food crisis and an energy crisis.”

Second, some parties that have signed the statement, for example, from Venezuela and Bolivia, are large, mass political organizations, which means that powerful resources may be available for the creation of a world socialist movement.

Third, it calls for an “ideological debate on the fundamental aspects of the process of construction of socialism.”

Fourth, it recognizes that the Third International degenerated under Stalinism, which betrayed struggles for socialism around the world.

Finally, and most importantly, as already mentioned, the statement of the conference notes that it “received” the call by Hugo Chavez for the creation of a Fifth International and voted to “create a WORKING GROUP comprised of those socialist parties, currents and social movements who endorse the initiative, to prepare an agenda which defines the objectives, contents and mechanisms of this global revolutionary body.” The conference also called for a “constitutive event” in Caracas in April 2010 that would aim at organizing this new international.

This call for the creation of a Fifth International can serve as a lightning rod for uniting socialist parties and social movements around the world in order to magnify by many times the power of the movement for socialism. The new totality, achieved on an international basis, will be far greater than the sum of its constituent parts. Moreover, in countries where socialist parties currently do not exist or are small and lack any substantial power, the Fifth International has the potential to serve as a pole of attraction, thereby overcoming the isolation and accompanying sense of hopelessness and demoralization of those fighting for a better world. It can therefore serve as an indispensable tool in helping working people around the world organize themselves in order to fight against the routine daily assaults of capitalism that are throwing increasing numbers of humanity into abject poverty and completely destroying the environment while at the same time making a tiny minority obscenely rich.

By joining such an international, socialist parties will be able to translate their aspirations for a better world into a framework that can realistically hope to achieve revolutionary change. It has the potential to forge the indispensable link between theory and practice.

This Fifth International can promote the strategical approach embodied in united front structures that can unite working people around the world in opposition to the capitalist class that oppresses them. The united front brings together working people, although they might adhere to different political points of view or persuasions, in order to unite workers as workers rather than as members of a single political party. In other words, it unites working people as a class and in this respect promotes the development of class consciousness. Therefore, it encourages working people to act independently of the capitalist class in defense of their own interests, as opposed to their feeling compelled to support one capitalist candidate or another in exchange for a few crumbs.

Moreover, the united front approach is an attempt to win the majority of the working class to a revolutionary perspective by organizing workers, first and foremost, to put up a fight in defense of their interests. It begins with those issues that workers themselves want to win and are prepared to fight for, no matter how modest these issues might be from a revolutionary perspective. In this respect, the united front approach is distinguished from the approach of social democrats, who are fundamentally reformists and do not want to put up a fight. The social democrats look to the capitalists to give workers some gains and are prepared to accept anything that comes their way, or nothing. The united front approach is also distinguished from the approach of the ultra leftists or sectarians who are only prepared to support a struggle if it exhibits a sufficiently revolutionary content. For example, the united front approach is prepared to take up a struggle for higher wages, if that is what workers want and if that is all they are prepared to fight for. The ultra leftists or sectarians insist on injecting more revolutionary demands into the struggle, even at the expense of alienating all, or almost all, the workers in the process. The united front approach, by encouraging workers to put up a fight, establishes a link between the day-to-day struggles of workers on the one hand and the struggle for socialism on the other hand, because the act of standing up and organizing a fight has the potential to fundamentally alter the consciousness of all those involved and raise it in a revolutionary direction. When this is achieved, the relation of forces between workers and capitalists is changed to the advantage of the working class.

Although the call for the Fifth International deserves enthusiastic support, those who respond must be vigilant, since the road ahead can contain many pitfalls. One must not allow this international unwittingly to degenerate into another social democratic formation, where instead of fighting for socialism, members are content to reform capitalism. In fact, some of the formulations in the Commitment of Caracas leave open the possibility of being interpreted as endorsing such a deviation. For example, the statement declared: “One of the epicenters of the capitalist crisis is in the economic domain; this highlights the limitations of unbridled free markets ruled by private monopolies.” This might be read by some to imply that what is needed are government regulated free markets that are ruled by multiple private businesses that compete against one another.

The fight for socialism, like everything really worthwhile, will be a long, arduous struggle. Using the classical Marxist framework as a point of departure, the essential ingredients of socialism include the following:

1. The fundamental pillars of the economy are nationalized and operates according to a plan that has been determined democratically by the entire population. Hence, it will serve the needs of the people, not the profit margins of a rich minority at everyone else’s expense.

2. The people democratically control the government. The government does not control the people.

3. Quality education (through college) and health care are considered basic human rights and are free. Quality housing is available to all at affordable prices.

4. Everyone is guaranteed a well-paying job. People are rewarded first and foremost according to how much work they perform. By guaranteeing work for everyone, as opposed to the capitalist system of condemning large numbers of working people to the ranks of the unemployed, the workweek can be reduced.

5. The environment is cleaned up and pollution is eliminated.

6. Government administrators can be recalled at any time and may not be paid more than working people.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5007

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Feliz Navidad to all! May the beautiful candles of peace, democracy and social justice keep burning in Latin America, and become eternal flames, never to be extinguished again!

[classysassy]

91. Viva Chavez

give them heck president chavez,we know why the posters here at DU hate you.They want admit it,but the thought of a brown man sticking it to the invading automobile makers is too much for them to stomach.

[steven johnson]

92. This Pro-Chavez Crap is So Much Progaganda by His Toadies

Come on. You jerks and your one-note litany echoing Chavez' propaganda line doesn't fool anyone.

Why don't you guys get real jobs and get off the Chavez dole?

[Kalun D]

103. Read Greg Palast

All the anti Chavez sentiment originates from the US corporate whore media.

The US MIMC has long been killing/oppressing people in SA for profits

Chavez has dared to stand in their way.

[Kalun D]

105. Haven't seen any checks yet?

Living in Seattle, don't think Chavez has my address?

Are you sure he's paying us?

Or is this just a personal attack cuz you can't argue factual points?

[EFerrari]

114. That's funny. All the people I most admire also admire Hugo Chavez

Works the other way, too. :)

[wayne fontes]

121. Yellow Man

In this case Chavez seems to be sticking it to the yellow man. Hard to make a case for racists worried about a Toyota getting the shaft.

[Imajika]

96. Chavez = Left wing populist clown..

Has not an economic clue in his body.

Says whatever will sound good to the poor majority in Venezuela, yet apparently has no idea what actually makes a real economy work or a nation prosper.

Those here on DU that support Chavez also tend to back Castro and think Cuba is some sort of paradise.....enough said.

[Kalun D]

104. Buy a Vowel

The standard of living in Venezuela has increased since Chavez gained power, and coincidentally it's in decline in the good old predatory capitalist monopoly US-of-A

is that what really pisses you off?

the filthy evil rotten bastard fu*king greed pigs aren't having their way in Venezuela?

[laughingliberal]

113. I'm assuming real economy here refers to an economy which transfers all the money to the top 1% nt

[Odin2005]

115. This nitwit's ignorance of economics is astounding,

[TexasObserver]

119. Next for Hugo? He'll declare that underwear must be worn outside the clothes.

The car manufacturers probably are exploitive, but Hugo's a pompous little tyrant.

[boppers]

120. Chavez shoots his foot again.

I hope they enjoy their Trabants.