|
coup attempt against the democratically elected president, Hugo Chavez, and the Bush junta-supported (literally, with your tax dollars) recall election against Chavez, all failed to destabilize Venezuela, a) because Venezuela is a democratic country, with highly monitored, TRANSPARENT elections (unlike the U.S., for instance), and b) because the leftist, socialist revolution that is sweeping South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela and Bolivia--with Peru likely next) is a deeply rooted, profound change, from the grass roots up, and, in Venezuela, people pulled together and SOLVED the huge problems that the Bush junta and the Venezuelan oil elite had created. (For instance, the oil elite engineers and their U.S. oil company cohorts sabotaged the oil mixing and piping technology, and trashed its computers, and folks without much training had to learn fast how to un-sabotage the system and make it work--and felt highly inspired by the Chavez revolution to do so, and are very proud of succeeding at it.)
See www.venezuelanalysis.com --an excellent source of info on the leftist revolution in Latin America (which is likely spreading north to Mexico this year--the leftist mayor of Mexico City is way ahead in the presidential polls).
The U.S. war profiteering corporate news monopolies use loaded words and phrases--like "self-styled leftist Huge Chavez"--to imply that Chavez is some sort of communist. He is not. He is supportive of business and trade--as well as, for the first time, bringing the benefits of Venezuela's oil resources to the poor, with new schools, medical clinics, community centers and small business grants/loans, to help the vast poor population become self-sufficient and to diversity Venezeula's economy. What they are also trying to imply with a phrase like "self-styled" is that Chavez is somehow an anomaly--not reflective of the population, or not typical of South America. They are trying to HIDE the fact that this revolution--a new combination of democracy and ECONOMIC FAIRNESS--is occurring throughout the subcontinent. Chavez is by no means alone or isolated. He has great support in his own country, and excellent relations with all these other leftist leaders who have been elected. They are forming their own agreements and regional political and economic alliances. And they are united in their determination to cast off U.S./World Bank imperialism once and for all.
Venezuela's relationship with Cuba is interesting. What Cuba is doing is supplying doctors for the free medical clinics for the poor in Venezuela, and is training Venezuelans to become doctors. This is an example of a new development in the attitude of South American governments that they will make their own judgements of other countries, and will make their own agreements in their own interest--and not as dictated by the U.S. or anyone else. One of the ways that the Venezuelan poor have suffered, at the hands of the rich elite, is in the lack of schools--and consequent widespread illiteracy--which meant, among other things, that Venezuela did not have enough doctors to serve everyone. Only the rich got medical care. Well, that--and the literacy problem--are now being addressed, with intense efforts by the Chavez government, and by the poor communities themselves--with great success. And the Cuban offer of clinic doctors is a big part of that success story.
Chavez is no saint--especially on the environment. Although Chavez has supported returning lands to indigenous tribes, there are some problems with indigenous opposition to coal and gas development (which the Chavez government wants to do--they're returning land ownership, but withholding mineral rights.) So some of these lands are at risk. Also, there are as yet no smog controls on vehicles in Caracas--the air is very dirty. Venezuela is still a gorgeous country, on the whole--but economic necessity may clash with beauty and the environment (and the will of indigenous tribes).
It is no surprise to me that Venezuela's economy is booming. People who have jobs, and food to eat, and education, and hope, and power to change their lives, create wealth. People who are benefiting from their country's resources help create stability and a positive social and economic climate.
The "CIA Factbook" has a lot of nerve stating that the "political situation is now stable again." To their despair, I'm sure. THEIR Bush junta toadies and yes-men were the ones making it UNstable--by strike (of the professional oil elite), by kidnapping and attempted assassination, and by pouring millions of our tax dollars into the hands of the small minority opposition groups for an absurd and wasteful recall vote (that Chavez easily won). (That tactic worked better in California, where the people are less well informed about their election system.)
It would be fun to write a "CIA Factbook"-type analysis of the U.S., wouldn't it? (The most financially bankrupt and politically oppressed country on earth--unable to conduct transparent elections, and forced to sell its port facilities to the sheiks of Araby?)
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
