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America. Their reports are just laughable. And the Miami Herald is not much better, especially on Castro/Cuba.
A good source on Chavez and Venezuela (and, to some extent on other South America countries): www.venezuelanalysis.com.
I was impressed with the Chavez opposition candidate Rosales' immediate concession, in the recent presidential election, after Chavez won it with 63% of the vote, in highly monitored voting. There were substantial rumors that the opposition was plotting another coup attempt, intending to use false polls saying Rosales was getting close, to instigate riots and involve the military in unseating Chavez. The opposition in Venezuela--funded by US tax dollars--has tried a violent military coup, a crippling oil professionals' strike, and an absurd and wasteful recall election (which Chavez won handily by about 60%). They just seem to be lazy, spoiled, whiney, privileged troublemakers--like our freepers--who keep expecting the country to tip over and pour all the oil profits into their pockets, as before. Rosales distanced himself from them, in his concession, and pledged to provide a RESPONSIBLE opposition and constructive criticism to the Chavez government.
I was surprised and impressed. I think that South America's huge, peaceful, democratic, leftist (majorityist) revolution is on very solid footing. It is a sea change from the bottom, not the top. It's about the people, not the leaders. This revolution has swept South America--in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Venezuela and (a few weeks ago) Ecuador.* (And I think it will likely sweep Peru in the next election cycle; Colombia and Paraguay might take a while). It's really a regional thing. It's a common recognition across the continent, among the South Americans, that they want to be done with US interference--past brutalities, and the more recent World Bank/IMF/global corporate predator exploitation. This large group of leftist governments are moving toward an EU type organization, a common currency, and much more economic and political cooperation than in the past. Strength in numbers, as they say. A common theme among these governments is rejection of NAFTA and other unfair trade agreements with the US. South America could be a powerhouse trade group--but they do have decades and centuries of exploitation to overcome, particularly neglect of the vast poor population that has developed. And this is where Venezuela's, Bolivia's and Ecuador's oil, gas, minerals and other rich natural resources come in. I think it's amusing--and also disgusting--how the AP article on Chavez's recent re-election says he is "buying" the support of the poor. Well, if using your country's biggest resource--oil--to provide schools, adult literacy classes, and medical clinics, where there never have been any before, and to provide a free university education to all qualified students, and to provide small business loans and grants, and help to small farmers--if these things are "buying" the poor, then a lot more of such purchasing needs to occur. For this is EXACTLY what South America needs to do--pour its resources into development of its people, and thus of diversified enterprise, with an educated population, decent wages and living conditions, and a larger professional/artisan class, and a decent life for all.
Has AP ever said that Bush has "bought" the support of the super-rich with big tax cuts for the super-rich? No, they reserve this criticism for Chavez, who is responding to the needs of the poor, who are in turn responding to him, because he listens to them--and who is also doing the best thing for his country, and with the government's oil riches. This the way to prosperity: education, good health, seeding businesses, looking to food self-sufficiency, maximum participation in government, utilization of everyone's talents, creativity and genius. And these, too, are common themes of all the governments mentioned above: how to raise up the poor, to everyone's benefit; how to be a democracy, with a government that is responsive to all of its people, not just the rich few.
This revolution is succeeding all across South America--by means of strong grass roots organization and work on transparent elections and other aspects of democracy. It is an amazing recovery, considering what South America has been through--particularly at US hands. I think Mexico will join in because it will be to Mexico's benefit to join in. Latin America needs to pull together, and create its own policy, and its own trade rules, looking to mutual prosperity. The Corporate Rulers have a strong grip on Mexico, and are imposing severe and brutal repression on the people of Oaxaca. But those who are doing this on behalf of the Corporate Rulers--Pres. Calderon and Gov. Ruiz--will lose, in the end. Whether people currently approve of Lopez Obrador's recent decisions and actions, the truth is that there is vast injustice in Mexico which must be, and will be, corrected. Mexicans themselves will not continue to tolerate the unfairness. And, as I said, as other Latin America countries begin to experience the benefits of self-determination and freedom from onerous corporate exploitation, Mexico will want to be part of it.
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*(Ecuador's low 8% for people approving the direction of the country--in the poll above--would likely be much different now, with the election a week ago, of the very popular Rafael Correa, who is aligned politically with Venezuela and Bolivia, and the other leftist governments. That 8% is why Correa was elected--the fascist, corporate ruler policies of the past. )
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