From: clyder@GN.APC.ORG
Date: Tue Dec 04 2007 - 17:16:13 EST
It did strike me as odd that as a trotskyist Woods would be so blase about constitutional changes which enhance the position of a strong leader. It could hardly be said that 20th century socialism suffered from a lack of strong leaders, quite the reverse. Tariq Ali and Dieterich seem more perceptive in their analysis of the incipient party/state and the excessive centralisation of power. > Woods doesn't mention the substance of the proposed constitutional > changes. > Since many of the changes can be legislated -- e.g. the length of the > workweek, it would seem to me to be a reasonable question to ask "what are > the KEY elements of the proposal". The legislated changes can be done > immediately. > > Appointments of regional administrative officials and unlimited terms for > the President do require constitutional changes. So, would one be wrong > to > think that some of the progressive economic measures were introduced into > the proposal as a 'bribe' for popular support in order to obtain those > that > really did need a constitutional revision? > > A test of the above would have been to separate the progressive economic > proposals, from something like term limits, which is pretty > straight-forward concept. > > By the way, what was the precise argument for the necessity of eliminating > terms limits? As I recall, its introduction into the 1999 constitution > was > described then as being a progressive, democratic step. > > Paul Z. > > > > > ************************************************************************ > (Vol.23) THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF 9-11-2001 "a benchmark in 9/11 research" > video summary from Snowshoe Films at http://snowshoefilms.com > (Vol.24) TRANSITIONS IN LATIN AMERICA AND IN POLAND AND SYRIA > ********************* http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka > > --On 12/4/2007 10:28 AM +0000 Paul Cockshott wrote: > >> >> >> Note that the conclusions of Wood are rather different: >> >> Venezuela: The referendum defeat - What does it mean? >> Bay Area Indymedia - San Francisco,CA,USA >> Reformists like Heinz Dieterich are always harping on this theme like a >> repeating groove on an old gramophone record. Yes, the army is a >> decisive >> question. ... >> >> >> >> From: OPE-L [mailto:OPE-L@SUS.CSUCHICO.EDU] On Behalf Of Dogan Goecmen >> Sent: 04 December 2007 08:59 >> To: OPE-L@SUS.CSUCHICO.EDU >> Subject: [OPE-L] Venezuela After the Referendum >> >> >> >> >> Lessons for the Bolivarians >> >> >> Venezuela After the Referendum >> >> By TARIQ ALI >> >> Hugo Chavez' narrow defeat in the referendum was the result of >> large-scale abstentions by his supporters. 44 percent of the electorate >> stayed at home. Why? First, because they did not either understand or >> accept that this was a necessary referendum. The measures related to the >> working week and some other proposed social reforms could be easily >> legislated by the existing parliament. The key issues were the removal >> of >> restrictions on the election of the head of government (as is the case >> in >> most of Europe) and moves towards 'a socialist state.' On the latter >> there was simply not enough debate and discussion on a grassroots level. >> >> As Edgardo Lander, a friendly critic pointed out: >> >> >> >> "Before voting in favour of a constitutional reform which will define >> the >> State, the economy, and the democracy as socialist, we citizens have the >> right to take participate in these definitions. What is understood by >> the >> term socialist state? What is understood by the term socialist economy? >> What is understood by the term socialist democracy? In what way are >> these >> different to the states, economies, and democracies that accompanied >> socialism of the 20th century? Here, we are not talking about entering >> into a debate on semantics, rather on basic decisions about the future >> of >> the country." >> >> >> >> And this was further amplified by Greg Wilpert, a sympathetic journalist >> whose website, venezuelaanalysis.com, is the best source of information >> on the country: >> >> >> >> "By rushing the reform process Chavez presented the opposition with a >> nearly unprecedented opportunity to deal him a serious blow. Also, the >> rush in which the process was pushed forward opened him to criticism >> that >> the process was fundamentally flawed, which has become one of the main >> criticisms of the more moderate critics of the reform." >> >> >> >> Another error was the insistence on voting for all the proposals en bloc >> on a take it or leave it basis. It's perfectly possibly that a number of >> the proposals might have got through if a vote on each had been allowed. >> This would have compelled the Bolivarians to campaign more effectively >> at >> grassroots level through organised discussions and debates (as the >> French >> Left did to win the argument and defeat the EU Constitution ). It is >> always a mistake to underestimate the electorate and Chavez knows this >> better than most. >> >> What is to be done now? The President is in office till 2013 and >> whatever >> else Chavez may be the description of 'lame-duck' will never fit him. He >> is a fighter and he will be thinking of how to strengthen the process. >> If >> properly handled the defeat could be a blessing in disguise. It has, >> after all, punctured the arguments of the Western pundits who were >> claiming for the last eight years that democracy in Venezuela was dead >> and authoritarianism had won. >> >> Anyone who saw Chavez' speech accepting defeat last night (as I did here >> in Guadalajara with Mexican friends) will not be in any doubt regarding >> his commitment to a democratically embedded social process. That much is >> clear. One of the weaknesses of the movement in Venezuela has been the >> over-dependence on one person. It is dangerous for the person (one >> bullet >> can be enough) and it is unhealthy for the Bolivarian process. There >> will >> be a great deal of soul-searching taking place in Caracas, but the key >> now is an open debate analysing the causes of the setback and a move >> towards a collective leadership to decide on the next candidate. It's a >> long time ahead but the discussions should start now. Deepening popular >> participation and encouraging social inclusion (as envisaged in the >> defeated constitutional changes) should be done anyway. >> >> The referendum defeat will undoubtedly boost the Venezuelan opposition >> and the Right in Latin America, but they would be foolish to imagine >> that >> this victory will automatically win them the Presidency. If the lessons >> of the defeat are understood it is the Bolivarians who will win. >> >> >> __________________________________________________ >> >> Bei AOL gibt's jetzt kostenlos eMail für alle! Was es sonst noch umsonst >> bei AOL gibt, finden Sie hier heraus AOL.de. >
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