From: Paul Cockshott (wpc@DCS.GLA.AC.UK)
Date: Fri Dec 07 2007 - 11:44:54 EST
I agree that the removal of term limits was a move in the wrong direction.
Paul Cockshott
Dept of Computing Science
University of Glasgow
+44 141 330 3125
www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~wpc/reports/
-----Original Message-----
From: OPE-L on behalf of Paul Zarembka
Sent: Fri 07/12/2007 3:43 PM
To: OPE-L@SUS.CSUCHICO.EDU
Subject: Re: [OPE-L] Venezuela After the Referendum
Dogan,
The only comment I'd make about your reply to me is that, on the one hand,
I was not making a comment about Bolivarians in general, but rather about
Chavez and those close to him. On the other hand, the constitutional
proposal presented to the Venezuelan people did not have a good smell to
it. The reason it doesn't smell good I've already stated (the economic
progressive steps could have been legislated, and the issues around Chavez
and increased executive powers could have been untied from the economic
proposals). I smell a bribe.
If I remember correctly, Venezuela did not have term limits before 1999.
When the 1999 constitution change was proposed one of the selling points I
recall was the introduction of term limits on the President. It was
described as increased democracy. Now that the President is in the second
term, socialism has replaced the former agenda and, viola, now unlimited
terms (and increasing each term from 6 to 7 years) return. This is NOT a
good message for our movement. Nor are increased executive powers, hardly
more "power to the people".
Chavez is now only saying the proposal was too complicated and our enemies
told lies. According to him, the substance is still fine.
Paul
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