Re: [OPE] Venezuela is the most democratic country in Latin America

Hello Paula.   Stalinist like socialists discredit these events attacking the motives of these media when spreading these news. But the Chavecista and other socialist media don’t give much importance to these events or don’t even include them in their releases, because they support Chávez unconditionally even at the expense of the violation basic democratic values.   This, and similar events, has been happening during several years in Chávez’s Venezuela, and the argument of the government is that the people of Venezuela is behind this take over, not the government itself. But the fact is that forces of law and order are not instructed to stop this violation of popular sovereignty. This complicity of Chávez’s government revels its real undemocratic nature.   We have to vigorously express our disagreement with these undemocratic practices, avoiding the fatal contradictions that characterize Stalisnists.   Regards,A. Agafonow ________________________________ De: Paula <Paula_cerni@msn.com> Para: Outline on Political Economy mailing list <ope@lists.csuchico.edu> Enviado: sábado, 14 de febrero, 2009 5:37:58 Asunto: Re: [OPE] Venezuela is the most democratic country in Latin America Jerry: " What the heck are you talking about? In recent years (under President Chavez), Venezuela has been probably the MOST democratic country in Latin America. It has CERTAINLY been FAR more democratic than the USA! The assaults on democratic rights in Venezuela that have occurred have been staged by the "opposition" (i.e. the OPPONENTS of democracy and the defenders of the elite and the oligarchy in the country, as well as the puppets of US imperialism)."   I'm talking about the proposal by Chavez to run for a third presidential term, an anti-democratic measure that has been supported by many on the left, and will be voted on this Sunday. If it passes, it will make Venezuela - in this respect - less democratic than the US.   Did anyone see this piece in yesterday's Washington Post? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/11/AR2009021103986.html?wpisrc=newsletter&sid=ST2009021103358&s_pos=   Is this true? If it is, it's bad news; it suggests that Chavez is not only denying the people of Caracas their democratic rights, but also using public sector employment as a system of patronage that divides the working class and might eventually lead to civil war.   Chavez might be more democratic than his right-wing opponents, but that's beside the point. The same applies to Obama, Zapatero, Gordon Brown, and most other left-wing leaders in the world. Still we should not agree with their policies, if they are anti-democratic. "What???  We should "thank imperialism" for the women's movement???  We should "thank imperialism" for the extension of rights for working people?  I suppose the Vietnamese and Cuban people should "thank imperialism" as well? NO!  We should not thank them for ANY of this! We should thank and celebrate the people who struggled for these rights and gains  - often at great risk and suffering and even death - and who were opposed  every step of the way by imperialism!"   PaulaBy now you should know me well enough to understand what I mean and not pick unnecessary fights that waste everybody's time. I'm talking about imperialism as a historical period, where progress is indeed made by the people who struggle ... in conditions not of their own making.

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Received on Sat Feb 14 04:45:50 2009