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

I) Jerry: **The story that you asked about concerned protests by workers after over 7,000 workers were fired by Mayor Ledemza**   Does this justify that armed supporters of Chávez took over city hall and three other vital government buildings? The run of the city council was virtually impossible.   The workers fired were not innocent lambs Jerry. They werehard-line Chávez supporters --hired not to work in city agencies but to proselytize for the president's so-called Bolivarian revolution, serve as bodyguards to pro-government lawmakers and function as shock troops to intimidate Chávez's foes.   Try to make a more balanced reading of media Jerry, including those opposed to Chávez, since they are the only willing to criticize Chávez.     II) Jerry: **the President of the US is elected by the 'electoral college' - not directly by the people, Moreover, because of the way in which electoral college votes are allocated in most states, this means that someone can get elected President even when another candidate got a majority of the popular vote**   Yes, this is a week point of the democratic regime in USA. But to make a serious comparison you have to consider the overall system that includes concrete mechanisms that facilitate the balance of powers. Below I lit 12 items where Venezuela is performing very poor. Considering these items it is inevitable to reach the conclusion that USA is more democratic than Venezuela (Of course, in a world of blind people the one-eyed person is the king. We have to look at Europe to find some of the more mature democratic regimes).   1) Free elections. Since the ban of the opposition politicians who have more chances of beating Chávez in the last regional elections, this principle has been severely questioned in Venezuela.   2) Party control of the candidate selection process. 3) Nomination of presidential candidates: 3.1) legal requirements, 3.2) use of primaries. Almost absolute control of the top management of the Partido Socialista Unido --whose leader is the same president Chávez-- on the selection of the candidate, to the detriment of primaries.   4) Access to direct public resources. Absolute use of public funding to the benefit of the ruling party.   5) Terms of executive office occupancy. If today the referendum gives the victory to Chávez, the principle of limited terms of executive office occupancy will be severely damaged. In contrast to parliamentary regimes, in a presidential regime like the Venezuelan this is a definitive step back.   6) Presidential legislative power. Grater than in a parliamentary one. The legislative power of Venezuelan president has increased during Chávez government.   7) Division of power. Severely questioned during Chávez government. A consequence of the increased presidential powers.   8) Presidential partisan powers. Very high in Venezuelan Partido Socialista Unido.   9) Supreme audit agencies. Virtually lacking.   10) Ombudsman offices. Under control by the executive and accordingly biased.   11) Press freedom. 12) Violence against journalists. Journalists attacked and killed during Chávez government is a very well documented fact.     Regards,A. Agafonow ________________________________ De: GERALD LEVY <gerald_a_levy@msn.com> Para: Outline on Political Economy mailing list <ope@lists.csuchico.edu> Enviado: sábado, 14 de febrero, 2009 15:27:13 Asunto: RE: [OPE] Venezuela is the most democratic country in Latin America > 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.   Paula:   You must be joking. You think it's less democratic to LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE who is to be the next president in Venezuela?    (btw, just to refresh your memory: the President of the US is elected by the 'electoral college' - not directly by the people, Moreover, because of the way in which electoral college votes are allocated in most states, this means that someone can get elected President even when another candidate got a majority of the popular vote).   The story that you asked about concerned protests by workers after over 7,000 workers were fired by Mayor Ledemza, a member of the 'opposition'. I agree that these mass firings, opposed by the Chavistas, is bad news.   http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4198    I'm still learning about your perspectives.   In solidarity, Jerry> By now you should know me well enough to understand what I mean

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Received on Sun Feb 15 05:17:44 2009