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

There is something sure Jerry. It is an extremely demanding task to build a theory of democracy able to integrate coherently the absence of poliarchic mechanisms and the over exaltation of the supreme leader’s personality.   Until those **socialists** like you offer such an implausible theory, the BOURGEOIS democracy continue to be a second best.  A. Agafonow ________________________________ De: GERALD LEVY <gerald_a_levy@msn.com> Para: Outline on Political Economy mailing list <ope@lists.csuchico.edu> Enviado: domingo, 15 de febrero, 2009 14:24:58 Asunto: 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.   Yes, Alejandro. It was entirely justified and I express my solidarity with their struggles.   Your list below enshrines and elevates a VERY limited and contradictory experience - the experience of BOURGEOIS democracy in the leading imperialist power (USA) . This was not EVER *REAL* democracy! This point was made to you previously.   Even in that limited context, it is wrong - on virtually very count.   > 1) Free elections.   Freer in Venezuela than in US.   >2) Party control of the candidate selection process.   Much freer in Venezuela.   > 4) Access to direct public resources.   Abuses in both countries.   > 5) Terms of executive office occupancy.   Not a relevant criteria. What is important is that *the people decide* - as they are doing in Venezuela, rather than the 'founding fathers' in the US or the City Council in NYC.   > 6) Presidential legislative power.   You haven't been following the news in the US in recent years, I gather.   > 7) Division of power. > Severely questioned during Chávez government.   Yes. Severely questioned by those who supported the coup and thus are bitter enemies of democracy.   > 8) Presidential partisan powers.   President Chavez is a partisan supporter of the working class and the poor; Presidents Bush and Obama were and are partisan supporters of the ruling class. All you have to do is look at the bailout of US banks to see proof of that.   > 9) Supreme audit agencies.   Almost completely corrupted in US. Look at how the Securities and Exchange Commission acted in relation to a massive Ponzi scheme.   > 10) Ombudsman offices.   Like term limits, a relatively recent change in US. Very contradictory experience in practice here. And often very corrupted: e.g.civilian complaint review boards controlled by the police.   >11) Press freedom.   Just as free in Venezuela, if not more.   >12) Violence against journalists.   Yes, there have been many progressive journalists who are on the side of the Bolivarian Revolution who have been murdered by 'opposition' forces.   I fear all of your information only comes from right-wing sources.   In solidarity, Jerry

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Received on Sun Feb 15 09:09:43 2009