Sanity in Venezuela
December 3rd, 2007 by joe
Reuters is reporting the Venezuelan people voted against President Hugo Chavez’ sweeping constitutional reforms which would have swept the nation back in time to approximately 1980s Soviet Union.
The president’s initiatives would have allowed him to run for an unlimited number of terms and provided enhanced presidential powers. Chavez said explicitly he intended to turn the country into a socialist state.
A couple weeks ago news stories revealed that food lines were commonplace for items that had come under national price controls.
“Do you think it’s good to be here waiting in line?”
Chavez’ term ends in 2012 and it appears he will not emulate Cuba’s Fidel Castro as president for life.
This entry was posted on Monday, December 3rd, 2007 at 1:51 am and is filed under Socialism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:06 am
We can only hope he abides by the election and steps down.
While I half understand that people in poor countries can have problems and want socialism (especially if the population is two tiered economically, with filthy rich and dirt poor). What I can’t understand is why in a country that is an OPEC member, all the citizens aren’t sharing in the wealth of the oil. The sheiks of the Arab world have made a point of making sure the average citizen in the country has benefit from the oil being sold. (Even Alaska has a permanent fund for its residents.) It seems Venezuela hasn’t learned that sharing the wealth makes for a stable political scene.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:15 am
I’m sure we’ll learn all about Venezuela in the coming days but my impression is they do have a middle class there.
You are correct in that this development would appear to REALLY mess with Chavez’ plans and he might not be expected to back down so easily.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:53 am
The only nations on earth in which Tyrants such as Chavez can impose thier will via ballots and insert a Cuban style socialist nation are those void of an educated middle class. It is far easier to pull the wool of the eyes of the uneducated poor than those with some mobility and access to information. However, nuts like Chavez can turn a nation into a basket case in a fairly short period of time through confiscation of the means of production, re-distribution of wealth and censorship of the media. Chevez is well on his way in doing all of this.
Chevez has studied Castros successful rise to power and the failures of Socialists in Nicaragua.
We must remember a few things when it comes to Chavez or any of these Socialists / Communists nitwits. They are very poor students of history and have less understanding of economics that your typical 8th grader. This coupled with quest for an egalitarian utopia is what makes them extremely dangerous. Socialists Zeal combined with ignorance and a dash of stupidy is a very bad combination.
Don’t count on Chavez giving up anything.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:34 am
Excellent observations. From today’s news reports it seems they are guaranteed another shot at similar “reforms” between now and 2012.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Russia is having its problems and it looks like Putin is enbroiled in similar socialistic issues. America is marching forward to the socialist’s beat. History has proven time and again that socialism doesn’t work….unless you are a dictator. Then it still doesn’t work but you get to call all the shots. The politics of today’s environment is power corrupts and absolute (or elitist) power corrupts (and destroys) absolutely.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Well boys, Fascism doesn’t work either. Lucky for the U.S. we have such strong institutions, even though we have an administration that is seemingly determined to destroy the middle class.
Even so, I’m concerned that the 5-4 vote in December 2000 will be seen as the beginning of the end of America’s dominance.
Anyway, thanks for reporting on my trip. It was a fun time even though they wouldn’t let my dead relatives vote. ( I have such satisfying memories of Chicago.)
December 4th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Define “fascism” for us, inSanity.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:21 am
sanity:
Move to Venezuela, Senor Chavez will take care of you.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Sanity?
Are you including the current Congress in with the administration jab? And those strong institutions are what is helping to bring down the U.S. by exporting jobs, pushing anti-American agendas and the like. Even the institution that takes care of you is doing us a dis-service, nut-job!
December 5th, 2007 at 2:59 am
Insanity,
Who is chatting up Fascism? Last I looked this is a republic, with Socialists calling themselves Democrats. Are you that desperate for a strawman?
December 5th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Chavez shut down a news outlet that was annoying him about 6 months ago. He also has tampered with the vote count. The 51%-49% against is probably an optimistic/inflated measure of support for his tampering with the constitution.