Hugo Chavez

[Reaction]

Hugo Chavez' policies have undoubtedly improved the lot of the poor of Venezuela and he has enjoyed electoral success as a result. However, where will his "revolution" go from here? His policies have illicited a CIA-supported coup attempt and the private media of Venezuela, whose owners are ardently against his economic policies, is intent on branding him a dictator and disposing of him. Will he suffer the fate of an isolated Castro or become a modern day Bolivar? Will a Pinochet-type replace him? Is he to be admired by Americans or seen as a threat and possibly included as a target in the 'war on terror'? What are your thoughts?

[Towlie]

1. Thanks.

Thanks for continuing http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2854568&mesg_id=2854568">my thread, which was unfortunately locked. I'll be interested in reading the responses.

[Reaction]

2. Political movements in the developing world

are very important. Whether we like it of not, the world in becoming increasingly interconnected through capital (see NAFTA, IMF etc) and labor flows ("illegal immigration"). I have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed in the large volume of "shock posts" I see here on what I expected to be a more enlightened board. At least the freepers discuss the finer points of their exploitative "trickle down" theory in a somewhat reasoned manner. Well, at least they try. It's all good, though.

[1932]

3. MLK said something like this:

the arc of human history is long but always bends towards justice. That's how I feel about the history of Latin America. It was on an arc that was interrupted by Kissinger, Nixon, the Dulles brothers and Eisenhower, but where Chavez is taking it is inevitable and it will be very hard to get it off its track.

Furthermore, he's devolved too much power to the people and created a constitution (and literacy about the constitution) that will be very hard to undo. I think that was proven during the attempted coup.

[Reaction]

4. Ditto Iran in '53

but look where that's led. I'd say the promise of Mossedegh was undone fairly easily. No need for an invasion/occupation. And what about Castro's Cuba? When these leaders derive their power from nationalist/patriotic tendencies they seem to be quickly isolated and their most fortunate fate is to die on the vine (Castro). The reaction that these "islands" of progressivism illicit seems to be swift, deadly and overwhelming thusfar. As much as I hate to say it, I can see a Pinochet-type in Venezuela within our lifetime. Our population is literate about it's constitution, but that doesn't prevent it from voting for people who have overturned the writ of habeus corpus and that dates back to 1215. While I definitely support Chavez' literacy programs and wealth redistribution, I'm afraid it may be fleeting.

[1932]

5. I don't think a Pinochet-type is possible anymore.