May Day

Evo Morales has declared an end to the ‘corporate looting’ and sent Federal troops to occupy the oil fields of Bolivia. It’s not a coincidence this happened on May 1st, also known as International Workers Day. [Insert hammer and sickle logo here.]

No word yet on Evo being elected President-for-Life as Hugo Chavez apparently is preparing to do, but hey, one step at a time right?

Moving to paradise

I was listening to my favorite progressive radio talk show the other day... what? You've never heard of a progressive radio talk show? Well, it's not Rush Limbaugh, but the left coast has had an uber-leftist radio station for decades-- KPFA.

Anyway, I was listening to a discussion about how all of Latin America hates Bush and one of the hosts says that she's ready to move to Venezuela because of the wondrous social revolution going on there. Somehow I seriously doubt she will actually move but it was entertaining to listen to these hardened leftists gush about how wonderful it was to see real democracy at work somewhere in the world.

However, there is no doubt about the kind of revolution going on down south and sooner or later someone will have to pay the piper and try to pick up the pieces and most likely it will be us.

LA PAZ (AFP) - Troops seized Bolivia's oil and gas fields as President Evo Morales issued a formal decree nationalizing the petroleum resources of South America's poorest country.

The takeover of oilfields by the army's engineering corps was announced by the top military command moments after the president announced a formal decree nationalizing the country's petroleum operations, which had been expected.

"The state is recovering its property, the possession and total and absolute control of these resources," Morales said at a May Day speech at San Alberto gas field in southern Bolivia.

Moments later, the president called on the country's "patriots" to "mobilize against any effort by any company to sabotage" the nationalization.

The left-wing leader stated that the move would be a "true nationalization" that would help the economy and generate additional jobs in Bolivia, where 70 percent of the population lives in poverty. ~news.yahoo

 

Hugo and Evo are friends you know. Likely they have been sharing 'democratic' governance tips with Fidel ...and Cindy Sheehan.

LAST SUNDAY hundreds of heavily armed Venezuelan troops invaded one of the country's largest and most productive cattle ranches, launching what President Hugo Chavez describes as his "war against the estates." The next day Mr. Chavez signed a decree under which authorities are expected to seize scores of other farms in the coming weeks. This assault on private property is merely the latest step in what has been a rapidly escalating "revolution" by Venezuela's president... ~washington post editorial

Did I mention Cindy Sheehan yet? Yes, I think I did.

How not to alleviate poverty

The sad thing about all this is that Central and South America suffer because of leftist policies, not for a lack of them, or I should say not because of the overwhelmingly capitalistic way in which governments operate there. The economic policies of South and Central America are not very Capital friendly at all.

As I explained in a previous post entitled, "The Real Quagmire," the poverty down south is a government induced problem. They lack the private property legal structure we take for granted here in the US which would allow, "the poor and noble entrepenuers to 'capitalize' on the assets they have."

What the third world needs is not a social revolution, they need a capitalist revolution. Capitalism is not seen as working in the third world precisely because it is being choked by excessive government regulation. It is not because of the anarchy of capitalism that poverty exists, it is because of the oppressive hand of government that poverty exists. They make it impossible for average folks to do business and become entrepenuers honestly.

Why would we be surprised that after the leaders of the 'workers revolution' are elected democratically that they become holders of office for life? Is this democracy? The rich stay rich and the poor get poorer in these countries because they use the state to keep it that way. Did Fidel ever retire and go to live in the same cramped and dirty apartment his people live in? Or can we expect Hugo Chavez to leave office when his term expires and live like the rest of his people do?

Speaking at a stadium packed with supporters in central Lara state, Chavez said he would hold a referendum to put the question of his remaining in office to Venezuelans if the opposition pulls out of upcoming presidential elections.

"I am going to ask you, all the people, if you agree with Chavez being president until 2031," he said. ~news.yahoo

 

No, I expect not.

[H]egemonic Word count: 811

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