Saturday, February 03, 2007 Libre: Rise of Chavismo By Mel Libre Seriously Now
JUST when the US thought that the burning cigar of Fidel Castro would finally be extinguished with the failing health of the longest serving leader of the world, a growing number of South American nations are embracing socialism, with President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela at the forefront.
Who would have thought that the seeming harmless iconic figure of Che Guevarra and the long-standing snub on Castro could turn millions away from the free enterprise of the American model to one which was founded on the thoughts of Marx and Mao? With the demise of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the hybrid set-up in the People’s Republic of China, it seemed that the US came out winner of the Cold War, and it would assume the role of the most powerful nation in the world.
Since it appointed itself as the global policeman, the US, under President George W. Bush, has picked fights with states the president declared as “enemies of democracy” (which should read “threats to American interests”). It is no secret that the US backed many of the dictators of South America “in defense of democracy.” But these backfired. Instead, most of these US-backed politicians trampled on the basic freedoms of their people, like putting in prison opposition members and controlling the media. Graft and corruption became rampant and exploitation and poverty grew by leaps and bounds.
When the US did withdraw its support from most of these dictators, it was too late. Much damage had been done. It was just a matter of time that those who were oppressed would rise into power to establish governments that did away with the structures of martial rule and American imperialism.
“Chavismo,” the socialist revolution of Chavez, has driven the democratically elected Congress to grant the Venezuelan president the right to rule by decree for 18 months, which aims to implement policies dubbed “socialism of the 21st century.”
Chavez is expected to issue decrees that would nationalize key industries, including the oil sector, to help rebuilt the country’s economy.
Already Washington has placed Chavez ahead of Castro as regional nemesis.
By doing so, the US is re-igniting the dying flame in Cuba to the fresh fire in Venezuela. Other South American government that have chosen the path of socialism, such as Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay, will surely keep a close watch on the Chavez experiment.
But it is doubtful that Bush wants to pick another fight in the same hemisphere when he has his hands full in Iraq. Time is therefore opportune for the new socialists of South America. Chavez and the rest of his socialist neighbors, though, must learn from the faults or excesses of the socialists in the old Eastern Europe. They must introduce something different, something indigenous that could lead towards a society that is able to share the resources of the nation among its people without diminishing personal initiative for betterment.
While free enterprise has reigned for sometime and made wealth for nations and individuals, it has not failed to stop poverty in the world. Capitalism is not perfect as was communism or socialism. There must be a better model, and Chavez and company have the stage.
