Venezuela: Supporting A Once and Future Revolution

[Judi Lynn]

Weekend Edition July 26-28, 2013
A Reply to Clifton Ross

Venezuela: Supporting A Once and Future Revolution

by ROGER D. HARRIS


Venezuela is at a critical moment in its Bolivarian revolution, dealing with serious economic issues due to its transitional economy that is under siege by local oligarchs. At the same time, President Nicolás Maduro’s decision to welcome Edward Snowden, if he opts for political asylum in Venezuela, means that the Obama administration is escalating its hostility towards his government.

Venezuela faces a situation analogous to that of the Popular Unity government of Salvador Allende from 1970 to 1973 when, as is well documented, the CIA and the local business class conspired to destabilize the economy, overthrow the democratically elected socialist government, and impose the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

It is in this context that we find it ill timed at best that Clif Ross has assailed the Venezuelan government with one-sided and flimsy arguments (e.g., criticizing Chávez for choosing to divert electrical power from basic industry to the populace when natural droughts curtailed hydroelectric production). Nor does the Task Force on the Americas feel that it was indecent to circulate Greg Wilpert’s excellent critique of Ross’s break with the Bolivarian movement in Venezuela without also mailing out Ross’s article. A citation was enough.

A former Chávista, Ross now takes what he describes as an “agnostic” view of the Bolivarian movement. His agnosticism extends to the US-backed opposition, which Ross argued in his talk in Berkeley could be even better for Venezuela if it were to come to power.

As solidarity activists, the Task Force on the Americas is not afflicted with agnostic angst; we support the social justice movements against imperialist intervention. Our responsibility is to allow the Venezuelans to resolve the contradictions within their movement without the interference of the US government.

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/07/26/venezuela-supporting-a-once-and-future-revolution/

[Socialistlemur]

1. The Venezuelan economy is a mess because the government is run by ignoramuses

Local oligarchs? The siege of the Venezuelan economy is carried out by the Venezuelan government. The local oligarchs who ruin the country are the Boligarchs and the bands of corrupt officials coupled to the really dumb government policies. 40 % inflation and negative growth require a lot of rewarded thinking. The Chavistas with their Marxist mumbo jumbo, price controls ad lousy foreign exchange policies are an example of how to ruin a country.