Chavez Restyles Venezuela With '21st-Century Socialism'

[Karmadillo]

And our leaders restyle the United States with "21st-Century Feudalism." It will be interesting to see which system works out best.

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=45&ItemID=9041

CARACAS, Venezuela - Firmly in power and his revolution now in overdrive, President Hugo Chavez is moving fast to transform Venezuela's economy by bucking free-market planning with what he calls 21st-century socialism: founding state companies, seizing abandoned private factories and establishing thousands of cooperatives and worker-run businesses.

The populist government is reorganizing the country's colossal oil industry, taking a bigger share from private multinationals. Planners are reorganizing the banking system, placing stringent restrictions on lending while creating state banks. Venezuela is also developing a state-to-state barter system to trade items as varied as cattle, oil and cement as far away as Argentina and as near as Cuba, its closest ally.

"It's impossible for capitalism to achieve our goals, nor is it possible to search for an intermediate way," Mr. Chavez said a few months ago, laying out his plans. "I invite all Venezuelans to march together on the path of socialism of the new century."

According to many mainstream economists, the change is simply a mix of plans taken from the protectionist policies of the 1960's and others adopted from Cuba and countries of the former Soviet bloc. It may not be communism - as detractors contend it is - but it mixes socialism with capitalism and what some call improvisation.

Many of the president's grandest plans are put into practice at the year-old Ministry for the Popular Economy. Planners there have already created 6,840 cooperatives that employ 210,000 people nationwide, many producing for the state.

more...

[Karmadillo]

1. Kick.

nt

[laureloak]

2. Why do I see so many pro Chavez threads on DU?

Why try to drum up support for him here on DU?
This is the USA - not South America.

[Karmadillo]

3. "This is the USA--not South America." What in the world does that mean?

And how should articles discussing Chavez for publication in the USA be written? Is there an official style manual you have access to that the rest of us should see?

[arcos]

4. That's one of the problems with the USA...

A lot of Americans think their country is a bubble and don't give a shit about any other countries. And surprise, surprise, we all share the same planet and we are all affected by whatever happens half a world away.

[laureloak]

5. It's trying to sell anti-Americanism and I want no part of it. n/t

[arcos]

6. Anti-Americanism? how? nt

[PowerToThePeople]

7. Uh, no....

[Raiden]

9. He's actually trying to sell anti-Bushism

anti-neocon NWO

I have no problems with that

[Darranar]

10. "anti-Americanism"

For what it's worth, Chávez is selling cheap oil to poor communities across the United States, giving what is essentially humanitarian aid to people who our own government has recklessly abandoned in its relentless pursuit towards expanding its own power and that of the larger US ruling class.

Sounds very anti-American to me.

Granted, Chávez is consistently opposed to the US policy of supporting profits for the rich over human life and human needs, and imposing economic orders involving such blatantly immoral policies across the planet, but this position is not anti-American but rather that of decency. It is also the only position that provides a chance for continued human survival.

[1932]

12. It's anti-neoliberalism, and I'll bet you a dollar more and more Americans

will embrace it as they discover that neoliberalism polarizes wealth in a way that is destabilizing, unproductive, and dangerous for society.

[mshasta]

14. just because I love Chavez ideas ..

Doesn’t mean born in the USA will be banish from my birth certificated..
or I am less PATRIOTIC, or less American or less human or mother or neighbor…did you get it..


PRO-INDIVIDUAL-FREEDOMS

[Raiden]

8. I think Chaves is a true visionary

Here we have a politician who truly cares for the poor

[enid602]

11. Chavez

I think it's great that Chavez is investing in abandoned factories; something we might have considered here as an alternative to dumping hundreds of billions into Iraq. Venezuela's petroleum reserves are diminishing, so it's only reasonable to expect him to renegotiate multi-national contracts initially made to lure oil companies. Furthermore, I applaud Chavez's standing up to Bush. That said, socialism will probably not solve Venezuela's problems, and offers even fewer benefits for the majority of less-developed countries who don't have oil to pimp. For real economic progress, I look toward Lula in Brazil and Kirchner in Argentina.

[1932]

13. Chavez is solving his countries problems. Literacy is up, health care is

accessible, employment is up, political participation is increasing, inflation is down, wages are up and polarization of wealth and opportunity is decreasing.

In other words, every important indicator of development (according to people like Amartya Sen) is going in the right direction.

The only way Chavez won't solve Venezuela's problems is if someone sabotages his government before it can set an example for the rest of the underdeveloped world.

[Karmadillo]

15. Setting a good example is sufficient justification for preemptive war.

How dare he taunt us so.