[Marxism] Tomorrow Venezuela goes to the polls once again

[Walter Lippmann]

(This was posted to the CubaNes list earlier today.)
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From: Rene Courtemarche [mailto:fcstuartca at yahoo.ca] 
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 11:22 AM
To: Cuba News
Subject: Tomorrow Venezuela goes to the polls once again

Folx

Tomorrow Venezuela goes to the polls once again, this time to vote on a
crucial referendum package of proposed Constitutional reforms. The reforms
taken as a whole, if adopted, will accelerate the pace and increase the
force of the Bolivarian revolution which is transcending its
anti-imperialist and nationalist phase and cresting towards a socialist
revolution. 

The powerful national capitalist class is mobilizing its supporters, backed
to the hilt by Washington and various European powers, to defeat the Yes
forces. The campaign for the YES and the counter campaign for the NO are
both all out mobilizations of opposed class forces. Little room is left for
neutrals on the fence between them. 

There really are no neutrals there, although many pretend to that. Parasitic
elements, always capable of allying with anyone who will assure them their
incomes and comforts, and always capable of arguing either side of a dispute
with equal force and grip, hesitate, concerned to make sure they end up on
the winning side. For the impoverished majority who identify with the
Bolivarian revolution because its benefits for them are already evident and
abundant, there is no doubt that the referendum is a critical turning point.


A Yes victory will mean major steps forward in improving the quality of life
in Venezuela, and also in allied ALBA countries such as Cuba, Bolivia, and
Nicaragua. In those countries the beneficiaries of massive economic aid and
social programs backed by Venezuelan donations, fair trade agreements, and
soft credits, understand the stakes. 


Fidel Castro has eloquently explained how the Cuban leadership views them.
Here is how Cuba’s president described the issues in his November 29, 2007
message on the theme:

<<“The empire has created conditions conducive to violence and internecine
conflicts. On Chavez’s recent visit last November 21, I seriously discussed
with him the risks of assassination as he is constantly out in the open in
convertible vehicles. I said this because of my experience as a combatant
trained in the use of an automatic weapon and a telescopic sight. Likewise,
after the triumph, I became the target of assassination plots directly or
indirectly ordered by almost every United States administration since 1959.
 
     “The irresponsible government of the empire does not stop for a minute
to think that the assassination of Venezuela’s leader or a civil war in that
country would blow up the globalized world economy, due to its huge reserves
of hydrocarbons.  Such circumstances are without precedent in the history of
mankind.
 
     “Cuba developed close ties with the Bolivarian government of Venezuela
during the hardest days resulting from the demise of the USSR and the
tightening of the United States economic blockade.  The exchange of goods
and services grew from practically zero level to more than 7 billion dollars
annually, with great economic and social benefits for both our peoples.
Today that is where we receive the fundamental supplies of fuel needed for
our country's consumption, something that would be very difficult to obtain
from other sources due to the shortage of light crude oil, the insufficient
refining capacity, the United States’ power and the wars its has unleashed
to seize the world oil and gas reserves.
 
     “Add to the high energy prices, the prices of foods destined by
imperial policy to be transformed into fuel for the gas-guzzling cars of the
United States and other industrial nations.
 
    “A victory of the Yes vote on December 2 would not be enough.  The weeks
and months following that date may very well prove to be extremely tough for
many countries, Cuba for one; although before that the empire’s adventures
could lead the planet into an atomic war, as their own leaders have
confessed.
 
     “Our compatriots can rest assured that I have had time to think and to
meditate at length on these problems.”>>


 
In the editorial offices of the major dailies of New York, Washington, L.A.,
Miami, and Chicago editorials are being written in anticipation of the
outcome of tomorrow’s vote in Venezuela. At least two versions will already
have been crafted and presented to the editors in draft form. Once the
results are sure, the “definitive” version will be sent to press.
 
In April 2003 the New York Times, certain that President Hugo Chávez had
been ousted came out with an editorial hailing the decision of Washington
and local coup leaders to appoint “respected business leader, Pedro Carmona”
as the new president of the oil patch on the south side of Lake Caribbean.
This “respected business leader” earned the confidence of the New York Times
by issuing an immediate decree abolishing the Constitution and dissolving
the National Assembly. Having just hired sniper thugs to shoot unarmed
demonstrators and passersby in the events leading up to the coup no doubt
proved his mettle.

Here is that editorial in full. No doubt a similar draft is in the wings, to
be published in the unlikely event the No side wins, or the Yes side comes
in with just a very narrow margin of victory. The version written in case
the YES side wins will be interesting to see. Don’t forget to tune into the
New York Times on Monday, or late Sunday evening for the sequel to this side
story on a very big turning point in Venezuela and Indo-Latin America.
 
In solidarity with Venezuela and their YES to socialism in our time.
 
Phil Stuart Cournoyer
Managua, Nicaragua
 
New York Times: April 13, 2002
Hugo Chávez Departs
Editorial
New York Times: April 13, 2002

TEXT EDITORIAL
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