[Marxism] Evo or Bush (was: RE: Sh** flying in upcoming Bolivianelections)

[S. Artesian]

Beginning at the ending:  JB states:

This is not how some, perhaps many of us may have wanted to draw the
battle lines, but for better or worse, THIS IS how the battle lines are
drawn, right now, in Bolivia. Next week it may be different, but THIS WEEK
the ACTUAL battle going on is between Evo's constitutional government and
the U.S. embassy and its stooges. TOMORROW you may have better choices, but 
TODAY the choices are Evo or Bush.
________
This appeal might have had a little bit more credibility if at some point in 
the last 3 years, JB had not always advocated the "Morales" line; had not 
consistently criticized as ultra-leftist those forces that did not stand 
with a program of "national salvation" that submerged specific class needs 
and interests that represent the necessary way forward,  the "better 
choices" that might be there tomorrow if we just, and just always, support 
Morales today.

 But I don't see that, looking back in the archives.  In fact I see nary a 
word, any extrapolation of where Morales' temporizing, of his ministers' 
provocations, will lead the struggle in Bolivia from those who are now 
worried that the right has been emboldened, the workers and poor weakened. 
Those who did provide some critical evaluation did in fact state that the 
temporizing would embolden the bourgeoisie, would weaken the workers and 
poor.

And working from that point backwards, this pre-blaming of the miners for a 
possible defeat of Morales by the right, is itself backwards, for the blame 
is purely with the organization that hold the governmental power, and that 
is the MAS.  It is the governmental power that has allowed the right such 
great latitude for movement, while trying to mitigate the militancy of the 
workers and poor.  The blame cannot be placed with those struggling against 
their own exploitation, unless of course, some think the miners aren't 
exploited and aren't struggling against exploitation but are instead, as 
some have argued about workers in Venezuela and Ecuador, actually privileged 
and fighting to maintain and enhance that privilege.

I don't think Morales position is like that of Chavez in 2002; There was in 
Venezuela, outside of the government, outside of the military,  class 
organizations, aided by Chavez's government, the Bolivarian circles, which 
could and did mobilize and which were clearly not organizations of class 
compromise.  I think those circles are what saved Chavez.  I don't know if 
an equivalent is in Bolivia, but if Morales is going to be "saved," and 
perhaps literally, it will be by turning to whatever nascent organs of class 
anti-compromise exist or can be brought into existence.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joaquin Bustelo" <jbustelo at gmail.com>
To: <sartesian at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 1:12 PM
Subject: [Marxism] Evo or Bush (was: RE: Sh** flying in upcoming 
Bolivianelections)