[Marxism] Evo or Bush (was: RE: Sh*flying inupcomingBolivianelections)

[S. Artesian]

No, again you miss the issue of class.  I do NOT acknowledge that  Bolivia's 
and customers and allies are trying to head off a civil war.  I think 
Bolivia's customers and allies are acting only in accord with their 
self-interests--, and in this case that means accommodating, reconciling, 
with the right wing, hoping perhaps that somehow, someway the right will be 
mollified by a process of continuous compromise and accomodation.

I think Brazil's role is probably much less subtle and much more commercial 
than that.

Having misunderstood that, you then proceed to make this remarkable leap, 
away from "national salvation and self-determination" and toward "regional 
integration" of the type, I think, that  is dangerous to any class struggle.

"should it still, as you propose, initiate hostilities by "outlawing those 
provincial elections, declaring them null and void, demanding the 
resignation of all those government officials supporting such 'elections' as
 enemies of the Bolivian nation...deploying the military and the population 
to, in essence, seize those provinces" in the face of opposition to such 
pre-emptive action by the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, and the 
other Latin American nations?"

This is incredible, no ?  What happened to national self-determination? 
What happened to "no lectures"?   But those are just abstractions to be 
dispensed with whenever you think there is a reason for supporting the 
status quo. And then "first principles" are dispensed with by your faux 
analysis of "realpolitik."

 The bigger issue is simply, what makes you think that the class struggle 
unfolds according to the wishes, requests, desires, of customers?  Of 
allies?  What makes you think that the economic, social drivers of the 
conflict in Bolivia, and they do exist concretely, will simply be placed in 
suspension because Lula wants no disruption in the soy processing areas?  Or 
Chavez wants something else?

Me remarkably blase?   Not at all, I have passionaltely, deliberately 
analyzed conditions in Bolivia, looked at those economic drivers 
historically and in the current time, and I am convinced that the 
irresponsibility, the deadly irresponsibility  rests with those who think 
blind faith is a practical political program.

As for my sense of responsibility, personally and politically:  personally 
I've been responsible for daily decisons affecting the safety of employees 
and the public.  There is nothing I regard more seriously than the 
responsibility for decisions and actions that involve the life, welfare, and 
safety of people; Politically, I feel and act the same.   I am proposing no 
irresponsible path forward in Bolivia. I have pointed out that the blind 
faith in Morales and the MAS is exactly what has led to JB now asking the 
miners to forego their protests and vote for Morales.  I have pointed out 
that blaming the miners and the left for any defeat is in fact blaming those 
victimized.

I have not, although I'm sure you failed to notice it and will accuse me of 
just the opposite as you always do, called for the overthrow of Morales.  I 
am opposed, tactically, to such a call as being irresponsible.  But I think 
the greatest and most deadly irresponsibility is the illusion that Bolivia 
is in the middle of a "process of reform," that the bourgeoisie and their 
allies, including sections of the ruling class in Brazil, mean anything 
other to destroy, physically, any prospects for revolution, even if, and 
perhaps in this era, particularly if, it means torching the whole country.

Responsibility is hardly a dirty word.  Promoting delusions are 2 dirty 
words.   Where at the end of the 18th century the bourgeoisie could afford a 
Danton to demand, as strategy and tactic of their national revolution, 
Audace, Audace, encore l'audace, today at the beginning of the 21st century, 
our 21st century socialists can do no more that advocate for their program 
of "national salvation," cuidado, cuidado, mucho mas cuidado.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marvin Gandall" <marvgandall at videotron.ca>
To: <sartesian at earthlink.net>
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 10:47 AM
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Evo or Bush (was: RE: Sh*flying 
inupcomingBolivianelections)