Chavez Opposition Vows Resistance

Opponents of (T)Hugo Chavez's plans to alter the constitution on Venezuela to allow him to be president for life are vowing to fight the changes Chavez is demanding. They have no chance of stopping it in the legislature, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of (T)HugCo Enterprises. But they do stand a chance to beat it in a referendum – if (T)Hugo doesn't cheat.

Ok, they probably can't stop it.

Some of the more sweeping constitutional reforms proposed by Chavez Wednesday night would extend presidential terms from six to seven years and eliminate current limits on his re-election. He also wants the central government to have greater control over local government and would end the autonomy of Venezuela's Central Bank — potentially funneling billions of dollars in foreign reserves into social programs.

Chavez called for a transition to "a new society" that will lift millions in the oil-rich nation out of poverty. He said the constitutional changes are necessary so that capitalism in Venezuela "finishes dying" to allow his socialist revolution to flourish.

But his opponents see the move as another power grab by an increasingly autocratic leader and fear he wants to steer Venezuela toward Cuban-style communism.

"We will go from town to town to mobilize the people to confront this attempted constitutional coup," said Manuel Rosales, the leader of Venezuela's largest opposition party. "A constitutional reform isn't necessary. What the people want is for this constitution to be obeyed."

If approved, the reforms would be Chavez's most radical step yet in his drive to transform Venezuela into a socialist state. Since his December re-election, he has already nationalized the oil, telecommunications and electricity sectors.

Among other reforms proposed Wednesday, Chavez would create new types of property to be managed by cooperatives, reduce the workday to six hours and create "a popular militia" that would form part of the military.

He also urged lawmakers to increase the government's power to expropriate private property before getting a court's approval to remove obstacles to his plans to redistribute "unproductive" farming lands to among the poor and open the way for cooperatives to manage failing factories.

It's all downhill from here for Venezuela – right into another Cuba.

UPDATE: And scales fall from one set of eyes on the left. Self-professed left-leaner Jeb Koogler, writing at The Moderate Voice has seen, at last, what Hugo Chavez is – and where he is dragging Venezuela.

But it’s time to wake up and get our priorities straight. We should not be blind to what is going on in Venezuela. We can no longer forgive Chavez’s dictatorial tendencies merely because of his avowed commitment to the country’s poor. Indeed, it is a grave mistake to overlook tyranny or authoritarianism even when it is couched in the rhetoric of liberal reform and social justice. Ultimately, while Chavez’s vision of an end to poverty and the creation of a more equitable society is an honorable and an important one, his way of achieving these goals is not. Upholding democracy is infinitely more important than any of these other aims.

Koogler admits that Chavez's use of the "right" words and support for the "right" causes blinded him to Chavez's real intentions. I sincerely mean no disrespect to Koogler here and I am not trying to be snarky. But have you, by any chance, taken a hard look at some of the others who mouth the "right" words and support the "right" causes? I'd submit that it might be a worthwhile endeavor. Again, no disrespect, but if you were blinded once by rhetoric, wouldn't it be a good idea to check to make sure it has not happened on other issues?