Voting In Tyranny
William Ratliff pens an op-ed in today's Los Angeles Times that looks at the developing dictatorship in Venezuela. He points out that (T)Hugo Chavez is using a mask of democracy to usher in his dictatorship. He starts by listing all the ways Venezuelan rights will be eliminated or severely curtailed by the changes Chavez is making, There is a cautionary tale here:
Why would Venezuelans vote to curtail their own liberties like this? First, because the people remember that previous governments failed to serve popular interests, while Chavez promises them perks, such as six-hour workdays, and redress of their grievances against domestic and foreign oppressors, including the United States.
Self-destructive voting also can be understood in the context of the region's centuries-old Indian-Iberian culture, which historically stresses a paternalistic relationship between rulers and people, even if this paternalism in reality serves the wishes of the few over the needs of the many……
…..By the time Chavez's supporters realize they've been sold a bill of goods, they may find themselves living under a system that allows no more freedom to choose than Fidel Castro has allowed in Cuba over the last half-century.
The Venezuelan experience demonstrates clearly that when voters' perspectives are incomplete and their passions are ripe for manipulation, popular democracy may not serve their interests, but instead may lead to their virtual enslavement. Venezuelans can still block this steamroller by rejecting the reforms. If they don't, by the time they wake up, it may be too late.
What is happening now in Venezuela is precisely what the founders of this nation feared. That is why this nation was intentionally organized as a constitutional republic. Ultimately, the former government of Venezuela was voted out by the people. They will find that they no longer have that ability once these changes are made by Chavez. But they will awaken too late.
World news | Gaius Saturday, 24 November , 2007
By Quilly Mammoth, Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 10:30 am
But don’t you see, Gaius, that they marching forward democratically to tryanny and thus we shouldn’t crticizise them?? I mean, it’s not like they are voting for Chimpy McBusHitler!!
/channeling Libby Spencer
Look at how much violence Castro exported as long as he had Soviet support. (T)Hugo has oil money and isn’t ruling an island but rather country that has land connection to Guyana, Columbia and Brazil. I expect that not long after he becomes dictator for life that he will gobble up the western half of Guyana which Venezuela has long claimed.
By Julia_1984, Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 11:12 am
Hey… stop it right there… not all Venezuelans are cheering this madness, in fact the opposition might be larger than what we tend to think these days and even if it’s not, it is rough and unfair to generalize the events in a way that all the people that’s been fighting for over 5 years against this regime - like this commenter - ends up eclipsed by a certain idea of an overwealming popular democracy going to tirany bu the act of people’s sovereignity. Last but no least, the reform could be approved despite the votings, behind doors. It’s out of topic to speak about the possible electoral frauds in Venezuela, but I will bring you proof, if you want to.
By Americaneocon, Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 11:39 am
Ought to forward that one over to Libby Spencer!