The Modern History of Venezuela from 1908 to 1973 - Edgardo Lander on Reality Asserts Itself (2/8)

[geefloyd46]

[Perseus]

1. For those interested

I am not sure what he will say on the next part about Chavez regime, but he forgot (or I missed it) to explain that the coup of 1958, when Marcos Perez Jimenez was taken down, was orchestrated by the USA. Although I do not agree with dictatorships, which is what Venezuela's current regime is, during Jimenez regime were the golden years of Venezuela, the middle class was very strong, there was no poverty like what you find today, there was security, you could leave the front door of your house open and no one would dare to come in, all the major infrastructure accomplishments that are still standing today, although needing heavy maintenance, were built during his tenure as president. There was corruption, but not to the extent there is today and what begun when Betancourt took office.

Also, when Romulo Betancourt became president is when corruption took flight in Venezuela, you could see the Nouveau riche rampant around the capital. Poor people moved in the capital and formed the barrios, which is an eye-sore when you come in from the airport, it is all shacks, dirt floors, and most deplorable conditions you can imagine. Crime is also rampant on those barrios.

This incident happened when Betancourt was president. He was accused of taking government money so he appeared on National TV and quoted "Let these hands be burned if I have ever touched the Venezuelan treasury", soon after there was an attempt and a bomb was placed in a parked car which detonated burning Betancourt hands, he was shown on TV with both hands bandaged, interesting that only his hands burned.

I am curious to hear what Lander has to say about Chavez, because it is the worst era of Venezuela, and that is what the Venezuelan people are trying to get rid of, the corruption and the Cuban influence.

For those who doubt about the Cuban influence check out the latest regime resolutions, now people need a card to buy essential goods, for example, if you bought soap a couple of days ago, then you are not allowed to buy for another week, or so (not sure what the "quotas" are), also, the regime is going to close all private schools and the history of Cuba will be taught in all schools, for those teachers who oppose these changes, they will simply be fired, period. Check it out.

[dotymed]

2. Chavez, because it is the worst era of Venezuela, and that is what the Venezuelan people are trying

to get rid of.
That is not evident in the (extremely scrutinized) elections that have taken place throughout the Bolivarian Revolution.

I think most DU'ers understand that with extreme economic sanctions placed on Venezuela (mainly by the U.S.) commodities are scarce. The same way that it happened in Cuba. IMO, this has resulted in high crime and a golden opportunity for the wealthy in Venezuela
to initiate riots with the help of the CIA. The people are suffering.
If Venezuela will fall back into line with the corporations and America, these sanctions will end, the oil companies will rape the resources
and prosperity will flow from the mighty.
Venezuela like every sovereign nation deserves the right of self determination without their economy (or anything) being held hostage by TPTB.
Capitalist countries fear what will happen (as do their corporate overlords) if their citizens realize that Democratic Socialism can work very well. Many European countries have this extremely successful form of government. They are not in our backyard and have never been our puppets. Nor do they have the oil reserves that Venezuela has.

[fasttense]

3. Right Wing talking points are riddled throughout your comment.

The current socialist government is the furthest thing from a US baked dictatorship that you seem to desire so much.

What is it with people who just eat up all the propaganda the uber rich spew without any questions or thought?

Do you know how many times I've heard that phrase Cuban influence? It's always used by the Right Wing rich elites to defend dictatorships and continued suffering for the poor in South America. It is a Right Wing talking point that attempts to discredit all forms of socialism and cheers on the most corrupt capitalism imaginable.

You expect Socialism to cure, in 15 short years, centuries of dictatorial and corrupt capitalist abuse of Venezuela. You have more faith in socialism than the right wing has in crony capitalism. It took 33 years of unrelenting abuse by capitalist to turn the US into the direction of a "free" market hell hole. Do you really think a socialist government can turn Venezuela around in less time?

[FairWinds]

4. Speaking of History . .

the propaganda arm of the US ruling class (the mainstream media) is all
over the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide - which should indeed be marked.
But there is a total blackout (what Noam C.) calls the "memory hole" of the
50th anniversary of the U.S. orchestrated coup in Brazil that ushered in two decades of
torture and repression - and set the stage for other coups to follow including Chile,
Argentina, Uruguay, etc.
One of the most pernicious myths out there is that the US promotes democracy around
the world - in Venezuela or elsewhere. It does not.