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Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
Tue Mar 4, 2014, 07:03 PM Mar 2014

In Venezuela the poor celebrate and the rich protest. Why?

In Venezuela the poor celebrate and the rich protest. Why?
By Arturo Rosales writes from Caracas. Axis of Logic
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014

The Colombian novelist William Ospina observed that throughout the world the rich celebrate and the poor protest. On the other hand, in the “strange country” called Venezuela, the poor celebrate and the rich protest. Why?
The traditionally privileged sectors of Venezuelan society have tried to rise up against those who have won democratic elections – in fourteen years the Bolivarians have triumphed in 18 out of 19 electoral processes and the opposition has either refused to accept the results or accept them begrudgingly except for one national referendum they won in December 2007 and isolated victories in local and regional elections.

In the December 8th municipal elections the Bolivarians won 76% of mayoralties (256 out of 337 – 240 by candidates on the ticket of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela PSUV) and for this reason it has not been a surprise that recent disturbances by paid agent provocateurs have been concentrated in 18 municipalities controlled by opposition mayors and dominated by the middle classes. The disturbances have been declining from 18 foci to 8 and now 6 municipalities after the “uprising” started on February 12th.

The disturbances have been localized and the idea that this has been a “popular uprising” by the Venezuelan people against the Maduro government is just media fantasy, manipulation or outright lies by the international media. This media represents the interests of the bourgeoisie desperate to regain power in Venezuela and control the biggest oil reserves on the planet so as to sell them off to the highest bidder – probably the US multinationals - at a knock-down price.

More:
http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_66441.shtml

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polly7

(20,582 posts)
1. Good article, Judi Lynn, and it's been pretty obvious why all along, hasn't it?
Tue Mar 4, 2014, 07:17 PM
Mar 2014

The poor finally saw hope ......... the rich saw their dreams of control and total ownership slipping away. It's the same reasons oligarchs and corporations who've relied on the slavery, illiteracy and poverty of the workers who've built them up are becoming more angry by the day. This time, evil won't triumph. Chavez educated those poor too well. They will never accept the right-wing evil they once lived through again.

TBF

(31,922 posts)
2. Thank you -
Tue Mar 4, 2014, 07:39 PM
Mar 2014

great to see this perspective on DU (I have watched the US do this time and time again - $$$ to overthrow administrations that are not friendly to Imperialism).

bvar22

(39,909 posts)
3. DURec!
Tue Mar 4, 2014, 08:14 PM
Mar 2014

What a difference: The RICH protesting, and The POOR celebrating.

We could certainly use some of THAT up here.
(laughing at the pampered RICH here having to make their own Protest Sign,
and march around their gated communities decrying the unfair conditions.
They would probably have to pay "the Help" to go do it for them.)

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
5. Paint it with a pretty brush, but we'll see how the well the country is in a few yrs.
Tue Mar 4, 2014, 10:04 PM
Mar 2014

The problems in VZ are real and chasing the rich out wont fix them. And neither will blaming the always convenient whipping boy, the US. They nationalized the oil companies years ago and oil revenues should have elevated them into the middle class by now. The "revolution" has been going on for 15 yrs and still the country suffers. It may be understandable in a country without the oil wealth they have that real change for the better would take time. But Maduro will continue to run VZ into the ground. And he's got all the time he needs.
If I'm wrong I'll gladly admit it. We'll see.

 

smokey775

(228 posts)
6. Then explain this.
Wed Mar 5, 2014, 12:34 PM
Mar 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/venezuelas-poor-protests-chavez-revolution

Venezuela's poor join protests as turmoil grips Chávez's revolution

The poor neighbourhood of Petare in western Caracas is not an obvious hotbed of anti-government sentiment. In the past, its residents have been among the major beneficiaries of Venezuela's public health and education campaigns, and an economic policy that resulted in one of the sharpest falls in inequality in the world.

But as demonstrations sweep several major cities, even the people of Petare have taken to the streets to protest again surging inflation, alarming murder rates and shortages of essential commodities.

Jorge Farias, a self-employed motorcycle taxi driver, once voted for the late president Hugo Chávez, but this week he joined opposition rallies.

"This country can't stay like this for much longer. If it's not lack of food, it is the fear of being killed when you step out of your house to go to work", he said. "I would like to wake up without this fear," he added. "I have never seen this country in this state of total collapse. We are going from bad to worse, and we are losing faith".


It would seem that the poor are just as pissed off with the conditions inside Venezuela and are expressing their displeasure with the govt.

But, I've got this strange feeling that you're going to dismiss this as RW western propaganda.
Prove me wrong.

Bacchus4.0

(6,837 posts)
7. The poor celebrating doesn't sound right. i thought the revolution was supposed to make
Wed Mar 5, 2014, 01:01 PM
Mar 2014

people not poor anymore. After 15 years, and they are still poor, there isn't much to celebrate.

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