Similarities between the Spanish Republic and Venezuela...

[RadioRaheem84]

Venezuela has had a little over ten years of genuine progress vs the time before Chavez took power. The upper class is totally upset and a coup was tried once and rest assured it will be tried again in the future. Collectives are forming in the countryside and workers self management is being instituted on a high scale. Industries are being nationalized and the working class has major political clout now. Oil wealth is finally pouring into the working class.

The Fifth Republic of Venezuela is a broad coalition of socialists, liberals, social democrats and progressives. Yet, I see a lot of parallels with the Spanish Republic of pre-WWII and what's happening in Venezuela. Will a large scale coup try to take the nation back from the people and give it back to the oligarchs?

How do you guys view the movement in Venezuela?

[Tzadikim]

If it does, then the only thing that we who are not Venezuelan can do is support it, even at the cost of our own lives. The Spanish Republic had the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the 1930s; if it comes to it, we must be ready to defend the working class of Venezuela wherever feasible and by whatever means necessary.

[RadioRaheem84]

If it does, then the only thing that we who are not Venezuelan can do is support it, even at the cost of our own lives. The Spanish Republic had the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the 1930s; if it comes to it, we must be ready to defend the working class of Venezuela wherever feasible and by whatever means necessary.

Absolutely.

[syndicat]

But there are major differences. In the '30s the largest labor union in Spain was a revolutionary syndicalist union (CNT) that was independent of the government and parties of the Popular Front. The militia formed to fight the army was created from below by the workers organizations. It was on the initiative of the workers, not the government, that the workers expropriated most of the capitalists. What Venezuela lacks is this kind of massive indepdent labor movement not tied to politicians and the state. The revolutionary labor movement in Spain wasn't fighting to defend the Republican state but for workers management of the economy and society.

[RadioRaheem84]

But there are major differences. In the '30s the largest labor union in Spain was a revolutionary syndicalist union (CNT) that was independent of the government and parties of the Popular Front. The militia formed to fight the army was created from below by the workers organizations. It was on the initiative of the workers, not the government, that the workers expropriated most of the capitalists. What Venezuela lacks is this kind of massive indepdent labor movement not tied to politicians and the state.

There are labor unions that are independent of the state but they're not that large, correct. I agree with you that Venezuela shouldn't put all of their eggs in one basket with Chavism and should work to form unions and collectivize on their own. But the current administration has shown that it's largely with the people and so far the State is on their side. It has done a lot to foster worker controlled enterprises and create a mindset that will lead the Venezuelan people to decide their own destiny.

[cyu]

I agree with you that Venezuela shouldn't put all of their eggs in one basket

Well said - even for those who trust Chavez, they shouldn't assume that he's invincible from the attack of capitalist minions.