Hugo Chavez-opinion please...

[Allende]

I'm a fan of Chavez and his policies as well as his radicalism, particularly towards the American government and his blatant dislike of capitalism, however his support of Gadaffi, Assad and other repressive regimes in Belarus, zimbabwe, china & Russia really confuses me. These were not and are not states which are working for the good of the people in so many respects. Is he a true supporter or simply with going against the status quo out of his hatred of the US, NATO etc? Or is he just a prick?


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[Jose Gracchus]

Some Venezuelan bourgeois and officials think they are better off keeping the U.S. at arm's length and building regional nationalist alliances, and playing the West off the BRIC bloc. But that's just a bourgeois populist playing demagogic political games. Chavez needs to be overthrown by a workers' revolution.

[El Louton]

Ideas are good but is distracted by arms and alliances. Needs to get back to supporting the workers but from what I saw in the "War on Democracy' he already is.

[ВАЛТЕР]

Honestly, he is my favorite head of state in the world at the moment. The solidarity he shows with Assad, Ahmadinejad (sp?), and the likes is nothing short of spiting the west. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

He sides with Russia because Venezuela needs protection, and trade partners. Remember that Venezuela is a small South American nation, with left leaning politics, oil, and a government attempting to work with the working class as best as it can given the situation, that is right in the US's backyard. He needs support from nations with a military capable of deterring western involvement. Which we all know is a real threat, from the 2002 failed coup that was obviously CIA backed. He stands ready to work with the working class and their demands, and I enjoy his point blank way of speaking his mind.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I very much enjoy Mr.Chavez.He is trying hard to implement socialism (impossible,as we all know,without proletarian involvement,but it is a step) and has brought some great initiatives to Venezuela.There is much to be desired,of course,but I enjoy his presidency the most.

[∞]

meh.

[Atsushi]

Some Venezuelan bourgeois and officials think they are better off keeping the U.S. at arm's length and building regional nationalist alliances, and playing the West off the BRIC bloc. But that's just a bourgeois populist playing demagogic political games. Chavez needs to be overthrown by a workers' revolution.

Indeed.

[REDSOX]

Aside from Fidel and Raul castro, Hugo Chavez is the greatest leader around at the moment with great ideas about latin americas future. Some call him a populist but he is certainly popular no doubt about that. His support of regimes in syria, belarus, zimbabwe, iran, north korea are from an anti imperialist standpoint rejecting imperialist interference in these countries affairs, leaving the people to decide freely and without manipulation the future of their countries. His support is conditional and his not a nod towards these countries domestic problems which are no business of any other country imperialist or not.

[l'Enfermé]

If you wanna be honest about it, he has barely done half for the people of Venezuela of what Lula has done for the people of Brazil, and Brazil doesn't have one of the world's most important oil reserves. And his support for North Korea or Zimbabwe doesn't leave "the people to decide freely and without manipulation the future of their countries", it helps brutal and disgusting dictatorships in these countries to remain in power.

It doesn't matter if you oppose strong oppressors and support weaker oppressors, you're still supporting oppressors.

[REDSOX]

Where is your evidence that Chavez has not done half of what Lula has done in brazil.

How about this for evidence he has done more

8 million hectares of private land redistributed in venezuela. In Brazil virtually nothing.

In Venezuela 1000 companies foreign and domestic nationalised. In Brazil none indeed they have part privatised a few.

In Venezuela through PDVSA ((state oil company) the state has redistributed billions of dollars to people in terms of free health care free education for all, hundreds of thousands of houses built, eradicated illiteracy, provded subsidized food to the masses, massively reduced poverty to levels not seen in that state's history. In Brazil the redistribution of wealth has been confined mainly to the bolsa familia which although has helped the poor along with a booming economy does not compare to the mass social programmes of venezuela.

Introduced price controls to keep the price of food and other essentials cheap for people to buy. In Brazil nothing

The beginnings of worker control in factories and funding for state backed co-operatives. In Brazil nothing

I think the evidence shows that chavez has done more for the poor and the working class than mr Lula me thinks

And chavez position on these countries like syria north korea i repeat is from an anti imperialist standpoint. What goes of in these countries is none of his business its for the people in these countries to decide their futures or dont you have confidence in them to decide their futures.

[Lev Bronsteinovich]

Bourgeois, left leaning nationalist. Think Ben Bella or Nasser. I enjoy some of the trouble he has caused the US, but really, he is not a socialist and not a revolutionary. Watch what he does if there is any kind of movement of the working class toward revolution. He will crack down mercilessly, and he will accept the aid of anyone, including the US in putting down the revolution.

[REDSOX]

I disagree but time will eventually tell who is right. I think he is a socialist and definately not a left leaning nationalist or a Bonarpartist

[Caj]

Chavez is a bourgeois reformist and social democrat. I'm baffled as to why anybody on this site would consider him a socialist.

[eyeheartlenin]

Chávez: In power for 13 years, and, guess what! Venezuela is still a bourgeois republic, with a market economy!! Some socialism; some revolution!

One of Chávez' most memorable statements, was when he was addressing large landowners: he assured them that, "If it is yours, it is yours." And, let us never forget, under chavista rule, Venezuela permanently has the highest inflation rate in Latin America, in excess of 20% annually, if memory serves. What a boon that must be for workers and the poor!

Chávez is to revolution what Milli Vanilli are to music: 300% bs!

[Ostrinski]

Social democrat, capitalist, champion of the national bourgeoisie of Venezuela.

[Comrade Jandar]

He was enough of a threat to US interests in Latin America for a coup to be staged against him in '02.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

He was enough of a threat to US interests in Latin America for a coup to be staged against him '02.

To be fair though the U.S stages coups against anything that goes against their will even slightly (and by will I actually mean orders).

[Sinister Cultural Marxist]

The Chavez government is based on a coalition between the military bourgeoisie, some nationalist bourgeoisie and the working-class radical left. It is Chavez's job, as the Caudillo, to balance those competing interests. He is not a dictator, nor is he committed to leftist revolution per se. Although his government has done some good things to placate the working-class portion of the base, the military and nationalist bourgeoisie both retain substantial power too and Chavez is not going to throw those support groups under the bus.

I suppose the question is, what is the nature of the political dynamic in that country?

[el_chavista]

I suppose the question is, what is the nature of the political dynamic in that country?Watcha mean by..., er, Would you elaborate about the "nature of the polical dyamic" stuff?

[ABMarx]

Chavez is a unique personality. I appreciate some of what he's done in terms of poverty and literacy; I think he's got charisma and good delivery, but he needs to make sure that the individuals which run his nationalized businesses are well-educated for their position. He also needs to reevaluate his cabinet; I think he truly wants to move toward Socialism, but there's definitely corruption in his administration.