Chavez's Mayday present

[Pawn Power]

Venezuela has said that it has taken control of the massive Orinoco Belt oil projects as part of President Hugo Chavez's nationalisation drive.

Earlier Mr Chavez had told cheering workers that "open investment will never return".

Venezuela takes over refineries (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6610333.stm)

What do ya'll think of this? We can re-open debate on the extent to which this is either worker participation and power, or simply popular nationalism.

[la-troy]

I believe that a "Popular" nationalization drive is just another means of starting or achieving a socialist revolution. He has clearly stated that he intents to create a "Bolivarian" socialist society. I believe we should take his word as it is for now and just seek ways in which to ensure a safe revolution for Venezuela.

He is trying, it seems, to bring back the control of his country, and the greater region it seems , back to its citizens. his move to leave the World Bank and the IMF, organizations I have seen time to time undermine a socialist government, is a step in the right direction. In general his actions seem slow but to me they are obvious steps toward a socialist nation.

I am wondering though about his idea of stating a bank For South American countries though. It seems open to capitalist exploitation.

[Springmeester]

I think Chavez is doing really great. A few days ago there was an article in the newspapers wich said that the workers in Venezuela now get 4 hours lessons on marxist theory in their worktime. I'll quote:

'The manager of the Confederation of Workers, Pablo Castro, was not charmed by Chavez' new decreet. To the Spanish newspaper ABC he said: If it is his idea that people should only believe in one ideology, the workers will sureley dismiss him. They won't adopt a way of thinking that is contradictory to their own way of life.'

I think it is typical that only this kind of 'opions' are given in the regular media. Everyday the people are fed with the capitalist mentality and capitalist thinking. Now, there is one president who wants to educate his people in the ways of critical thought and rightaway he is trying to influence the workers, trying to get them to all think the same. Sounds to me like there is a spectre or a ghost of some sorts in South America.

[BreadBros]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070503/D8OT4O100.html

According to this Chavez is threatening to nationalize both the banks in Venezuela and the largest steel producer in Venezuela which he accused of being a monopoly.