>From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com>
>Reply-To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Tariq Ali on Venezuela
>Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 16:49:45 -0700
>
>Marvin Gandall wrote:
>
>>The Bolivarians wanted power so that real reforms could be implemented.
>>All
>>the oligarchs have to offer is more of the past and the removal of Chavez.
>>It is ridiculous to suggest that Venezuela is on the brink of a
>>totalitarian
>>tragedy. It is the opposition that has attempted to take the country in
>>that
>>direction. The Bolivarians have been incredibly restrained. When I asked
>>Chavez to explain his own philosophy, he replied:
>>
>>'I don't believe in the dogmatic postulates of Marxist revolution. I don't
>>accept that we are living in a period of proletarian revolutions. All that
>>must be revised. Reality is telling us that every day. Are we aiming in
>>Venezuela today for the abolition of private property or a classless
>>society? I don't think so. But if I'm told that because of that reality
>>you
>>can't do anything to help the poor, the people who have made this country
>>rich through their labour and never forget that some of it was slave
>>labour,
>>then I say 'We part company'. I will never accept that there can be no
>>redistribution of wealth in society. Our upper classes don't even like
>>paying taxes. That's one reason they hate me. We said 'You must pay your
>>taxes'. I believe it's better to die in battle, rather than hold aloft a
>>very revolutionary and very pure banner, and do nothing ... That position
>>often strikes me as very convenient, a good excuse ... Try and make your
>>revolution, go into combat, advance a little, even if it's only a
>>millimetre, in the right direction, instead of dreaming about utopias.'
>>
>>And that's why he won.
>
>Good stuff. Will the ultras now declare Chavez a sellout?
>
>Doug
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