Eric wrote:
>
> So Chavez lovers, what of this article? This seems to be theme among
> stories about Venezuela: the poor are getting some redistributive
> boost from the state, but social and property relations are largely
> untouched--
So? Venezuela is not a socialist state. Not really news, is it? It _is_ a state that (a) within the limits of (i) capitalist social relations and (ii) a third-world economy is trying to make life as decent as possible for the mass of citizens (1) with social services and (2) involving them, as they have never been involved before, in public life. What do you want? Instant utopia? Instant communism?
Also: Chavez has raised the Bolivarian banner. He hasn't unified Latin America yet, and he's not going to. But just as one must declare war in order to make war, so one must raise a banner for a process to initiate thought about the process.
No instant miracles.
Carrol