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01/09/2006:

"Year of Living Democratically"

...Latin America's growing "leftward shift" reflects , beyond the election of some left and center-left Presidents, the radicalization of the citizens who voted for them. Nonetheless, there is a wider gulf between this radicalized citizenry and their elected leaders in some countries than in others. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has stated that the US has "good relations with people across the political spectrum in Latin America," (At the right end of Rice's spectrum is Colombia's Alvaro Uribe Velez, at the left end Chile's Ricardo Lagos, and Brazil's Lula da Silva).

Yet, genuinely Left governments cannot possibly be on good terms with the empire, which demands that they sacrifice their sovereignty for the sake of multinational corporations, and even social democratic leaders are essentially hostages. Large economies such as Chile and Brazil are susceptible to US financial institutions, threats of sanctions, and other expressions of economic pressure. Poorer countries, like those of the Caribbean and Central America, are even more vulnerable. Absent from Rice's spectrum are countries like Cuba and Venezuela, whose domestic and foreign policies challenge US hegemony.

This week's Economist (December 17, 2005) expressed its own worries about the Bolivian election, noting: "Unlike Brazil's Luiz Inácio da Silva and Uruguay's Tabare Vasquez, Mr Morales is not a leftist who has made peace with democracy and capitalism, offering change without upheaval." Morales' commanding electoral victory aside, the Economist reveals a widespread assumption: that democracy and capitalism are one and the same, or at least compatible. Morales' support for decriminalization of coca leaf production, and for increased state control over the oil and gas industry has lead many in the establishment to conclude that he is anti-capitalist, and therefore-according to this logic-undemocratic. But, for those who believe democracy entails active participation in the decision-making process and people's control over resources, democracy and capitalism are inherently antagonistic.
axisoflogic.com