Last November, Rafael Correa was elected by a wide margin over his conservative opponent sending chills down the spine the American capitalist class which has had Ecuador on a leash for as long as anyone can remember (like the rest of Latin America aside from Cuba).
Rafael Correa is a "leftist" according to them, and a friend of Chavez. Since his election he has moved closer to Chavez alerting American businessmen even more. Yesterday, his supporters clashed with police in an action for support of the formation of a popular assembly and progressive constitutional reforms, shouting "kill them all" to the police and conservative congressmen. Why? Because the people are fed up. The world's economy is supposed to be great, yet ask an Ecuadorian farmer living in deep poverty and see what he says about that. Latin America is a disaster as anyone who travels or even listens will realize. The situation is so bad, tourists who go to completly Americanized destinations are starting to realize the objective truth; the rich are doing great and the workers are getting fucked. Their furry is shown in actions like this, the Oaxaca rebellion, and the election of "progressive" politicians. All throughout Latin America "leftists" like Chavez, Ortega, Morales, and Correa have been elected in the hopes that life will improve for the workers and toilers. What we are going to see however, is more reforms which will be washed away by a conservative pro-American politician who will eventually follow in their footsteps. That is the problem with the social democratic process and the reason why it rarely accomplishes significant gains; it does not give the workers state power. Immediatly after Correa heard of the actions in his support, he scolded them saying he only supported "peaceful" protest. It is this attitude that makes "Socialism by the ballot box" and "21st century socialism" bankrupt. Anti-imperialist, yes, and that is good for a continent that is enslaved and impoverished by its dependency on the United Leeches of America, however the only way socialism can be accomplished is through a vanguard revolution. That said, and in conclusion, the international communist movement is weak in this day and age, my personal opinion; we should support anti-imperialists of all colors in their struggle as it is the first step to bringing down this wretched system.
Rafael Correa is a "leftist" according to them, and a friend of Chavez. Since his election he has moved closer to Chavez alerting American businessmen even more. Yesterday, his supporters clashed with police in an action for support of the formation of a popular assembly and progressive constitutional reforms, shouting "kill them all" to the police and conservative congressmen. Why? Because the people are fed up. The world's economy is supposed to be great, yet ask an Ecuadorian farmer living in deep poverty and see what he says about that. Latin America is a disaster as anyone who travels or even listens will realize. The situation is so bad, tourists who go to completly Americanized destinations are starting to realize the objective truth; the rich are doing great and the workers are getting fucked. Their furry is shown in actions like this, the Oaxaca rebellion, and the election of "progressive" politicians. All throughout Latin America "leftists" like Chavez, Ortega, Morales, and Correa have been elected in the hopes that life will improve for the workers and toilers. What we are going to see however, is more reforms which will be washed away by a conservative pro-American politician who will eventually follow in their footsteps. That is the problem with the social democratic process and the reason why it rarely accomplishes significant gains; it does not give the workers state power. Immediatly after Correa heard of the actions in his support, he scolded them saying he only supported "peaceful" protest. It is this attitude that makes "Socialism by the ballot box" and "21st century socialism" bankrupt. Anti-imperialist, yes, and that is good for a continent that is enslaved and impoverished by its dependency on the United Leeches of America, however the only way socialism can be accomplished is through a vanguard revolution. That said, and in conclusion, the international communist movement is weak in this day and age, my personal opinion; we should support anti-imperialists of all colors in their struggle as it is the first step to bringing down this wretched system.Labels: Axis of Hope, Correa, Latin America
While it may be true that the processes in Ecuador, Bolivia and, of course, Venezuela have been 'electoral' ones, they have not exactly been peaceful ones.
How do you explain three presidents ousted in a decade in Ecuador, similar (and often worse) in Bolivia, and the coup, lock-out, etc in Venezuela?
Where is the *marxist vanguard*? They are in formation, not least because of the demoralisation that took place as a consequence of the fall of the Soviet bloc, and the nature of that same bloc.
The marxist approach, as far as I understood it, was to engage in the struggle for democracy at the highest level possible (and then some), not to reject it entirely in favour of a shibboleth (and here I feel I'm siding with Lenin too, btw)
Immediatly after Correa heard of the actions in his support, he scolded them saying he only supported "peaceful" protest.
I think those protesters were a bit confused. Correa is the president now. The police work for HIM! A protester cannot 'support' the president by clashing with policemen who obey Carrea's orders.
Those protesters are not the first ones who are slowly finding that out. The Kronstadt sailors also found out in 1921 that protests NEVER please people in power. And if the person in power is Lenin, that protest, no matter how 'leftist', will be crashed mercilessly.
Permanent revolution might be the answer. But I will believe it when I see it. So far, all revolutions have been momentary, not permanent.
WHAT, WHAT WHAT!?!?! Sonia-belle supporting Permanent Revolution!?!! This is a deeply disturbing sign that is undoubtly connected with the end of all humanity.
On a more serious not, Khronsdadt was unique because while yes, they did have honorable idealistic goals, the same was true with Hitler. The connection? Both were anti-semititist fascists. Leaders of the Kronsdadt rebeliion were well known for such.
Also, the Soviet Union was a fledging state, the first of its kind which could've been smashed in a second, while Ecuador is a established capitalist state.
anon,
You're completly right. And in a way I support Correa and Chavez for their anti-imperialist views and actions however I don't support this curbing of a revolutionary fervor. The fervor should be unleashed, not beat back.
And yes the International Communist Movement hasn't been this weak since before the Paris Commune however there are various marxist-leninist struggles taking place like in Nepal, India, the Philipines and elsewhere.
Kronstedt was a White Russian led rebellion against socialism. It has always been portrayed by anarchists and rightists as an indigenous rebellion against "war communism".
It is not surprising that the working masses, are more militant than elected officials.
Sonia-belle supporting Permanent Revolution
I always did. That's the only thing I believed all my life. The difference is that while earlier I mistakenly thought that Lenin and Stalin were revolutionaries, now I know they were in fact the most effective killers of the revolutionary spirit (along with Hitler)...
I'd have to say that Lenin was a revolutionary, after studying his writings and the Bolshevik Revolution, but Stalin is the symbol of counterrevolution.