Venezuelans Show Another World Is Possible

When Bush visits Australia later this year thousands are expected to hit the streets in opposition to the man perhaps most well known for his numerous war crimes and suspect election “victories”.

For Bush, popular resentment has grown, with the president’s approval rating in the United States and around the globe dropping to record lows.

When Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke out at the United Nations General Assembly against the crimes of the United States administration he was representing a growing view that Bush’s decisions have proved disastrous to many not just in his own country but many around the globe.

In his own country, Chavez has aided a move towards a new system based on popular power and building what he calls “socialism for the 21st century”. The Bolivarian revolution, inspired by Simon Bolivar, a 19TH century South American liberation fighter, is about handing back to the people what is rightfully theirs.

A key piece of building the revolution has been the introduction of various missions, established to help the countries most needy, that had been left behind under previous regimes, with free healthcare and education as well as numerous other projects to help increase access to the basics as well as letting the masses take back greater collective democratic control not only through voting, but also taking real, meaningful control of their communities and companies.

Bush, on the other hand, has shown through his continued wars on Afghanistan and Iraq that he cares little. Many Americans are forced to go with out basics like decent education and health care. In a country held up as an ideal, few Americans see even basic dignity in the world’s largest economy.

The new vision for Venezuela has divided the country with a small minority actively aiming to oust the president despite him being democratically elected multiple times. The minority would like to see a return to the democracy they once saw as their own. A kind of democracy based on the minority rich, aristocratic classes exerting their domination over the country.

Private television stations owned by the richest section of Venezuelan society have actively supported the idea of ousting Chavez by any means necessary as was seen through their open support of the failed coup of 2002.

The United States denied any involvement in the coup. However, Ari Fletcher, a white house spokesperson, during the coup publicly announced his willingness to work with the newly imposed dictatorship.

When people who believe in social justice are asked “but what is the alternative?” it is important that they can not only show what is wrong with the world, but also know what these alternatives to the present system are. In Venezuela people should see hope.