On Sat, Oct 26, 2024 at 08:44 PM, Chris Slee wrote: > > If we were able to get the US government to end the blockade, it would > deprive the right wing of the Chavista movement of one of their main > arguments: that pro-capitalist policies are a necessary response to the > blockade. This would help the left wing to argue against pro-capitalist > policies and for a socialist alternative. > > >
This is partially right, but implies there is a "left-wing" in the government arguing for socialist policies. In reality the forces around Maduro have completely purged or pushed aside this left. That is why every single left minister in Chavez's cabinet is today in opposition to the government. It is why all the leftwing parties are in opposition to the government. There may be individuals who believe they are fighting the good fight inside the PSUV or government, but they have zero influence inside the government and if they got a sniff of influence would follow the path of the rest of the left. The "right-wing of the Chavista movement" is in fact the Maduro government, which has broken with Chavismo. It is a thoroughly capitalist government, with a pro-capitalist program and governs for a section of the capitalist class against the left and working class Opposing the sanctions is the best way to help the left against this right-wing authoritarian regime who uses the excuse of the sanctions to enrich itself, crush democracy and repress struggles from below -- much as is the case in Iran Chris wrote: > > > For s ocialists in the US and its allies such as Australia, campaigning > against the blockade is also important for educating people in our own > countries about the harmful role of US imperialism in the world, and > particularly in Latin America. Many people can see the US role in > supporting Israel's genocidal war against Palestine and Lebanon, but don't > necessarily understand more subtle forms of coercion such as the blockades > against Cuba and Venezuela. > But part of this education has to also include being truthful about many of the so-called "anti-imperialism" governments or force that exist today. Pretending that there reactionary and/or anti-working class nature does not matter or is all the fault of imperialism (whether we are talking about Iran or Venezuela) makes it harder to educate people about how imperialism actually works. It also discredits socialism as an alternative in the eyes of millions who increasingly see the hypocrisy of US imperialism but are still to be won to an anti-imperialism working class alternative. Pretending that the Maduro government in anyway is progressive, let alone socialist, makes it both harder to campaign against the sanctions and for a left-wing alternative in imperialist countries and in Venezuela. In solidarity Fred -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#33196): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/33196 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/109123065/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: marxmail+ow...@groups.io Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [arch...@mail-archive.com] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
