We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Venezuelan Workers March for More Participation and More Rights

by Juan Reardon from Venezuelan Analysis

Working people in Venezuela are increasingly demanding that the Chavez government push through many needed measures to advance socialism in their country. Many feel that the government's bureaucracy is hampering their efforts and that Chavez too often makes compromises with them and the private sector. Working people feel that more pressure is needed on Chavez to promote more worker control of enterprises in Venezuela. One union leader's statement typifies this sentiment:
“President Chávez, in the last two years especially, has tried to change the economy, the mode of production, and the form of the state. But the problem is if these objectives are not taken up with force, passion, and intelligence by the workers themselves, the bureaucracy within the public administration – the petty bourgeoisie that has control over the important parts of the Venezuelan state – will prevent these objectives from going forward,” affirmed Pedro Eusse in a July 2010 interview.