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

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Max Blumenthal: Report From the Real Venezuela

R. J. Eskow of the Zero Hour, a channel of YouTube, interviews Max Blumenthal, who has recently returned from Venezuela. 



Having visited Venezuela at the end of 2005 and followed events there closely many years thereafter, I had some basis for evaluating Blumenthal's report. I found his observations to be completely credible. But I was surprised at one of his statements.

He said starting at 8:58m after describing a protest demonstration at the east end of Caracas, the rich district, that he witnessed the end of the coup attempt. Thus, he clearly implies that if the Empire's regime-change project is going to succeed that a US invasion or some proxy invasion would be necessary. I regard this implication as completely unrealistic from an even imperialist point of view. 


I think the whole project of regime-change in Venezuela was a result of an almost hysterical attempt to salvage the Empire's costly defeat in Syria. I now think that this regime-change defeat has broken the Empire's back, so to speak, and the rather slow disintegration of the domination of the Empire is in progress. I see indications everywhere. The following posts I read today support this view: Video: The Price of US “Protection” Is Skyrocketing. Donald Trump’s “Ransom Money” Exacted from America’s Allies, Are we witnessing a new wave of the Arab Spring?, President Rouhani Visits Iraq in broad daylight, The End of Truth as We Know It – Or Knew It along with the ongoing Yellow Vest movement in France. Maybe I'm engaging in wishful thinking--you decide.


If I am correct, this view ultimately portends dramatic changes for the standard of living for ordinary people in the USA. Who knows where this will lead?