December 23, 2015

Venezuela, The Vindication of Capitalist Democracy

          The evolution of Capitalist Democracy in the Americas clearly began with the creation of the United States of America. Its success has been predicated on this nation’s faithfulness to its original constitution.  America has preserved the fundamental pillars of its democracy, which are many but revolve around the Bill of Rights.  Furthermore, America created the fertile ground for democracy in Latin America by the liberation of those nations from European colonial rule, through the many manifestations of the American Monroe Doctrine.  It is undeniable that America has acted with self-serving interest and often abusively in its early relationship with other nations of this hemisphere.  However, the American government and its power classes have also acted abusively with its own people if we consider the plight of American Indians, slavery, and many other unsavory examples in its national development.  Humans everywhere have improved slowly.

          We can say that America acted in self-defense throughout the Cold War without discussing past recriminations and focusing only on the post-World War II period.  It was this survival mode that led America to support anti-communist dictators in Latin America, oftentimes with military intervention.  Free elections in Latin America during the period of the Cold War, with masses of angry people living in poverty, would have created a series of elected communist regimes.  In fact, it did in Chile. 

          The reality of Latin American dictatorships, although anti-communist, was one of repression and violence.  The opposition found allies in revolutionary communist movements and even in segments of the Catholic Church, which developed a radical form of Liberation Theology.  During this period, America found itself in opposition to social justice, even though the alternative was more repression and violence under communism.

          The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War has created a fascinating phenomenon; America has adopted a hand-off policy to Latin American democratic choices. Thus, we have communist governments in Venezuela, Bolivia… These governments present themselves as democratic socialist movements to obtain power, and then they rapidly move towards totalitarian socialist regimes, which is the essence of communism.  Communist regimes, once in power, either by revolution or election, dismantle democratic institutions and perpetuate themselves through force.  Eventually, these communist regimes suffered economic collapse.  Cuba has been able to avoid total economic collapse because of subsidies from Russia and Venezuela. 

          The system of Democratic Socialism has been allowed the opportunity to demonstrate its wonderful promises. So far, the sharing of wealth in Venezuela, as in Cuba, has led to societies that only share their misery.  There is simply no substitute for the productive capacity of free human spirits in pursuit of their own interest within a framework of a fair set of laws.  Economies thrive in free and fair competition for riches. Social justice cannot be achieved by centralized totalitarian control but by allowing free human beings to incorporate compassion, mercy, and love in their social institutions under the inspiration of their belief in God.   

          Venezuela struggles to regain its right to free determination through free elections, and the most recent electoral results show a desire for change.  The people of Venezuela have learned that socialism cannot deliver on its promise.  There are two options ahead for the socialist government; one, to accept a gradual return to capitalist democracy through a continuation of free elections, and two, to unmask its true identity and unleash its military on its opposition.  America also has two options ahead if the Venezuelan military suppresses all freedom; one, adopt a laissez-faire posture and watch it happen, or two, pursue regime change.  Ideally, a military force from Latin American democracies, with American logistical support, can force free elections in Venezuela.  Furthermore, such an alliance can establish a new diplomatic doctrine of democracy for all in all of Latin America.  

          That military force, with American support, should be strictly Latin American.  The communist parties have the right to compete in free elections. Still, they should never again be allowed to, once in power, eliminate a free press, political opposition, and free elections.  Communism, with its totalitarian essence, must be prohibited.  A multi-national Latin American army should preclude the creation of dictatorships either from the left or the right and someday make possible a Latin American Democratic 
Federation.