Posted on 12/20/2005 5:05:34 PM PST by Kitten Festival
Latin America: It's reasonable to cringe about the election of Bolivia's new president, anti-U.S. leftist Evo Morales. But amid fears of another Castro-ite in the hemisphere, this may not be as bad as it looks.
Morales has been the troublemaker responsible for most of the turmoil in Bolivia that has rattled the hemisphere since 2003. The country has had four presidents in three years, and Morales is about to become No. 5. He ran for office on an anti-U.S. platform, vowing to be Washington's "worst nightmare."
He openly consorted with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, who did their part to boost his chances. He vowed to legalize the coca leaf, the key ingredient in cocaine, against arguable U.S. policy programs intended to eradicate this old symbol of highland Indian culture.
Morales also campaigned to nationalize Bolivia's energy, something foreign investors didn't wait around for. In six months, they've already whisked 40% of their money out of the country.
These are all matters of concern. But unlike most of his predecessors, Morales was elected democratically and authentically, winning 51% of the vote in a dazzling 80% turnout. It was the strongest political consensus since Bolivia became a democracy in 1985. Past presidents were lucky to get 20%. Fifty-one percent is a landslide. Even Morales seemed stunned at his mandate.
It contrasts sharply with the 82% abstention in Venezuela's congressional election this month, the scent of a spoiled democracy. Nor does it resemble the nonexistent elections in the 46 years of Fidel Castro's Cuban carcel.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
I still wouldn't expect investors to mosey back in until he is safely out of power.
You are right. The thing is: he won't be able to fling money around like Hugo Chavez does. He's going to have to grow up fast because the markets won't bow to him.
He has to say this, or watch the mass evacuation of capital from his country. Actions speak louder than words.
Most of it has already fled. The clown says he wants state oil companies instead but he's not going to get 4 million jobs out of such companies. I hope he learns before he screws up too badly.
Optimistic to a fault. The only plan likely to come out of Morales is the economic things go better with coke plan.
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