Posted on 01/25/2010 10:25:09 AM PST by Cheap_Hessian
While the world has been preoccupied with the crisis in Haiti, Latin America has quietly passed through a tipping point in the ideological conflict that has polarized the region -- and paralyzed U.S. diplomacy -- for most of the past decade.
The result boils down to this: Hugo Chávez's "socialism for the 21st century" has been defeated and is on its way to collapse.
During the past two weeks, just before and after the earthquake outside Port-au-Prince, the following happened: Chávez was forced to devalue the Venezuelan currency, and impose and then revoke massive power cuts in the Venezuelan capital as the country reeled from recession, double-digit inflation and the possible collapse of the national power grid. In Honduras, a seven-month crisis triggered by the attempt of a Chávez client to rupture the constitutional order quietly ended with a deal that will send him into exile even as a democratically elected moderate is sworn in as president.
Last but not least, a presidential election in Chile, the region's most successful economy, produced the first victory by a right-wing candidate since dictator Augusto Pinochet was forced from office two decades ago. Sebastián Piñera, the industrialist and champion of free markets who won, has already done something that no leader from Chile or most other Latin American nations has been willing to do in recent years: stand up to Chávez.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Have you seen the latest Hugo “bright idea”? lol.
-—I do sincerely hope that Chavez gets to suffer the same fate as a couple of ideological predecessors—Ceausceau and Mussolini come to mind—
“Dustbin of history” comes to mind.
Exactly how the hell is this different from EVERY OTHER TIME COMMUNISM HAS BEEN TRIED??? Good grief...
I'm guessing you are referring to this story: Eliminate capitalist practices at public firms: Chavez
yep
Where’s Ahab whe you need him?
The author needs an education. Chavez is succeeding. His goal is the destruction of capitolism and the economy. It solidifies his control and power.
The outcome [in Honduras] is a victory for the United States, which was virtually the only country that backed the democratic election that broke the impasse.
The "fact" that the United States backed the rule of law and free elections in Honduras might come as a surprise to the beleaguered Honduran democrats.
I suppose it is the WaPo so it couldn’t be all that accurate. The author considers the election in Honduras a victory for the U.S. even though the Obama administration was opposed to the constitutional operation which permitted the election. Without deposing and ejecting the president who was trying to prevent it, there would not have been the election and Honduras would have its own Chavez clone.
Exactly. SOCIALISM ALWAYS FAILS.
What an incredible piece of historical "revisionism" - also known as an outright lie!
Brazil didn't "straddle the middle" with respect to Honduras - they openly supported Zelaya, gave him refuge in their embassy, and sought to destroy the Constitutional government of Honduras.
And the U.S. was worse, imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions on Honduras, in what can ONLY be considered support for Chavez!!!
Obama's State Dept cut off travel visas to and from Honduras, while the Obamanation cut off aid!
Fortunately, the Hondurans stood their ground, and Zelaya is now history.
You are right on all points. Honduras showed us the political battles you can win by defending your constitution.
Chile is on my short list of country’s to bail to should the demoNAZIs take over. Just sayin.
Socialism for the 21st century is defeated AND THE WASHINGTON POST ACTUALLY REPORTS IT. Will wonders never cease?
The surprising thing is that the Washington Post would have the nerve to print an admission of socialist failure.
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