Posted on 01/30/2005 11:12:20 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez proclaimed to activists at the World Social Forum Sunday in Brazil, that "socialism is not dead" and announced an "agrarian revolution" in his country with the seizure of 20 million hectares (49.3 million acres).
Mr. Chavez visited Lagoa dos Juncos, a ranch belonging to the MST Brazilian Landless Movement in Tapes, some 110 miles from Porto Alegre where the World Social Forum is being held. Lagoa dos Juncos is a farm which is considered a model cooperative by the MST.
"For those who say that socialism is dead, here we have people proving that it did not die with the USSR" President Chavez told some 300 activists, most of them transported by bus from Porto Alegre and forced to walk three miles cross country for security reasons.
"A failed model of state run economy which had slowly poisoned died, and there was no way to rectify it in time" added Mr. Chavez indirect reference to the former Soviet Union and east block.
Describing himself as another “peasant” Mr. Chavez went on to condemn capitalism and denied that it could solve the world's problems.
"Convince yourselves: those who still doubt that there is no solution to poverty or misery, capitalism is the only main cause, it is at the root of the great problems of inequality in the world, of exploitation and misery".
President Chavez delivered his address to an audience made up of MST leaders and activists, as well as representatives of peasant organizations from across the region. On the stage he was accompanied by Brazilian Agriculture Workers leader Joao Pedro Stedile and the rightist governor of Rio Grande do Sul state Germano Rigotto.
The Venezuelan president said the World Social Forum was "the most important political event held in the world each year" and anticipated his country was "ready" to host the gathering in 2006, when it will be split up into parallel events on three to four continents.
The World Social Forum or the annual "summit" of the antiglobalization movement, opened last Wednesday and closed Sunday with some 120,000 activists from more than 100 countries converging to Porto Alegre.
In honor of Ronald Reagan
"We commence bombing in a few minutes"
The wealthiest countries in the world all have socialist governments. The freest people and the most generous people live in socialist countries.
"agrarian revolution"
A little bit of Mao Tse-Tung echo there. Only his "agrarian revolution" killed about 50 million people through starvation and sickness.
Note also that Chavez is quite a Michael Moore fan, and promoted his film officially through the Venezuelan government.
Is that right?
Socialism is not dead... it just smells funny.
Oh, so the "means of production" in these countries is owned by "the workers"?
HAHA.
Socialism isn't the same thing as government funded welfare.
Socialism isn't dead, it's just in the ashcan of history.
"Convince yourselves: those who still doubt that there is no solution to poverty or misery, capitalism is the only main cause, it is at the root of the great problems of inequality in the world, of exploitation and misery"...
Yes, but not voluntarily generous.
Except in South America, apparently.
(Sigh.)
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
;-)
When you make such bizzare statements, you would be well advised to include a satire or irony alert.
Most "socialist" countries have to lock people up to keep them from leaving. "Paradise" can be very hard to live with, I reckon. Cuba anyone?
Maybe the next coup will succeed.
What a great advertisement for Socialism. Stealing private property. Yup, just the ticket to a better world. The ideas of the USSR are not dead just rebirthed by a new bunch of thieves. Joseph Stalin would be proud.
JV, I thought my comment was pretty apparently, in jest.
Rabbi Schmuley sez:
You are correct. HE IS AN IGNORANT PEASANT!!!
Well, unfortunately he's right...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.