Can the Venezuela experience happen in the U.S.?
The U.S. and Venezuela are different. Some would characterize them as worlds apart different.
But let me start by digressing.
There’s a movement in the U.S. that attempts to diminish the poor, persons of color and all others not considered American enough. These are the many not chosen by God in a perverse form of Christianity.
That group wants us to believe that those left out are predestined not to succeed (and get to heaven, for that matter). So why should we waste our good tax dollars on these persons who only take from those who work hard and succeed.
The ‘predestined’ (the rich), therefore, deserve the breaks. The ‘slackers’ (the poor) should carry the burden to make the rich wealthier – who in turn help the unlucky. You know, it trickles down or allows them a tiny piece of Marie Antoinette’s cake.
And for the trickling to occur at a much faster pace, they suggest cutting (some would rather eliminate) the social net programs – Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment insurance, affordable education, etc.
In fear of rebellion from the not chosen, these 21st century Calvinists are now attempting to erode access to a privilege they fear might level the playing field – the vote. Note how the U.S. Supreme Court recently gutted the Voting Rights Act. By declaring Section 4 unconstitutional they’ve made it more difficult for a select group of U.S. citizens to register to vote.
In the U.S. more than half of persons eligible to vote are not registered. A great majority of those are black, brown and poor.
So it stands to reason that there’s where the fear lies. If the dispossessed were to register and vote… they might decide to change those who govern. It might level the playing field against huge amounts of money funneled into politics for the gain of the few.
AS FOR VENEZUELA
Venezuela is a country of approximately 30 millions persons. The U.S. is 10 times larger at over 300 million.
Venezuela is a petroleum- and natural-resource-rich country. For years the upper echelons of society, a minority, enjoyed, almost exclusively, that nation’s wealth. The poor, the majority, was basically ignored. The differences were so great that even the hills that surround Caracas are referred to differently. The rich live in colinas, the poor in the cerros. Same group of hills and mountains, but they are distinguished.
Then along came Hugo Chavez, a charismatic leader who convinced the poor and disenfranchised to register and vote for him. He promised to use the nation’s riches on education, health care, affordable food and things as simple as to bring running water to the cerros.
There was a problem, though. A certain group of Venezuelans felt slighted. Others felt burgled, if not downright robbed. Like in the U.S., for example, there was a group who felt predestined to receive. And when resources were “stolen” from them in order to bring doctors to the cerros, education to the masses, and running water to the poor… that was not in the game plan.
In the process, and with a little help from Uncle Sam (admit it, all the evidence points to the U.S. intervening during the 2002 coup, for example), the Venezuelan chosen revolted. And now we are seeing the ugly evolution of this revolt in the streets of the South American country. It is a tragedy and one that we hope will be resolved peacefully and democratically.
But let me get to my point. First, don’t fall for the misleading photographs and reports constantly appearing on social media, for example. What we are seeing in Venezuela today is a minority of its population (and yes, a minority can represent 2 million persons), has taken to the streets to complain about the state of the country since the Chavez revolution took over. But the most interesting fact, I believe, is the majority – most of them chavistas – is not participating in these protests. The ones helped along the way since 1999 by the revolution’s social programs, for example. They are the majority. Or how do you explain electoral victories since 1999? Including countrywide, local elections as recently as December of last year…
And please understand. What is occurring in Venezuela today is serious. And I don’t slight its importance. The streets are not safe, corruption is rampant and there are a host of other things I could bring up. But let me remind you that before 1999 the streets of Venezuela were not always safe. And corruption – well the thieves were fewer; they just took a larger chunk of the pie for themselves.
BUT BACK TO THE U.S.
My question then is could the Venezuela experience occur here?
I would answer it this way. I will never forget 2007. A great majority of Americans, including most of my friends, were convinced that Barack Hussein Obama had as much chance of being elected president as I did.
What was the formula that got him elected? Register new voters. Most who were shunned by political operatives in the past. The marginalized, the black, the brown, the poor. Women and men who felt left out of the process.
That’s what Obama did.
The president may not have turned out the way some of us thought he might. But he was victorious and people, right until election day, said the country was not ready for a black president.
It is no secret that the modern day Calvinists I mentioned are trying to undo the social safety net that President Roosevelt began weaving as a result of the Great Depression. The poor are being asked to carry the burden for the rich to get richer. Not to mention immigrants, who do the jobs most of us would not even think of applying for and who make this country run, are being blamed for everything.
Then I refer you again to the Supreme Court’s decision to emasculate the Voting Rights Act.
There are many here who know that if a majority of the people in this country (not just the registered voters, but all who are eligible to vote) decided to vote for a leader who promised change, and that person carried though on his or her promises…
How do you think those who consider themselves the predestined would react?
One last thing to remember. There are more guns and military arms in this country owned by the general population than there are people.
