Fernando Herrera un amigo localizado en Houston-Texas tiene un excelente BLOG sobre asuntos de política nacional e internacional. Vale la pena visitarlo.
sábado, diciembre 20, 2008
EL BLOG DE POLI-CAFE (Fernando Herrera)
Fernando Herrera un amigo localizado en Houston-Texas tiene un excelente BLOG sobre asuntos de política nacional e internacional. Vale la pena visitarlo.
EL BLOG del EDITOR BOB con sus 10 tarjetas de Navidad
El Editor BOB tiene la virtud de poder hacer una selección de las mejores tarjetas de navidad y esto es una ventaja para los que se quieren lucir enviando una buena CHRISTMAS CARD.
viernes, diciembre 19, 2008
AS CÚPULAS DE SAUÍPE
A Cúpula da América Latina e Caribe (CALC), evento inédito coordenado pelo governo Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, divulgará hoje uma declaração especial de condenação ao embargo econômico imposto pelos EUA a Cuba, vigente desde fevereiro de 1962. Ontem, em brevíssima reunião, os líderes de 18 países latino-americanos que formam o Grupo do Rio decidiram pela inclusão de Cuba.
Horas antes, o presidente cubano, Raúl Castro, havia lido um breve discurso na reunião do Mercosul, na condição de convidado especial da presidência brasileira do bloco. Embora tenham pouca repercussão prática, esses fatos somaram-se ao claro viés antiamericano dos quatro eventos de cúpula organizados e comandados desde ontem pelo Brasil, que tiveram como principal estrela o irmão de Fidel Castro.
Nos encontros de ontem, Raúl Castro evitou tocar diretamente no conflito entre seu país e os EUA. Indiretamente, atingiu Washington ao condenar as políticas neoliberais e ao dizer que a crise internacional foi o resultado de uma "ordem econômica injusta e egoísta", supostamente contrária à adotada nos últimos 50 anos por Havana.
NEGOCIAÇÃO
Na noite de segunda-feira, ao chegar ao balneário baiano, ele havia declarado à imprensa que esperava encontrar no futuro presidente americano, Barack Obama, disposição para uma conversa sobre o fim do embargo. "Se o senhor Obama quer discutir, discutiremos", afirmou. "É cada vez mais difícil manter Cuba isolada. Somos pequenos, mas demonstramos que não é possível nos dominar facilmente."
Ainda ontem, em nova atitude de confrontação a Washington, o presidente da Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, informou que defenderá a inclusão de Cuba na Cúpula das Américas. Trata-se de um mecanismo criado em 1994, sob a liderança dos EUA, que deu substância legal para a negociação da Área de Livre Comércio das Américas (Alca) e excluiu Cuba sob a alegação de que o país rompeu com a ordem democrática.
AFINIDADE
Chávez não chegou a defender o retorno de Cuba à Organização dos Estados Americanos (OEA), do qual Havana está suspensa desde o início dos anos 60 pelo mesmo motivo, mas atacou a organização, qualificando-a de "ministério das colônias dos EUA". Raúl Castro descartou ontem a possibilidade de um retorno de Cuba à OEA, "com ou sem a presença dos Estados Unidos na organização".
O movimento do Brasil em favor da inclusão de Cuba nos principais mecanismos regionais e de coordenação da América Latina e Caribe, sem influências ou tutelas externas, teve amplo respaldo. Os países que poderiam fazer oposição ou ponderação não foram representados nas reuniões por seus presidentes. Álvaro Uribe, da Colômbia, e Alan García, do Peru, desistiram de comparecer na última hora, por causa de inundações que afetam seus países.
Assim, as cúpulas na Bahia estamparam a afinidade cada vez mais forte entre os governos de Brasil, Venezuela e Bolívia nas discussões sobre uma posição autônoma e independente da América Latina em relação aos EUA.
"Sem intromissão do Norte, podemos resolver nossos problemas, apesar das diferenças", afirmou o boliviano Evo Morales. "Estamos começando a trilhar um caminho sem a tutela do império. Os EUA já não mandam mais aqui", disse Chávez.
SAPATADA
Ao chegar atrasado na Costa do Sauípe, quando a reunião do Mercosul já havia terminado, Chávez não deixou passar o episódio do ataque a sapatadas de um jornalista iraquiano ao presidente dos EUA, George W. Bush, no domingo, em Bagdá. "Vamos pedir respeito ao novo governo dos EUA. Vejam os sapatos que jogaram em Bush. Os que eu trouxe são muito mais leves."
AS CÚPULAS DE SAUÍPE
Mercosul: Projeto de mercado comum iniciado em 1991 do qual participam Argentina, Brasil, Paraguai e Uruguai. A Venezuela está em processo de adesão e Bolívia, Chile, Colômbia, Equador e Peru são associados
Unasul (União de Nações Sul-Americanas): Projeto de integração dos dois blocos do continente, Mercosul e Comunidade Andina de Nações, mais Chile, Guiana e Suriname. Panamá e México são observadores
Grupo do Rio: Mecanismo latino-americano de consulta criado para mediar a crise política na América Central, nos anos 80. Ajudou na solução da guerra Peru-Equador e no conflito recente entre Equador e Colômbia
Cúpula da América Latina e do Caribe: Projeto de integração latino-americana a partir dos blocos já existentes, desvinculado da interferência dos Estados Unidos. Em princípio, está aberto a todos os 33 países da região
OBAMA : el personaje del año en la carátula de TIME
Como todos sabemos la carátula de la revista TIME siempre coloca allí el personaje del año y ese personaje para el 2.008 es Barack Obama, Presidente de USA.
The Nature of an Economic Crisis
The Nature of an Economic Crisis
[Analysis] Why the discrepancy between ends and means?
Alfredo Ascanio (askain)
Published 2008
Edited by Carlos Arturo Serrano
Several years ago a dissident economist of the classical school, Thorstein Veblen, predicted the current crisis of capitalism. While classical economists were arguing for free competition among businesspeople who would make the best use of scarce resources to meet human needs, Veblen countered that these needs were not being met as society expected. Accordingly, today the UN reports that more than 963 million people suffer from hunger.
Veblen said that man had two behaviors: constructive and destructive. Production of goods and services is a constructive behavior, but using the stock market as a casino just to make money is a destructive one. That is why the production system is not efficient: while some work at making things, others wish to seize them. Whether or not these confrontations are won by those who want to make money without providing to society, crises appear. According to Veblen, there are no perfect competitors.
What a pity that he died in 1929, just a few months before the Great Depression. Veblen could not verify his hypothesis, but Keynes was able to promise a solution for the depression: economic institutions cannot agree to achieve a harmonious result. Another dissident from the classical school, Karl Marx, said that capitalism cannot reform itself, but Veblen said: the problems can be corrected.
Depression as a problem of the economic cycle was better studied after the crisis of 1930. English John Maynard Keynes and American Wesley Mitchell were the best economists that studied the problem of depression. Classical economists used to see it as a normal imbalance correctable by itself, but for Keynes depression is not solved within a laissez-faire economy. There is no automatic adjustment. It is therefore necessary that the government takes several measures, because a new equilibrium has emerged, albeit with unemployment and low consumption. A better distribution of income must be sought by using taxes.
But there is also the need for investment in capital goods. It is not desirable that savings do not go into investments. If the interest rate is low, investments will rise.
To Keynes these decisions were not miraculous. Society needs high government expenditure and investment. Economists Kahn and Keynes pointed out that investments could be reproduced three times in society, which is known as the multiplier effect. An example of this during the Roosevelt government was the New Deal in 1934.
Now Keynes appears as a prophet, although many neo-Keynesians are now his critics. Care should be taken with high inflation and the costly audits, as well as with the slowness of the Legislative and the courts to enforce decisions on deficit spending, tax-cyclical and non-balanced budgets. Several people and institutions have much to gain and little to lose, and are thus not interested in solving depressions, usually for political reasons. Business cycles can last on average 4 years.
A leader who feels uneasy facing a crisis will take decisions to seek solutions and he will do well if he knows better the problems. The problem is always human behavior. Many are unwilling to pay the full price for solving a crisis, and prefer palliatives instead. But as the basis of individual freedom is money, and money makes all men dependent on one another in a cash economy, crises must be resolved in a timely manner.
Banks tend to dominate economic crises and even may keep their debtors' properties, whether or not they have been ruthless and exploitative by providing impossible loans only for irresponsible speculation in the stock market.
Man determines institutions, which in turn determine him. They complement each other. Man is the central figure of economic science, which seems to echo Pascal's words:
"What a chimera is man! ... what a contradiction... what a prodigy!"
Alfredo Ascanio is a professor of economics at Simon Bolivar University in Caracas, Venezuela.
©2008 OhmyNews
Other articles by reporter Alfredo Ascanio
jueves, diciembre 18, 2008
miércoles, diciembre 17, 2008
Obama to announce education secretary
Obama to announce education secretary
WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama intends to name a big-city schools chief to help fix the country's ailing schools as education secretary, a day after announcing an environmental and energy team he said signaled his determination to tackle global warming quickly.
President-elect Barack Obama intends to name a big-city schools chief to help fix the country's ailing schools as education secretary, a day after announcing an environmental and energy team he said signaled his determination to tackle global warming quickly.
People familiar with the decision said Obama had chosen Chicago's Arne Duncan as education secretary. Duncan has run the country's third-biggest school district since 2001, pushing to boost teacher quality and to improve struggling schools and closing those that fail. Student test scores have risen significantly during Duncan's tenure.
One of the schools Duncan turned around Dodge Renaissance Academy, which he shut and then reopened on Chicago's West Side was chosen as the backdrop for Obama's announcement Tuesday.
The individuals who confirmed the selection of Duncan on Monday spoke on condition of anonymity because Obama had not made the decision public.
Earlier Monday. Obama named his environmental and energy team, vowing to "move beyond our oil addiction and create a new hybrid economy."
Obama selected Nobel-prize winning physicist Steven Chu as energy secretary and Carol Browner, a confidante of former Vice President Al Gore, to lead a White House council on energy and climate. Browner, 53, headed the Environmental Protection Agency in the Clinton administration.
Separately, an Obama transition official said Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar will be named Interior Secretary later this week, rounding out the environment and energy team.
Chu, 60, is director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California, and is a leading advocate of reducing greenhouse gases by developing new energy sources.
The selection of Chu, a Chinese American who shared a Nobel Prize for physics in 1997, received widespread praise on Capitol Hill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said he looked forward to "confirming Dr. Chu as quickly as possible."
"His appointment should send a signal to all that my administration will value science. We will make decisions based on the facts, and we understand that facts demand bold action," Obama said at a news conference in Chicago.
Obama also announced his choice of Lisa Jackson, former head of New Jersey's environmental agency, as EPA administrator.
Obama made clear he plans take energy policy in a sharply different direction from President George W. Bush, promising aggressive moves to address global warming and support research into alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and biofuels.
"America must develop new forms of energy and new ways of using it," he said.
Obama said the dangers of being too heavily dependent on foreign oil "are eclipsed only by the long-term threat of climate change which, unless we act, will lead to drought and famine abroad, devastating weather patterns and terrible storms on our shores, and disappearance of our coastline at home."
He rejected the notion that economic development and environmental protection cannot go hand in hand.
"We can spark the dynamism of our economy through a long-term investment in renewable energy that will give life to new businesses and industries with good jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced," he said.
"We'll make public buildings more efficient, modernize our electricity grid, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while protecting and preserving our natural resources. We must also recognize that the solution to global climate change must be global."
Salazar is a first-term Colorado Senator who has established a name for himself on public lands and energy resources issues. He headed the Colorado Natural Resources Department from 1990 through 1994. The Interior Department has broad oversight over US energy resources and environment. It oversees oil and gas drilling on public lands and manages US parks and wildlife refuges.
Salazar is expected to balance the protection of natural resources while tapping the nation's energy potential - an approach that Obama has said he wants .
Salazar, 53, opposed drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge and objected to the Bush administration's efforts to lease Western lands for oil shale development. It will be up to the Obama administration whether or not to go ahead with leasing.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which must confirm the education nominee, called Duncan a consensus candidate.
"Arne has been a pragmatic and effective leader of Chicago's schools," the Massachusetts Democrat said in a written statement. "He's brought people together to address difficult challenges and expand opportunities so that every child can succeed."
A 44-year-old Harvard graduate, Duncan has played pickup basketball with Obama since the 1990s. Duncan co-captained the Harvard basketball team and played professionally in Australia before beginning his education career.
Obama has avoided taking sides in a contentious debate between reform advocates and teachers' unions, but Duncan may please the competing factions. Duncan's nomination will please reform advocates who wanted a big-city schools chief who has sought to hold schools and teachers accountable for student performance; while the teachers' unions have said Duncan seems willing to work with them.
Also Monday, the 538 Americans who voted in state capitols across the United States elected Obama president. The voting by the electors was a largely ceremonial procedure, but one mandated by the Constitution.
Obama defeated Republican Sen. John McCain in the November 4 election, but still the presidency is not his officially.
Under the convoluted electoral system devised by the drafters of the US Constitution 220 years ago, Obama's election will become official only on January 6, in Washington. That is when Congress meets in joint session to count the votes cast by the electors. Obama received 365 electoral votes, to 173 for McCain - well over the 270 electoral majority necessary for the presidency.
Obama takes office January 20, becoming the country's first black president. He is planning to leave soon for a more than week-long trip to Hawaii to celebrate the holidays and relax before his inauguration.
Inauguration organizers said Obama will kick off the celebration on January 17 , the weekend before his swearing in as the country's 44th president by traveling on a train to Washington.
Obama is retracing the journey of his political idol, Abraham Lincoln, who also rode to his swearing-in on a train from Philadelphia, making stops along the way.
"We hope to include as many Americans as possible who wish to participate, but can't be in Washington," Emmett Beliveau, the executive director of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, said in a statement.
Dos diarios Chinos de elevada circulación.
Today's celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up should have been euphoric. Instead, amid the global economic gloom, they will be muted. 30 Years of Reforms, en el: Diario del enlace de arriba que es el periódico CHINA DAILY.
El enlace que aparece en seguida es un Diario dedicado a los Jóvenes.
China Youth Daily is a very influential comprehensive daily newspaper in China . Starting publication on April 27,1951 in the era of the founding of new China,the newspaper was forced to cease publication for 12 years during the "Cultural Revolution". It resumed publication on October 7,1978 on the eve of the country's reform and opening to the outside world.
CHINA YOUTH On LIne
El enlace que aparece en seguida es un Diario dedicado a los Jóvenes.
China Youth Daily is a very influential comprehensive daily newspaper in China . Starting publication on April 27,1951 in the era of the founding of new China,the newspaper was forced to cease publication for 12 years during the "Cultural Revolution". It resumed publication on October 7,1978 on the eve of the country's reform and opening to the outside world.
Ley orgánica del sufragio
LA LEY ORGÁNICA DEL SUFRAGIO Y PARTICIPACIÓN POLÍTICA Y EL REFERENDO PROPUESTO POR EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA.
.
Por
Juan José Caldera.
La vigente Ley Orgánica del Sufragio y Participación Política, en su título VI, "De los referendos", dispone en su artículo 193: "Podrá convocarse la celebración de más de un (1) Referendo simultáneamente en una misma fecha, pero no podrán convocarse a más de dos (2) actos de votación sobre distintos referendos durante un mismo año. En todo caso, si la materia objeto de un Referendo fuere rechazada por el pueblo, no podrá presentarse de nuevo durante los dos (2) años siguientes".
En mi criterio dicha norma impide que pueda realizarse el referendo de la enmienda presidencial propuesta antes del 2 de diciembre de 2009, cuando se cumplirán dos años del referendo de la reforma en el que fue rechazada la reelección indefinida propuesta en términos casi idénticos a los que ahora se plantean. Claro está que la ley del sufragio podría ser reformada a toda prisa para reducir o eliminar ese plazo, pero también el artículo 298 de la Constitución dispone: "La ley que regule los procesos electorales no podrá modificarse en forma alguna en el lapso comprendido entre el día de la elección y los seis meses inmediatamente anteriores a la misma"; por lo que la enmienda no podría ser sometida a referendo antes de que se cumplan seis meses de sancionada dicha reforma.
Juan José Caldera
martes, diciembre 16, 2008
AMERICA LATINA y la FRIA PATAGONIA
El enlace de arriba permite ver un artículo sobre ese interesante tema.
América Latina exige protagonismo global
América Latina exige protagonismo global
Brasil reclama una estrategia regional para Cuba en la macrocumbre de Bahía
SOLEDAD GALLEGO-DÍAZ
Sauípe - 16/12/2008
Cuba, su previsible evolución y cambio, es asunto de toda América Latina, y Brasil, empeñado en consolidar su incipiente liderazgo regional, lo ha dejado bien claro al promover el ingreso de la isla en el llamado Grupo de Río, uno de los organismos internacionales de consulta política más importantes del continente.
La ceremonia se celebrará mañana en Sauípe, una localidad turística cercana a Bahía, en la que el presidente brasileño, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, ha hecho coincidir cuatro cumbres en algo más de 48 horas: Mercosur, Unasur, Cumbre de América Latina y el Caribe (CALC), y el ya mencionado Grupo de Río, todas con una característica común: son exclusivamente latinoamericanas. No estarán presentes ni EE UU ni la UE.
El esfuerzo diplomático de Brasil ha sido enorme: en total acudirán a Sauípe, a una u otra reunión, 29 de los 32 jefes de Estado del área, incluidos el mexicano Felipe Calderón y el cubano Raúl Castro, que asiste por primera vez a un encuentro multilateral. Las ausencias más llamativas son las del peruano Alan García y la del colombiano Álvaro Uribe. Lula ha enviado incluso aviones de la Fuerza Aérea para recoger a los presidentes de algunos de los países centroamericanos y caribeños más pobres, con tal de asegurar su presencia.
Los resultados concretos de las cumbres son bastante inciertos -Mercosur es un organismo prácticamente paralizado, sin avances aduaneros desde hace años-, y no faltarán tensiones en estas 48 horas, pero el objetivo político está, sin embargo, claro: generar un espacio suramericano en el que se analicen los problemas de la región, sin la presencia de EE UU, como sucede en la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), ni de la UE, como ocurre en otras cumbres regionales.
Diplomáticos brasileños llevan semanas preparando un comunicado final en el que se exprese esa voluntad de crear una visión propia latinoamericana, pero los avances no son fáciles porque el pretendido liderazgo de Brasil despierta, también, recelos en otros países de la región.
En cualquier caso, la reunión de Sauípe tiene un especial significado porque se celebra, además, a sólo cuatro meses de la próxima Cumbre de las Américas, a la que sí asistirán Estados Unidos y Canadá (y no Cuba) y en la que se debatirá la marcha del ALCA, el tratado de libre comercio que Washington intenta extender, paso a paso, por Latinoamérica.
Brasil defiende que los avances en el proceso para lograr cierta integración de América Latina y del Caribe exigen la presencia de Cuba en esos foros de diálogo político exclusivamente latinoamericanos. De ahí la urgencia de que forme parte del Grupo de Río y de que el nuevo Gobierno de EE UU acepte que Brasil, y América Latina en su conjunto, y no sólo México, tienen algo que decir sobre el inminente proceso de cambio en la isla.
Y en sentido inverso, la urgencia de sentar a Raúl Castro en un foro latinoamericano en el que tenga que dialogar y analizar con algún realismo la situación global. Pero Brasil ha advertido que no se trata de enfrentarse con EE UU, con el que Lula mantiene una relación privilegiada, sino de reclamar un protagonismo imprescindible.
Las cumbres de Sauípe son también un buen termómetro para valorar los avances del pretendido liderazgo regional de Brasil. Extrañamente, está previsto que la cumbre de Unasur, el organismo suramericano (sin México) que impulsa también Brasil, dure sólo una hora, pero aun así será importante saber en qué se centran las cortas intervenciones de los distintos presidentes.
Ecuador, Rafael Correa, tiene pendiente su duro enfrentamiento con Brasilia por la deuda con el Banco Nacional de Desarrollo Económico y Social (BNDES) de Brasil, que pretende no pagar por considerar ilegítima. Brasilia necesita demostrar no tanto que se le paga la deuda, como que un país como Ecuador no puede actuar como lo ha hecho Correa, sin antes intentar dialogar y pactar con la potencia regional.
Lo mismo sucede con Paraguay, que reclama un aumento de las tarifas de la energía que vende a Brasil. El ministro paraguayo de Exteriores anunció que los dos presidentes mantendrán un encuentro personal para tratar el tema. Las cosas se le han complicado incluso con Argentina. Los argentinos dicen estar "frustrados" por el apoyo de Brasil en la Ronda de Doha (OMC) a una elevada reducción de aranceles para productos industriales y servicios que Buenos Aires rechaza.
Aun así, y por el mero hecho de ser capaz de convocarlas, las cumbres de Sauípe pueden servir para demostrar la enorme capacidad de Brasil y de Lula en el nuevo panorama político global.
Uruguay veta a Kirchner en Unasur
Una de las principales batallas que se desarrolla en Sauípe, entre bastidores, es la negociación sobre la secretaría general de la Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (Unasur), el organismo que ha revitalizado Brasil como foro político y que obtuvo recientemente un importante logro al mediar en el conflicto interno de Bolivia.
La pelea la protagonizan Argentina y Uruguay, dos países que deberían ser uña y carne por motivos geográficos y económicos y que, sin embargo, protagonizan en estos momentos uno de los enfrentamientos más duros, e incomprensibles, de América Latina. Argentina aspira a que el ex presidente Néstor Kirchner ocupe la cada vez más atractiva secretaría general de Unasur, pero Uruguay ha amenazado, incluso, con abandonar la organización si Kirchner se sale con la suya.
En el conflicto argentino-uruguayo hay también un trasfondo que aparece en otras batallas regionales: el deseo de los países pequeños de no verse avasallados por los grandes. En este caso, Uruguay se niega a validar nada que afecte a Argentina mientras que ese país no acabe con el bloqueo del puente internacional de Gualeguaychú, cerrado desde hace dos años por ecologistas que protestan por la instalación de una empresa papelera en la ribera uruguaya del río que hace frontera. El bloqueo comenzó con el Gobierno de Néstor Kirchner y ha seguido con el de su esposa, la presidenta Cristina Fernández, sin que ninguno de los dos haya encontrado solución a una situación manifiestamente ilegal y que, probablemente, exigiría el empleo de la fuerza, algo en lo que los Kirchner no quieren verse involucrados.
Organismos de integración regional
Grupo de Río
- Fue creado en 1986 como mecanismo de diálogo político continental, resolución de conflictos e impulso a la democracia. Tras sucesivas ampliaciones, cuenta con 21 países miembros, a los que ahora se une Cuba.
Latinoamérica-Caribe
- La Cumbre de América Latina y el Caribe (CALC) reúne, a iniciativa de Brasil, a 33 países para coordinar las múltiples instancias de integración regional. Es la primera al margen de la UE o EE UU. Para Brasil es una vía para fortalecer su liderazgo.
Unasur
- De nuevo Brasil es el impulsor de este organismo de integración suramericana, creado en mayo de 2008 por 12 países y considerado como espacio de concertación y resolución de conflictos. Dos de sus proyectos son el Consejo Suramericano de Defensa y el Banco del Sur.
Mercosur
- Argentina, Brasil, Uruguay y Paraguay acordaron en 1991 eliminar barreras arancelarias, impulsar el libre comercio y crear un mercado común que, 14 años después, no acaba de cuajar. Mercosur tiene acuerdos con EE UU y la UE.
lunes, diciembre 15, 2008
Nuevo periódico venezolano comunista
El periódico PATRIA GRANDE está formado por socialistas radicales y comunistas. Es bueno conocer si es imparcial o no en cuanto a sus noticias.
sábado, diciembre 13, 2008
The Tragedy of Our Economic System
The Tragedy of Our Economic System
[Analysis] Humankind needs to change its unwise ways
Alfredo Ascanio (askain)
Published 2008-12-13 12:22 (KST)
Edited by Carlos Arturo Serrano
Economics is a social science studying the behavior of social groups to meet a variety of needs with limited means, according to Wesley Mitchell. The economy of a private business differs from that of a country. In this matter there are two different ideas. Employers have to fight to keep their business afloat. The economist wants the country to stay afloat.
Man does not study well what is too close. If, for example, John Smith already has his retirement insurance, then John would find any change that threatens the value of his annuity a socialist measure of confiscation, economically wrong, although the change may be socially desirable.
The search for culprits is one obstacle to understanding economic facts. Economy observes events as processes that affect each other, not isolated instances with specific causes. Most often an economic fact may have its roots in past decisions. In a world with millions of people living interconnected lives, disturbance at a site is sure to have an impact elsewhere, even though economic activities are divided among different sectors.
Our contemporary world is divided into three types of economic associations: capitalism, communism and a mixture of the two, as in British socialism. A truer ranking would be to classify countries as poor, intermediate and relatively developed. However, many economists do not measure wealth or poverty in terms of revenue only, because satisfaction is partly a subjective, individual matter.
Why are still there poor people in the world?
1. because man has harmed nature
2. because there are many corrupt and weak governments
3. because man spends only 15 percent of their hours of life in a lucrative activity
4. because man is subject to the hardships of the environment (earthquakes, erosion, bacteria)
5. because man can live with superstitions that make their work inefficient
6. because poverty prevents the growth of capital and a lack of capital leads to more poverty
7. because a good portion of people live in rural areas with inefficient technology or few suitable tools
8. because men still make violent decisions amid their conflicts of interest
9. because countries find it harder to raise the living standard of very large populations
10. because there is a vicious cycle of capitalism with its cycles of boom and recession
11. because in some countries men share what little they have with totemic gods and other sacred gods
12. because there is a lack of resources and the imprudent use of them.
13. because society has never produced enough for everyone, because we live in a world economically bizarre, poorly organized and inefficient.
In short: man always wants material wealth, but does little to achieve it and prefers to wage war and consume irresponsibly. Man abandons himself to the economic system without making the effort of managing it properly.
Alfredo Ascanio is a professor of economics at Simon Bolivar University in Caracas, Venezuela.
viernes, diciembre 12, 2008
¿Del Tío Sam al Tío Tom?
¿Del Tío Sam al Tío Tom?
Por Diego Arria
Diplomático
Cuando el barril de petróleo rondaba los 140 dólares pocos líderes internacionales se libraron de los insultos de Hugo Chavez, jefe del petro-régimen venezolano. Algunas perlas de su arsenal oral fueron: “cachorro del imperio” (Vicente Fox); “analfabeta” (Condoleeza Rice); “mafioso” y “cobarde” (Álvaro Uribe); “hitleriana” (Angela Merkel); “corrupto” (Alan García); “fascista” (José María Aznar); “criminal”, “el propio diablo” (George W. Bush); y “pendejo” (José Miguel Insulza).
Sin embargo, la caída de los precios del petróleo lo ha obligado a moderarse. Por ejemplo, al presidente electo de los Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, lo llama “El hombre negro”, y ahora predica la ne- cesidad de normalizar las relaciones con los países a cuyos líderes ha injuriado a lo largo de su mandato.
¿Pero que significa para Hugo Chávez y para los presidentes de Colombia y de los Estados Unidos normalizar relaciones?
Para Hugo Chávez, que los países integrantes de la OEA continúen sin ni siquiera registrar sus violaciones a la Carta Democrática Interamericana.
Para el presidente Uribe, no arriesgar el provechoso comercio hacia Venezuela reservándose las pruebas de la colaboración del régimen venezolano con el grupo narco terrorista de la FARC hasta que a Colombia le convenga
develarlas, como cuando amenazó con llevarlas a la Corte Penal Internacional obligando a que Chávez retirara la fuerza
militar que había movilizado a la frontera con Colombia.
Pero para el Presidente Barack Obama la normalización implicaría llegar a un entendimiento con un régimen unipersonal y militarizado, que ha aprovechado la impopularidad del señor Bush como excusa para esconder su antiamericanismo,
y que colabora con cuanta organización enfrente a su país.
La única forma de superar las diferencias que separan a los Estados Unidos con el régimen venezolano, sería que el gobierno
norteamericano esté de acuerdo en darle rienda suelta al régimen para que continúe promoviendo la política de intervención
subversiva en nuestra región, y convierta definitivamente a Venezuela en un auténtico santuario de movimientos terroristas.
Es evidente que los norteamericanos escogieron a un nuevo presidente, pero no escogieron renunciar a los principios que
fundamentan su democracia, ni tampoco decidieron asociarse a regímenes que representen una amenaza real a sus intereses
y a su seguridad nacional.
Por su parte, Chávez pensará que “normalizar las relaciones” implica que Obama, por ejemplo, anule el juicio en Miami, que
revela la inmundicia del manejo de los recursos de los venezolanos por parte del jefe del Estado.
Los asesores de Obama no se engañan y conocen que el régimen venezolano ha convertido su antagonismo en la máxima
prioridad tanto de su política doméstica como la exterior. Saben que Chávez es un enemigo activísimo de todo lo que representa la democracia de su país, y saben que se conduce a lo largo de América Latina a contravía de los valores inherentes del país del norte.
Pero el obstáculo que hace inviable la normalización con los Estados Unidos es el propio Hugo Chávez, quien para mantener
su posicionamiento nacional e internacional necesita a Estados Unidos como su enemigo.
Sin ese país se quedaría boxeando con su sombra y tendría que enfrentar la realidad: a pesar de haber recibido durante su mandato ochocientos mil millones de dólares, gracias a la incompetencia y la corrupción
de su régimen ha llevado a Venezuela cerca del colapso.
No sorprenderá que en las primeras confrontaciones que Hugo Chávez tenga con el gobierno norteamericano volverá con sus insultos y calificará al presidente Obama de “Tío Tom”, término sacado de la novela de Harriet Beecher Stowe y que se utiliza en EE.UU. para insultar a los ciudadanos negros que se muestran serviles con los blancos importantes.
Por Diego Arria
Diplomático
Cuando el barril de petróleo rondaba los 140 dólares pocos líderes internacionales se libraron de los insultos de Hugo Chavez, jefe del petro-régimen venezolano. Algunas perlas de su arsenal oral fueron: “cachorro del imperio” (Vicente Fox); “analfabeta” (Condoleeza Rice); “mafioso” y “cobarde” (Álvaro Uribe); “hitleriana” (Angela Merkel); “corrupto” (Alan García); “fascista” (José María Aznar); “criminal”, “el propio diablo” (George W. Bush); y “pendejo” (José Miguel Insulza).
Sin embargo, la caída de los precios del petróleo lo ha obligado a moderarse. Por ejemplo, al presidente electo de los Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, lo llama “El hombre negro”, y ahora predica la ne- cesidad de normalizar las relaciones con los países a cuyos líderes ha injuriado a lo largo de su mandato.
¿Pero que significa para Hugo Chávez y para los presidentes de Colombia y de los Estados Unidos normalizar relaciones?
Para Hugo Chávez, que los países integrantes de la OEA continúen sin ni siquiera registrar sus violaciones a la Carta Democrática Interamericana.
Para el presidente Uribe, no arriesgar el provechoso comercio hacia Venezuela reservándose las pruebas de la colaboración del régimen venezolano con el grupo narco terrorista de la FARC hasta que a Colombia le convenga
develarlas, como cuando amenazó con llevarlas a la Corte Penal Internacional obligando a que Chávez retirara la fuerza
militar que había movilizado a la frontera con Colombia.
Pero para el Presidente Barack Obama la normalización implicaría llegar a un entendimiento con un régimen unipersonal y militarizado, que ha aprovechado la impopularidad del señor Bush como excusa para esconder su antiamericanismo,
y que colabora con cuanta organización enfrente a su país.
La única forma de superar las diferencias que separan a los Estados Unidos con el régimen venezolano, sería que el gobierno
norteamericano esté de acuerdo en darle rienda suelta al régimen para que continúe promoviendo la política de intervención
subversiva en nuestra región, y convierta definitivamente a Venezuela en un auténtico santuario de movimientos terroristas.
Es evidente que los norteamericanos escogieron a un nuevo presidente, pero no escogieron renunciar a los principios que
fundamentan su democracia, ni tampoco decidieron asociarse a regímenes que representen una amenaza real a sus intereses
y a su seguridad nacional.
Por su parte, Chávez pensará que “normalizar las relaciones” implica que Obama, por ejemplo, anule el juicio en Miami, que
revela la inmundicia del manejo de los recursos de los venezolanos por parte del jefe del Estado.
Los asesores de Obama no se engañan y conocen que el régimen venezolano ha convertido su antagonismo en la máxima
prioridad tanto de su política doméstica como la exterior. Saben que Chávez es un enemigo activísimo de todo lo que representa la democracia de su país, y saben que se conduce a lo largo de América Latina a contravía de los valores inherentes del país del norte.
Pero el obstáculo que hace inviable la normalización con los Estados Unidos es el propio Hugo Chávez, quien para mantener
su posicionamiento nacional e internacional necesita a Estados Unidos como su enemigo.
Sin ese país se quedaría boxeando con su sombra y tendría que enfrentar la realidad: a pesar de haber recibido durante su mandato ochocientos mil millones de dólares, gracias a la incompetencia y la corrupción
de su régimen ha llevado a Venezuela cerca del colapso.
No sorprenderá que en las primeras confrontaciones que Hugo Chávez tenga con el gobierno norteamericano volverá con sus insultos y calificará al presidente Obama de “Tío Tom”, término sacado de la novela de Harriet Beecher Stowe y que se utiliza en EE.UU. para insultar a los ciudadanos negros que se muestran serviles con los blancos importantes.
miércoles, diciembre 10, 2008
The 15 Most Ignored Nations
The 15 Most Ignored Nations
[Opinion] Countries with large natural wealth but with political problems
Alfredo Ascanio (askain)
Published 2008-11-20 15:00 (KST)
Edited by Carlos Arturo Serrano
I want to pay tribute to 15 important countries seldom taken into consideration. Seven countries in Africa, five in Oceania, two in Europe, and one in South America emerged as European colonies that after independence suffered coups, assassinations of political leaders, corruption and an unacceptable intolerance in the midst of extreme poverty and infant mortality. Many have kept the currency and language of the European country that first colonized them.
These countries are:
In Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Djibouti, Liberia, Seychelles and Swaziland.
In Oceania: Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, and Tuvalu.
In Europe, Liechtenstein, Moldova.
In South America: Suriname
Countries in Africa
The Republic of Benin (capital Porto-Novo) is an ethnic African country that keeps the colonial French language, the franc currency, and the Catholic religion. Its current head of state is Yayi Boni.
Burkina Faso (capital Ouagadougou) is a country of mostly ethnic Mossi who also, due to colonial tradition, speak French and use the franc, but are of Muslim religion. Its current head of state is Blaise Compaore.
The Union of the Comoros (capital Moroni) is a Muslim country of mostly ethnic Antalotes who speak their own language, Comorian, and use as currency the Comorano franc. Its head of state is Ahmed Abdallah.
The Republic of Djibouti (capital Djbouti) is a country of mostly ethnic Somalis who formally uses two languages: French and Arabic. Its currency is the franc, its population is Muslim, and its head of state is Ismail Omar Guelleh.
The Republic of Liberia (capital Monrovia) is a country of varied African ethnicity, which uses English as its official language. Its currency is the US dollar and its religions are Catholicism and Islam. Its current head of state is Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
The Republic of Seychelles (capital Victoria) is an important touristic destination and one of the less troubled countries in Africa. Its ethnicity is a blend of Asian and African and its religion is Catholic. The people speak English and French and the rupee as currency. Its current head of state is James Michel.
The Kingdom of Swaziland (capital Mbabane) is a very small country with a hereditary monarchy of Swazi ethnicity. There are two main languages: English and Swati. Its currency is called lilangeni, and its current head of state is King Mswati III.
Countries in Oceania
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (capital Majuro) is an ethnically Micronesian nation of Protestant religion. The country has two official languages: English and Marshallese. The country uses the US dollar as its currency, and its head of state is Litokwa Tomeing.
The Republic of Kiribati (capital Tarawa) comprises 33 islands in the Pacific Ocean, populated by English-speaking Catholics and Protestants. Its currency is the Australian dollar and its current head of state is Anote Tong.
The Republic of Nauru (capital Yaren) is an island nation populated by ethnic Nauruans of Protestant faith. Its language is Nauruan, its currency is the Australian dollar, and its head of state is Marcus Stephen.
The Republic of Palau (capital Koror) comprises several islands inhabited with ethnic Palauanos, mostly Catholics and Protestants. They speak Palauan and English. Its currency is the US dollar. Its head of state is Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr.
Tuvalu (capital Funafuti) spans several volcanic atolls. Its population is of Polynesian ethnicity of Christian religion. It uses both the Tuvaluan dollar tuvaluan and the Australian dollar. Its official language is English and its current head of government is Apisai Leleima.
Countries in Europe
The Principality of Liechtenstein (capital Vaduz) is populated by ethnic Germans who use as their currency the Swiss franc. Its official language is German and its religion is predominantly Catholic. Being a constitutional monarchy, a crown prince chairs the country, Hans-Adam II, while the head of government is Otmar Hasler.
The Republic of Moldova (capital Chisinau) is mostly inhabited by ethnic Moldovans and Ukrainians of Eastern Orthodox faith who use as currency the Moldovan leu and speak Moldovan and Russian. Its current head of state is Vladimir Voronin.
Countries in South America
The Republic of Suriname (capital Paramaribo), populated by ethnic Hindu and Creole, uses as currency the Surinamese dollar and has Dutch as its official language. Its main religions are Catholicism and Hinduism. Its current head of state is Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan.
Most of these countries are young, still troubled by discontent with their governments and social tensions. Some were born of military coups d'etat and often their elections are suspected of irregularities, intended to impose repressive ideologies and preserve the hold on power.
These countries were colonized for their natural resources and, sometimes, their strategic value. Not all have full democracy. Those located in Africa and Oceania have very weak economies and suffer from famine and infant mortality. The most affluent ones depend on a service and tourism economy or hold major financial centers, especially the European ones.
[Opinion] Countries with large natural wealth but with political problems
Alfredo Ascanio (askain)
Published 2008-11-20 15:00 (KST)
Edited by Carlos Arturo Serrano
I want to pay tribute to 15 important countries seldom taken into consideration. Seven countries in Africa, five in Oceania, two in Europe, and one in South America emerged as European colonies that after independence suffered coups, assassinations of political leaders, corruption and an unacceptable intolerance in the midst of extreme poverty and infant mortality. Many have kept the currency and language of the European country that first colonized them.
These countries are:
In Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Djibouti, Liberia, Seychelles and Swaziland.
In Oceania: Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, and Tuvalu.
In Europe, Liechtenstein, Moldova.
In South America: Suriname
Countries in Africa
The Republic of Benin (capital Porto-Novo) is an ethnic African country that keeps the colonial French language, the franc currency, and the Catholic religion. Its current head of state is Yayi Boni.
Burkina Faso (capital Ouagadougou) is a country of mostly ethnic Mossi who also, due to colonial tradition, speak French and use the franc, but are of Muslim religion. Its current head of state is Blaise Compaore.
The Union of the Comoros (capital Moroni) is a Muslim country of mostly ethnic Antalotes who speak their own language, Comorian, and use as currency the Comorano franc. Its head of state is Ahmed Abdallah.
The Republic of Djibouti (capital Djbouti) is a country of mostly ethnic Somalis who formally uses two languages: French and Arabic. Its currency is the franc, its population is Muslim, and its head of state is Ismail Omar Guelleh.
The Republic of Liberia (capital Monrovia) is a country of varied African ethnicity, which uses English as its official language. Its currency is the US dollar and its religions are Catholicism and Islam. Its current head of state is Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
The Republic of Seychelles (capital Victoria) is an important touristic destination and one of the less troubled countries in Africa. Its ethnicity is a blend of Asian and African and its religion is Catholic. The people speak English and French and the rupee as currency. Its current head of state is James Michel.
The Kingdom of Swaziland (capital Mbabane) is a very small country with a hereditary monarchy of Swazi ethnicity. There are two main languages: English and Swati. Its currency is called lilangeni, and its current head of state is King Mswati III.
Countries in Oceania
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (capital Majuro) is an ethnically Micronesian nation of Protestant religion. The country has two official languages: English and Marshallese. The country uses the US dollar as its currency, and its head of state is Litokwa Tomeing.
The Republic of Kiribati (capital Tarawa) comprises 33 islands in the Pacific Ocean, populated by English-speaking Catholics and Protestants. Its currency is the Australian dollar and its current head of state is Anote Tong.
The Republic of Nauru (capital Yaren) is an island nation populated by ethnic Nauruans of Protestant faith. Its language is Nauruan, its currency is the Australian dollar, and its head of state is Marcus Stephen.
The Republic of Palau (capital Koror) comprises several islands inhabited with ethnic Palauanos, mostly Catholics and Protestants. They speak Palauan and English. Its currency is the US dollar. Its head of state is Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr.
Tuvalu (capital Funafuti) spans several volcanic atolls. Its population is of Polynesian ethnicity of Christian religion. It uses both the Tuvaluan dollar tuvaluan and the Australian dollar. Its official language is English and its current head of government is Apisai Leleima.
Countries in Europe
The Principality of Liechtenstein (capital Vaduz) is populated by ethnic Germans who use as their currency the Swiss franc. Its official language is German and its religion is predominantly Catholic. Being a constitutional monarchy, a crown prince chairs the country, Hans-Adam II, while the head of government is Otmar Hasler.
The Republic of Moldova (capital Chisinau) is mostly inhabited by ethnic Moldovans and Ukrainians of Eastern Orthodox faith who use as currency the Moldovan leu and speak Moldovan and Russian. Its current head of state is Vladimir Voronin.
Countries in South America
The Republic of Suriname (capital Paramaribo), populated by ethnic Hindu and Creole, uses as currency the Surinamese dollar and has Dutch as its official language. Its main religions are Catholicism and Hinduism. Its current head of state is Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan.
Most of these countries are young, still troubled by discontent with their governments and social tensions. Some were born of military coups d'etat and often their elections are suspected of irregularities, intended to impose repressive ideologies and preserve the hold on power.
These countries were colonized for their natural resources and, sometimes, their strategic value. Not all have full democracy. Those located in Africa and Oceania have very weak economies and suffer from famine and infant mortality. The most affluent ones depend on a service and tourism economy or hold major financial centers, especially the European ones.
El Concierto de Madonna en Paris (el Moulin Rouge)
Así cualquiera es comunista!, Lo lamentable es que es con el dinero de todos los Venezolanos!
LAS HIJAS DE CHAVEZ.EN EL CONCIERTO DE MADONNA QUE TAL.ASI,ASI,ASI ES QUE SE GOBIERNA
Una imagen valen mas que mil palabras. Por eso les coloco 1 imagen y donde aparece la conductora del Progama de VTV Dando y Dando, la socialista Tania Chavez, disfruntando del espectaculo en el Moulin Rouge y de las calles de Paris. Asi es que se gobierna. Tremendo comunismo de caviar... Que socialismo tan bueno.
Las tres muchacha estan disfrutando el concierto de Madonna en Paris. Creo que Madonna es 100% capitalista. No deberian estar mejor en un concierto de Silvio Rodriguez... Y otra foto donde están las muchachas con Chávez y también está detrás el estudiante universitario también ultrarevolucionario que salió a la palestra cuando los verdaderos estudiantes universitarios salieron a defender la democracia, el apareció como un gran defensor de la austeridad de este gobierno socialista y hablando paja de los hijitos de papá ricachones, que seguramente ni en sueños podrán pisar jamás una callecita europea y mucho menos asistir a un concierto de Madona fuera de Venezuela y quizás ni siquiera aquí en el Teresa Carreño.
Vamos a pintar...
Si hacen click arriba saldrá un lugar para pintar entonces sólo tienen que hacer CLICK en el pincel...
martes, diciembre 09, 2008
Excelente VIDEO de una canción muy romántica...
Este video es realmente excelente !! Si lo quieren ver tienen que tener calma para que se llene completamente la linea del Video y comiencen a aparecer las imágenes.
VER TV con el PC:
HACER CLICK AQUI
VER TV con el PC:
domingo, diciembre 07, 2008
sábado, diciembre 06, 2008
NORTH KOREAN: The Paranoid Peninsula.
"The Paranoid Peninsula" attributes all the evils which continue besetting North Korea (famine, excessive military spending, its crumbling industrial base and infrastructure) to the all-embracing nature of economic planning.)
Openly talking about mistakes and lost opportunities: the North Korean leadership for excessive adherence to a command economy: "The country has failed not primarily because it is run by a leadership obsessed with the cult of personality or because it is a one-party state entirely devoid of democracy, though neither of these truisms about North Korea has helped its development, but because it subscribes to the failed concept of the Soviet-inspired socialist command economy that insists on a centrally planned system."
Every aspect of public life in this country is dominated by two omnipresent concepts: "state as a religion" and "revolutionary dynasty.", which inculcate in the North Korean populace an obsession with dogma and the personality cult.
LIBRORIA :una librería con libros viejos y nuevos
Esta librería se encuentra en la Urb. Las Mercedes en Caracas y es interesante porque es una de las pocas empresas libreras que se dedican a la venta de libros usados.
The wily: a dangerous social behavior
The wily: a dangerous social behavior
Posted on December 6th, 2008 by askain
By A. Ascanio /ASKAIN)
The Venezuelan psychologist Axel Capriles has finished his book on the cunning or wily Creole.
After explaining that in Venezuela the wily character is accepted because the person who is not clever is stupid, Capriles said that the mischievousness or Creole vivacity is not rational from the social point of view because it promotes the anarchic individualism. The wily is a negative social value.
It is the context and the institutional weakness partly responsible for that behavior. When institutions do not work or the laws are ambiguous, a person or clever hussy (or alive) uses not legal exit to solve his problem; this is a psychology of survival. Thus, the environment makes it easier the act of liveliness.
But when there is an institution that provides very clear what is right and wrong and which also monitors the behavior of citizens but treats them with respect, then the wily change it behavior. This happens in the “Metro de Caracas” because it is a model that achieves the change when the person using this means of transport.
A clearer example of how institutions can achieve change from one person to another; wily person to candid person, is what happened in the Mayor of Medellin (Colombia) during the administration of Sergio Fajardo. Coherent and comprehensive work to change citizen’s behavior and with an advertisement that created pride (”the most educated city”), shows again that the example and modeling of good and genuine leaders it helps a lot to change behavior.
For the contracted when a leader transforms himself into a wily to demonstrate his cunning and encourages, and uses this behavior to congeries emotionally with people and using the language of the same mischievous people, all this is only populism and demagoguery. Thus this behavior achieving the applause of the people who are only interested in protecting their interests (Example: the government program is called “Hello President”).
La crisis en EE.UU. ahonda el desempleo
La crisis en EE.UU. ahonda el desempleo
500 000 estadounidenses perdieron el trabajo en octubre, según información del Gobierno En Nueva York, se siente y se ve la depresión: hay más mendigos.
Olga Imbaquingo
Corresponsal en Nueva York
Un ex empleado de Wall Street ocupa el cargo de chofer en la compañía General Construction de Manhattan, mientras que el conductor que hacía ese trabajo durante 15 años pasa a ser mensajero. Fue una forma de despedirlo.
A un empleado de una gasolinera en Nueva Jersey, el administrador le ordena no taparse el rostro con una bufanda pese a que sufre de una fuerte gripe y hace mucho frío. Si no le gusta, le sugiere que se acoja a la figura de discapacidad. "Eso significa despido y con tanta falta de empleo me debo aguantar", dice Romeo, quien prefiere no decir su apellido.
Más detalles
El desempleo golpea a todo nivel. Mike Friedman, un PhD en Biología, está en la desocupación. "No hay trabajo, estoy buscando y buscando", dice visiblemente preocupado.
Pero hay un sector donde los decibeles de la incertidumbre son casi inaguantables: la construcción. "Desde septiembre todo está cuesta abajo", dice el ecuatoriano Kléver Borja.
El desempleo entre la población hispana bordea el 8 %, el más alto en los últimos 20 años.
Desde hace meses ni los empleados de la empresa de construcción ni los de la gasolinera pueden hacer horas extras, por una razón que estos tiempos quita el sueño: la crisis y una economía que al fin el Gobierno de Estados Unidos acepta entró en recesión.
Estas son historias que pasan en Nueva York, una ciudad en depresión. Casi todos los días frente a Wall Street, los desempleados, los indignados con los rescates financieros, los líderes de los derechos civiles acuden a maldecir al capitalismo y a esos ejecutivos que se dejaron arrastrar por la codicia y causaron la debacle.
"Es culpa del capitalismo y de sus privilegiados. ¿De quién más? Los trabajadores y los estudiantes necesitamos un rescate, no los capitalistas", dice Greg Slater, que invita a los transeúntes a firmar para rechazar a Wall Street.
Solo en octubre, más de 500 000 trabajadores perdieron su trabajo en todo el país, informó el Gobierno. Eso incrementará a 30 millones el número de estadounidenses que, para llenar el estómago, deberán recurrir a los cupones de comida que entrega el Gobierno.
Nueva York está en depresión y eso es visible: más gente extiende la mano por unas monedas a las salidas del tren; hay más cantantes improvisados de soul o de rancheras en el metro; más ánforas en las calles para los sin techo, y filas más largas de desempleados que llenan la aplicación para solicitar ayuda económica temporal.
Desde que la economía se vino cuesta abajo, cuatro millones de ciudadanos buscan empleo. "Es muy claro que estamos en recesión. Se verán grandes pérdidas de trabajo porque la economía probablemente va a empeorar", dice el economista de Hechos y Opiniones Económicas.
En Nueva York también hay más tiendas, restaurantes, bares y cafés vacíos o en proceso de bancarrota. Así, en Tannery House, un almacén especializado en abrigos y chaquetas, en esta temporada nunca estaba vacía.
Sus seis empleados hacían esfuerzos para atender a la clientela. "Se despidió a tres y no sabemos qué pasará, estamos asustados", dice Dagmar que se esfuerza para vender a un cliente.
The Place of 'Human Nature' in Political History
The Place of 'Human Nature' in Political History
The current crisis and the historical evolution of man in society
Alfredo Ascanio (askain)
Published 2008-12-06 16:44 (KST)
Edited by Rich Bowden: Editor's Note
Differing interpretations of the concept of human nature has had a varied political history in modern times, the development of which can be seen clearly if we trace the ideal back to its origins.
In the 17th and 18th century - during the Age of Reason and the early Romantic Movement - "human nature" referred to man's naturally sympathetic sentiments, his communicative faculties and inalienable dignity.
However once this human nature was powerfully enlisted in revolutionary struggles against courts and classes, poverty and humiliation, it began to invent and support progressive education. Human nature unmistakably demanded liberty, equality, and fraternity.
As an heir of the French Revolution, philosopher and political revolutionary Karl Marx kept true to much of this concept. Sympathy recurred in his works as solidarity. Though dignity and intellect were perhaps still in the future, he found an important new essential: that man is a maker - he must use his productive nature or be miserable. This too involved a revolutionary program, to give back to man his tools.
During the course of the 19th century however, "human nature" came to be associated with conservative and even reactionary politics. The later Romantics were historically minded and contended that man was inherently traditional and preferred not to be uprooted. A few decades later, narrow interpretations of Darwin were being used to support capitalist enterprise and racial and somatic theories summoned to advance imperial and elite interests.
It was during this later period that the social scientists began to be diffident about "human nature." Politically, they wanted fundamental social changes, different from those indicated by the "natural" theory of the survival of the fittest. Meanwhile scientifically, it was evident that many anthropological facts were being called natural which were overwhelmingly cultural.
Most of the social scientists began to lay all their stress on political organization, to bring about reform.
In our own century, especially since the 1920s and 30s, the social scientists have found another reason for diffidence. It seems to them that "human nature" implies "not social" and refers to something prior to society, belonging to an isolated individual.
Reacting to Freudian thought, they have felt that too much importance has been assigned to Individual Psychology and this has stood in the way of organizing people for political reform.
It is based on this view that growing up is now interpreted as a process of socializing some rather indefinite kind of animal, with the term "socializing" a synonym for teaching the culture. The society to which one is socialized would then have to be a remarkably finished product.
But it is, of course, hard to grow up and socialize when there isn't enough work and this remains one of the most serious issues in our current economic crisis.
Alfredo Ascanio is a professor of economics at Simon Bolivar University in Caracas, Venezuela.
©2008 OhmyNews
Other articles by ASKAIN
viernes, diciembre 05, 2008
WAR ROOM
Es una Hoja WEB "amarillista" de un tal ALEX KOPPELMAN y además se busca información en las páginas WEB de la extrema derecha como:
The elections in Venezuela
The elections in Venezuela
The imbalance of power in a polarized society
Alfredo Ascanio (askain)
The election of November 23 is a process to choose 22 state governors, 328 mayors, 233 state legislative councilors and a range of other local positions. 17 million Venezuelans will have the opportunity to vote in these elections.
The elections will be the 14th set of national votes held since 1998 when Hugo Chavez was first elected as President. Hugo Chavez and his coalition of supporters have won 12 of the 13 previous national elections and referenda.
This is in stark contrast to the 40 years prior to President Chavez’s election, when only 15 national electoral contests were staged in Venezuela.
Elections under the government of Hugo Chavez have been verified as free and fair by a range of independent international observers including the Organization of American States, the European Union and the US Carter Centre.
A total of 134 foreign observers will take part in November's election, according to Venezuela's independent National Electoral Council (CNE). The observers will come from 34 member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS), and include representatives of electoral organizations from America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
With regards to equality, half of the candidates standing in the local and regional elections will be women, following the implementation of legislation to ensure gender equality earlier this year. This is a tremendous advance for women in Venezuela - when these elections were last contested in 2004, 82% of candidates were male and 18% female.
PREVIOUS REGIONAL ELECTIONS IN VENEZUELA: Equivalent elections to those on 23 November took place in Venezuela in October 2004. Chavez’s coalition of supporters won the elections in 80 per cent of the local authorities and 22 out of 24 governors. However, it should be noted that, during the run-up to the previous regional elections in October 2004, much of the opposition called on their supporters to abstain in an effort to discredit the Venezuelan electoral system, which they claimed was "fraudulent" after their defeat in the August 2004 referendum on whether President Chavez would remain in office.
These claims became increasingly unsustainable after electoral observation missions from the European Union, the OAS and the Carter Center repeatedly expressed satisfaction with the transparency, fairness, and inclusive nature of Venezuela's electoral system.
As no such boycott will occur this time, it is reasonable to assume that this will strengthen the opposition's level of support, all other things being equal. It is hoped that accurate and honest media coverage will recognize this fact.
In 2000, Chavez’s coalition of supporters won 18 governors and the opposition six. However, three governors elected with Chavez’s support later became part of the opposition.
A TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE ELECTORAL PROCESS: Venezuela's electoral system has undergone significant improvements under the Chavez government that have helped achieve a transparent process and an increase in voter participation. Some of these are looked at below:
AN INDEPENDENT ELECTION: The National Electoral Council (CNE), body in charge of administering elections in Venezuela is an independent branch of state. It is comprised of 11 members of the National Assembly and 10 representatives of civil society, none of who are appointed by the President.
MONITORING OF THE ELECTION: Venezuela's elections are among the most observed anywhere in the world. At each of the 11,500 voting centers throughout the country, the dozens of parties involved in the election will be entitled to an observer - one example of how at different levels of the electoral process in Venezuela, the opposition can fully participate.
TRANSPARENCY: The November 23 elections will be 100% computerized. Voting will take place using an electronic touch-screen voting machine that will provide every voter with a receipt. This allows the election authorities to conduct a manual recount of the paper receipts if the tally of a particular voting centre is challenged.
The full electronic results will also be checked against a hand counted audit of 53 per cent of the machines. Thirty political parties and organizations expressed their satisfaction in one of the many audits carried out by the CNE, which took place on November 16. Thus far the CNE has carried out 53 such audits. The machines produce a receipt to allow the voter to check their vote.
US Senator Bill Nelson (Florida) has argued they are therefore more reliable than those used in several countries including the USA. On the security of the voting machines, the report of the Chairperson of the EU Observation Mission to the 2005 elections stated, "the general conclusion of the observers was that the voting machines seemed very reliable."
ENHANCING VOTER PARTICIPATION: Over the last few years, voter participation in Venezuelan elections has increased significantly, and in large part thanks to measures adopted by the CNE. It has carried out extensive voter registration campaigns that contributed to a 64% increase in the number of registered voters between 1998 and 2007.
Parallel to this effort, the CNE has made voting much more accessible to millions of Venezuelans by adding new voting stations in poor neighborhoods and rural areas. It should be noted that these advances have benefited all Venezuelans by increasing democratic participation. In particular, though, they have helped to empower the less privileged citizens in poor areas and Afro-Venezuelan and Indigenous communities that have traditionally been left on the sidelines of Venezuelan politics.
To facilitate turnout in 23 November elections, the CNE has established 1,500 Centers of Electoral Information throughout the country.
The CNE has also produced a short video clip - with added sign language for the deaf and those with partial hearing - and a radio broadcast which are run nationally three times a day, with detailed information as to how to cast one's vote. It has also printed gigantic posters with didactic information for the voters that have been distributed to every single municipality in the country.
The CNE has additionally added a bulletin in the national press containing all the information relevant to the regional elections, including location of polling stations and how to cast the vote.
VENEZUELANS CONFIDENCE IN THEIR DEMOCRACY: Some media have propagated the myth that President Chavez is ‘authoritarian', or a ‘dictator', and that his supporters have stayed in power by increasing central concentration of power. Yet the latest annual survey of Latin American opinion, carried out by the independent and respected polling firm Latinobarometro, showed that Venezuela is now the country with the greatest support for democracy in Latin America on 82%. The average level of support in Latin America is 57%. This represents a huge increase in support for democracy in Venezuela under Chavez.
In 1998, just before Chavez was first elected, the Latin American average satisfaction with democracy was 37% and Venezuela was below this average with only 35%.
Venezuela is also now the country with the second highest levels of satisfaction with their democracy: 49% against an average of 37%. Additionally, Venezuela has, by far, the greatest number of political parties registered of any Latin American nation: 85 compared to the next highest of 22.
Far from the government of Hugo Chavez restricting democracy as is often falsely claimed, Hugo Chavez and his supporters have won twelve out of thirteen electoral contests on a national basis since 1998.
These are: ?
1. December 1998: Hugo Chavez elected president with 56.2 per cent of the vote. ?
2. April 1999: National referendum on convening a constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution won with 71.8 per cent support. ?
3. July 1999: Election of a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution, Chavez supporters won a large majority of seats.
4. December 1999: Referendum on whether to adopt the new constitution, won by Chavez supporters with 71.9 per cent of the vote. ?
5. July 2000: Presidential election held under the new constitution, won by Hugo Chavez with an increased majority of 59.76 per cent of the vote.
?6. July 2000: Election of the National Assembly, Chavez supporters won a majority of the seats?.
7. December 2000: Municipal elections with around two thirds supporting pro-Chavez parties.
?8. August 2004 - National elections for councilors for local municipalities and local parishes. ?
9. August 2004: A national referendum called by the opposition on whether or not to remove Chavez from power, won by President Chavez with 59.3 per cent of the vote. ?
10. October 2004: Local and regional elections throughout the country, Chavez supporters won the elections in 80 per cent of the local authorities and 20 out of 22 provincial governments. ?
11. December 2005: National Assembly elections. Chavez’s party, the MVR, won a large majority of the seats following the cynical boycott of the election by some of the opposition. ?
12. December 2006 - Presidential election. Hugo Chavez was re-elected with 63%. ?
13. December 2007 - National referendum on constitutional changes misrepresentation.
REGARDING NOVEMBER'S ELECTION: One of the main misrepresentations in the run up to the 23 November has been on so called ‘barring' of political candidates.
Sections of the Venezuelan opposition have claimed the elections will not be free and fair due to a decision by Venezuela's Comptroller General, Clodosbaldo Russian, to temporarily disqualify a list of around 250 individuals from standing for public office after being found guilty of corruption and/or misuse of public funds. Of these a much smaller number intended to stand for election.
The opposition, finding an echo in sections of the media, has argued that the "list of banned candidates is politically motivated and illegal" (International Herald Tribune, July 8, 2008). They add that the measure is unconstitutional. This interpretation is wrong. Some have falsely claimed that this is an attempt to exclude opponents of President Chavez.
However the list of disqualified individuals includes both supporters and opponents of the government - a report in the Venezuelan newspaper Ultimas Noticias on 14 July stated that a majority could be identified as government supporters. Furthermore, many of the disqualifications were not imposed recently and are the consequence of investigations by the Comptroller General over a number of years.
This decision by the Comptroller General is both lawful and constitutional. Such legal instruments to apply sanctions against individuals whose probity as holders of public office is under question has existed in Venezuela since 1975.
The current legislation was adopted in 2002 as an anti-corruption measure by Venezuela's National Assembly in a near unanimous vote, including support from parties opposed to the Chavez government that then had strong representation in the National Assembly.
The disqualified candidates have also had the opportunity to legally contest the decision and the disbarring was upheld as constitutional by a Venezuelan Supreme Court ruling on 5 August.
Opponents of Venezuela's social progress have regularly propagated a substantial campaign of disinformation seeking to undermine the Hugo Chavez government. The latest false claims relating to the disqualifications appear to be part of this ongoing campaign.
23 NOVEMBER: LOCAL ELECTION
Early this morning, Venezuelans started queuing to vote in local elections for state governors and regional and municipal legislators. Turnout is expected to be high but it is a cloudy day on many states.
Over 5000 candidates will contest 603 elections for 22 state governors, 328 mayors, 233 state legislative councilors and a range of other local positions.
17 million Venezuelans will have the opportunity to vote in these elections. The elections will be the 14th set of national votes held since 1998.
The final outcomes clearly show that most populated states would be under the control of the local opposition. This shows a tendency in Venezuelans political preferences.
The opposition is leading in urban canters while the government is turning towards the rural areas. In addition, the opposition has taken almost all local authorities posts in Caracas.
Tibisay Lucena, the president of the National Electoral Council, has just issued the first official result of Venezuela’s state and municipal elections. After receiving reports of over 60 % of the counting by electoral juntas of the votes, results did not show a clear victory for the Chavez’s candidates in meaningful posts. Seventeen governorships remain under official control though.
However, the opposition won at traditional opposition place of Zulia and Nueva Esparta. It also regains control over Miranda state and Caracas Mayoral post. Later reports showed that the opposition also won at two more states: Carabobo and Tachira.
The opposition came divided to the elections and suffer major set backs in the following States: Aragua, Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Barinas, Bolivar, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Yaracuy, Merida, Monagas, Portuguesa, Sucre, Trujillo y Vargas.
The governing PSUV recognized the victory by the opposition and promised to continue with his political socialist project.
Turnout - over 65,49% of the electorate universe -was rather high for local election historical standards in Venezuela.
This turnout shows the renewed interest and enthusiasm on politics. In addition it demonstrated the trust of Venezuelans over their electoral systems. International observers have also hailed the technical facilities and flawless outcome of the elections.
As President Chavez took it to heart to win this elections, their result are to be interpreted as a lukewarm sign for the extension of his tenure in power beyond 2013. Chavez would now need to devote much energy to oppose hostile opponents at the local level in Caracas and within his own party. Would be heirs of his leadership could turn dangerous for his remaining time in government.
The world financial crisis and deficient management of his policies could create havoc in the near future. It is up to his administration to govern with less money and more focused social aims.
The opposition would now need to analyze defeat and envision the more democratic selection of its candidates. Unlike the governing PSUV, the opposition parties did not celebrate internal elections to choose their candidates; on the contrary. They appointed candidates by maneuvering politics, internal struggles and negotiations among few leaders.
During an International Press Conference on Monday night at Caracas, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez clarifies his stand on reelection. Chavez rejected suggestions that he would personally initiate the Constitutional mechanism to call for a new referendum on the extension of his tenure in power. Chavez is barred to do it again during his current constitutional term. However, a new Referendum on his mandate extension beyond 2012 could be called by the governing party, PSUV, or the Venezuelan people themselves, Chavez said. Such move is feared by both local and international opposition.
During the Press Conference, Chavez confronted CNN anchor Patricia Janiot for having taken his declarations out of context and misinforming the audience. Janiot had informed on CNN that Chavez would take tanks on the street if his party, PSUV, failed at local elections.
He also answered the question about the president Obama and said that the new leader had good intentions but in the context of right intolerable groups in the U.S. may not be able to fulfill its promises and that also might risk that USA killed as he they had done with other presidents.
He also said that oil prices should be located in a band between 80 and 100 dollars, and the urgency of a bank of the countries of OPEC, but that if it was not possible to organize that bank then what Venezuela would begin to promote only with Iran.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says that his socialist party could seek to amend the constitution to provide unlimited presidential rule.
Following promising results for his left-wing party from state elections, Chavez said on Monday he would not personally promote such a reform which would allow him to run for reelection in 2012. "It's the people's right (to decide on the issue). We'll see if the people use this right, and if all the country approves it or not, if there is a referendum," he said. "I've said I'm not going to introduce or ask for any constitutional reform regarding presidential reelection. What I can't avoid is if someone else does it," the Venezuelan leader added.
The remarks come a day after Sunday's vote where the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won 17 states out of 22, polling a sweeping 95.67% of votes counted nationally, with Chavez's brother, Adan, winning the governor's race in his home state of Barinas.
Chavez hailed the Venezuelan people's decisive participation after the National Electoral Council published its first report on Monday, describing it as 'a signal to boost the Bolivarian Revolution started in this South American country in 1999'. "This has been a special success of the PSUV, but the victory is also of all Venezuela, which ratified its democratic triumph and honored the National Constitution," Chavez stated. "From February 2, I have four more years of government…I'm going to speed up the pace in these four years to carry out the Bolivarian socialist project," he said.
Election chief Tibisay Lucena said on Sunday 23, that the opposition had won the five most populous states: Miranda, Zulia, Carabobo, Tachira as well as Nueva Esparta. The Caracas mayor's office also shifts to the opposition.
Some 65.45% of almost 17 million eligible voters turned out at the polls to choose 22 governors, 328 mayors and 233 heads of regional councils for four-year terms.
What this indicates is that the process of voting has favored the president Chavez that has become an autocrat with the total political power.
The old political parties (AD, COPEI and MAS) were ultimately discredited and disappear from the political scene.
The opposition has been unable to successfully rebuild all their matches and then the emergence of new political groups such as: First Justice, New Time, Emerging Vision, Copei renovated and refurbished AD, but in a climate of intolerance and confrontation have been organized with the support of Young Leaders and with the support of academic leaders.
But these new and youth parties have been unable to reach the groundwork for lack of resources, which if they've been able to make the party formed by President Chavez who has had a lot of money to penetrate almost all the spaces of power that is closer to the voter population.
The success of these new groups is evident as they have been able to win in major urban cities of the country and especially in the city of Caracas that is the geographical area with the largest number of inhabitants.
That is, President Hugo Chavez's opponents made important gains in Venezuela's local elections, capturing the Caracas mayor's office and five of the most populous and important states.
Socialism and Communism: basic differences
Socialism and Communism: basic differences
Some ideas in the context of a financial crisis
Alfredo Ascanio (askain)
In the year 1978 Willy Brandt, Chairman of the Socialist Party of Federal Germany, said: that the fundamental values of socialism are freedom, justice and solidarity. Democratic socialism is equal to what fate has been called social democracy. Both political movements are interested in a restructuring social freedom.
The political goal of democratic socialism is the welfare and progress of a country to overcome the traditional capitalism. The objective of the policy of democratic socialism is to improve the conditions and fate of the individual in its own context.
Freedom means being free of external ties, but the own decision is achieved only under the rule of law or legal security that ensures justice. Solidarity is the element that unites the freedom with justice and that is achieved only with the participation of the citizen.
These criteria were also ratified by Bruno Kreisky, a socialist from Austria, adding that it is also a key international solidarity or political cooperation and development aid to prevent worldwide speculation.
Also said Mario Soares, driver of socialism at Portugal, that the socialist man rejects totalitarianism and military coups, and rejected also the communism that imposes a special kind of dictatorship; ideas that were also part of the thinking of Victor Raul Haya de La Torre, President of the Peruvian APRA Party who always ratified the following: freedom with nutrition, freedom with education and freedom with social security service.
Social democracy in Western Europe is a model of social development has been able to locate between conservative capitalism and doctrinaire communism.
The state retains individual freedom and also is the body that guides and regulates economic and financial activity. For example, Denmark is considered a very balanced society and has rejected the selfish capitalism and state capitalism, dominated by a very ineffective bureaucracy. The socialism of the Scandinavian countries is a human socialism or just the relationship between the individual and society.
For Lilian Uchtenhagen, the Swiss Social Democratic Party, the search for a new international economic order has to do with democratic socialism. This socialism will overcome the conflicts of interest and also met the demands of citizenship. However, as the new order has to implement some structural changes then it is not readily acceptable, especially in countries already developed.
Today the development is more qualitative than quantitative. The quality of life now is accomplished with environmental protection, social security and the increase of schooling, goods an services that are not produced by the private sector but by the public that it seeks a benefit / cost greater than unity.
The development is not identical to growth, including the financial activity of Wall Street; it can be recovered but the economy can continue with difficulties, because most of the time the financial decisions are made unilaterally without taking into account what happens in real economy. The people must initiate the economic development with its own responsibility, to meet their own needs, but with the support of the state.
Democracy is the basis of socialism said Bernt Carlsson of Sweden's Social Democratic Party. There was consolidated first political democracy, then social democracy and economic democracy right time.
The blind faith in growth, behind the backs of development, is based on the exploitation of limited resources, as it is showing at this time the energy crisis. All this has put at risk the environmental health and ecological balance.
Doctrinaire communism is based on a totalitarian system that polarizes social classes between two blocks and thus produces hatred and unnecessary conflict.
This kind of de facto government removes the civilized system of the free vote to elect a representative democracy and has little contemplation of human rights. In this system the people's sovereignty is manipulated from the few to dominate the power.
The dogmatic thinking is intolerant because it is based on an ideological monocentric.
In its effort to form an egalitarian society, said Michael Rocard, secretary general of the French socialist party, the world communist removed all free thought and all the practical exercise of a pluralistic and multiparty democracy.
The program of communism bureaucratic and centralized program for a small group in power has not been able to be applied in complex societies with democratic tradition, because these countries want universal suffrage, balance of powers and participation of citizens through various forms of economic and social management.
These democratic countries considered as inhuman repression and political persecution that destroys civilized coexistence.
jueves, diciembre 04, 2008
Chávez pierde terreno entre los pobres en Venezuela
CARACAS (AP) - Después de casi una década sin poder pisar las barriadas pobres de la capital, los opositores venezolanos lograron arrebatarle al presidente Hugo Chávez parte de lo que él asumía como su territorio natural y hacerse de la alcaldía de Petare, uno de los distritos marginales más grandes y violentos de Latinoamérica.
Paradójicamente, el debilitamiento de las lealtades de los sectores populares hacia Chávez ocurre en medio de una bonanza económica generada por el auge de los precios del petróleo de los últimos cuatros años, que permitió al gobierno crear numerosos programas sociales destinados a los sectores más postergados del país.
El gobierno sostiene que la pobreza en Venezuela se redujo entre 1998 y el año pasado al pasar de 43,9% a 28,5%, pero estimaciones independientes refieren que cerca de la mitad de país son pobres.
Aunque Chávez insistentemente ha señalado en los últimos días que la fidelidad de los pobres sigue intacta, los resultados de las elecciones regionales del 23 de noviembre muestran otra realidad en la capital.
En Petare, donde habitan cerca de 2 millones de personas, de los cuales el 72% son pobres, el opositor Carlos Ocariz ganó la alcaldía con un 55,80% de los votos. El oficialista Jesse Chacón sacó el 43,6% de los sufragios.
En las elecciones regionales del 2004 el candidato oficialista conquistó la alcaldía en Petare con el 52,16% de los votos, mientras que Ocariz recibió el 45,7% al optar por primera vez a ese cargo.
Al comparar los resultados de este año con los del 2004 se observa que la oposición logró en Petare remontar casi 10 puntos porcentuales, y el oficialismo tuvo una merma de 8,56 puntos, según los registros del Consejo Nacional Electoral.
En otra populosa barriada pobre de la capital como el 23 de Enero, el candidato oficialista a la alcaldía de Caracas, el ex vicepresidente Jorge Rodríguez, logró el cargo al obtener el 66,9% de los votos, mientras que el candidato opositor, el ex líder estudiantil Stalin González, sólo recibió el 27,8%.
El oficialismo había conseguido esa alcaldía con el 85,8% de los votos en el 2004, lo que implica que el apoyo que recibe cayó unos 18,3 puntos porcentuales.
La oposición logró en la barriada del 23 de Enero pasar del 8,8% en la votación del 2004, a, 27,8% en los comicios de noviembre, lo que constituye una recuperación de 19 puntos porcentuales.
Igual situación se observó en otras grandes barriadas pobres de la capital como Caricuao, La Vega y Coche, donde el oficialismo perdió entre 16 y 23 puntos porcentuales entre las elecciones regionales del 2004 y las de este año, mientras que la oposición sumó más de 20 puntos.
Agobiado por el fétido olor que expiden centenares de bolsas de basura que tapizan algunas de las precarias calles de tierra del humilde barrio Juventud Bolivariana de Petare, Arleth Argote, vocero del consejo comunal, que es oficialista, dijo que "la mala gestión" del alcalde saliente fue determinante en la derrota de los candidatos del gobierno.
"Se les pasó factura", afirmó Argote, de 31 años, y agregó que a los candidatos oficialistas "les faltó integrarse más a las comunidades. No dejar que el presidente hable por ellos. Si ellos son los candidatos, tienen que tomar la iniciativa".
"Las personas que venían trabajando por el proceso (chavista) hace 10 años nunca vieron un resultado ni hacia ellos ni hacia su comunidad y eso es lo que ha pasado. Hubo gente que se cansó de lo mismo", añadió.
Desde su humilde vivienda de paredes de cartón y techo de zinc en Petare, Verónica Alvarez, una desempleada de 24 años, admitió que votó a favor de Ocariz porque quería "un cambio".
Visiblemente molesta por el deterioro de las calles de su barrio, la montaña de basura que hay en las vías y la falta de alumbrado público, Alvarez, una desempleada de 24 años, admitió que votó a favor de Ocariz porque quería "un cambio".
Aunque Alvarez defendió el programa Barrio Adentro I, que mantiene desde hace cuatro años el gobierno de Chávez en las barriadas para prestar atención médica primaria a los sectores pobres, la joven señaló que eso "no es suficiente".
"Señores de la oposición no crean que ustedes controlan Petare. No crean que controlan el estado Miranda. El estado Miranda está habitado por un pueblo revolucionario", afirmó Chávez al defender los resultados de las pasadas elecciones regionales donde el oficialismo logró 17 de las 22 gobernaciones en disputa, y la oposición ganó cinco de los mayores estados y la alcaldía mayor de Caracas.
Al explicar las razones que llevaron al oficialismo a perder la alcaldía en Petare, el mandatario indicó que ese distrito incorpora zonas ricas "con campos de golf y todo eso, clubes, y restaurantes de lujo", y áreas pobres, donde aseguró que el oficialismo obtuvo "el 71%" de los votos.
"La abstención en el Petare rico fue de menos del 20%. Tu no ves que van a votar en carro, pues, todos tienen cédulas, casi todos están registrados en el Consejo Electoral. Allá arriba (en los barrios) no. Allá hay muchos pobres. Allá hay muchos que no están inscritos todavía en el registro, y la abstención llegó allá arriba a más de 40% en los pobres", agregó.
Apoyado en cifras del Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Ocariz negó las afirmaciones de Chávez, y aseguró que el 72% de los habitantes de Petare son pobres, un 28% de clase media y hay un porcentaje mínimo de ricos.
El alcalde electo del municipio Sucre dijo en entrevista con la AP que en los comicios regionales pudo vencer al candidato oficialista porque "en Petare la gente votó por el cambio. La gente está cansada de vivir mal. Fue una lucha entre la ideología y la cotidianidad. La gente quiere cambiar su calidad de vida y eso fue lo que votó el 23 de noviembre".
Ocariz, un ex congresistas e ingeniero civil de 37 años, denunció que en las elecciones debió enfrentar al "Estado completo" y luchar contra "los mismos poderes públicos, contra el dinero, contra el petróleo, contra el ventajismo enorme de las cadenas presidenciales".
"Mientras ellos regalaban lavadoras, secadoras, dinero, colchones, yo simplemente daba un volante, un papel con una propuesta", manifestó. "Creo eso es un mensaje muy bonito que dio el pueblo de Petare. No hay poder en el mundo que pueda comprar las conciencias de la gente cuando tienes convicción de cambiar", agregó.
Ocariz, del partido Primero Justicia, aseguró que otro de los elementos que incidió en su victoria fue su conexión con las barriadas de Petare, las cuales aseguró que viene recorriendo desde hace 18 años como dirigente social y político.
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