Chavez Gets Powers to Remake Venezuela
A moment, if you would, for Venezuela. Their congress has today handed over essentially unchecked power to rule by decree to President Hugo Chavez. This is quite likely the start of a very long slide to a very bad place for them, and I don’t think it’s going to end well for all concerned, including this country. Either they will do something damaging to our national interests, or we will feel compelled to do something to prevent them from doing so. Given the choice, I hope we choose the latter, and soon. But that is not strictly why I bring this up.
Two items stand out to me from the article. The first was this quote attributed to Venezuelan Vice President Jorge Rodriguez:
"Dictatorship is what there used to be," Rodriguez said. "We want to impose the dictatorship of a true democracy."
I’m willing to give VP Rodriguez the benefit of the doubt and assume he’s telling the truth. Indeed, I am very much afraid that he is. Democracy, it’s often said, is two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner. Democracy has its place, but there must be limits on what the majority can impose upon the minority, things that are beyond the reach of a simple vote. Otherwise, no one is safe unless their thoughts and actions, their aspirations and dreams, are so modest and unassuming that they draw no attention from their fellows. They must be sure to always be a part of the mob, breaking from only if they want to be its next meal.
Which brings us to the next item. The law granting Chavez these powers passed unanimously. Why then was it necessary in the first place? If this congress will approve this of all things, surely they’ll sign off on any other proposal Chavez sends their way. Why all the fuss to pass a law bypassing a body that seems perfectly willing to pass anything? Because this is about sending the message that Chavez is in charge now. Chavez is the man at the front of the mob with the loudest voice. He’s the man with plan to fix everything everyone in that mob thinks is wrong with the world. They may know in their hearts that the plan is “simple, neat and wrong,” but they are going to pass it anyway. Why? Because none of them want to be eaten and they’re all hoping the mob finds someone else to chew on first.
