The socialists are dismayed

The socialist president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, was recently defeated in a referendum on constitutional reform. Had the result swung his way, Chavez would effectively have been made president for life, with almost unlimited power.

At least the Venezuelan people were offered a referendum; Melancholicus reckons that Chavez resisted the temptation to appropriate by force what he was denied by vote, owing to fear of the international community (and particularly the US); Chavez seems to think it important at least to appear to transform Venezuela into a communist ghetto by democratic means.

In Caracas, over 100,000 people marched against Chavez and against his attempt to turn himself into a communist dictator; clearly the Venezuelans are not as enthusiastic about their president as are the socialists of the Emerald Isle.

Yesterday, Melancholicus attempted to do some Christmas shopping in Dublin (bad idea), and on his weary pilgrimage through the streets, his eye was drawn to the forlorn and mournful-looking flyers posted up on lamp posts by the Socialist Party “After the Referendum: Where now for the Venezuelan Revolution?” and advertising the inevitable public meeting to chew the fat regarding how best to help their buddy Hugo.

Moreover, Chavez is only playing the socialists for support; Melancholicus is of the opinion that Chavez is more interested in Chavez than he is in socialism.

If proof were ever needed, this attitude on the part of Irish socialists shows only too clearly that the triumph of socialism is the only thing that matters. That the Venezuelan people, exercising their democratic right, have in no uncertain terms indicated their repugnance for Chavez’s socialist republic, does not seem to trouble the consciences of these indoctrinated and thoughtless idiots, who would be quite happy to help Chavez along with his ambition to become dictator for life, if only Venezuela could thereby become another Cuba.

Why don’t these fools emigrate to Cuba, since they seem so enamoured of communist government?

Chavez is clearly a dangerous man, and the result of the referendum is merely a setback to his plans, not the end of them. He will keep trying, by fair means or foul, until he achieves his aims — or until someone stops him.

Which brings to mind a certain piece of English literature apposite to the situation:

Brutus opens the letter and reads:

“Brutus, thou sleep’st: awake, and see thyself.
Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress!
Brutus, thou sleep’st: awake!”

Such instigations have been often dropp’d
Where I have took them up.
‘Shall Rome, &c.’ Thus must I piece it out:
Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe?
What, Rome?
My ancestors did from the streets of Rome
The Tarquin drive, when he was call’d a king.
‘Speak, strike, redress!’ Am I entreated
To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise:
If the redress will follow, thou receivest
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!

— from Julius Caesar (Act II, scene 1), by William Shakespeare.