Posted by Rich Raimonde on January 20, 2008 at 21:35:29:
Lets talk about Economic Democracy. I want to learn more. In Latin America there is Rafael Correa of Ecuador, Michele Bachelet of Chile, and Bolivia's Evo Morales, in short a lot of possibilities. Is anyone getting it right? Is Bachelet a Socialist in name only? Do any of these nations show promise? What of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and his 21st Century Socialism? Here there is enormous economic clout, and a wealth of resources. Is Chavez a bit too flamboyant? Does his persona lend itself too easily to the cartoon of tinhorn dictator? Or is he doing what he views as necessary because he is quite aware of the lessons of the past?
Lets turn for a moment to Europe. Socialist candidates came close to being elected Premier recently in France and Greece. In Italy Romano Prodi was elected as well as Jose Luis Rodriguez Zaptero in Spain. Any promise in any of these countries for Economic Democracy? Europe is difficult. Italy in particular because the Italians have over 150 political parties. It is a multi-party system which "splits hairs." When you take into account that any goverment that is "in place" is a conglomeration of coalitions which can collapse at a moments notice. And they do. Democratic inclusion is one thing, but when it leads to consistent instability, no economic system, whether it be capitalist or socialist can gain a foothold for very long. Any thoughts?