January 24, 2006
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TUESDAY POLITICSSomethin’s happenin’ here….For the first time in 500 years since the Spanish Conquest an Actual Native Bolivian has been elected President of his own country – Juan Evo Morales Aima (commonly known as Evo Morales). And uh oh, he’s backing the country’s coca farmers and heading a socialist political party. He was born in a mining town in the highlands of the country and later his family migrated to the lowlands where coca is grown. His political involvement began in his early 30’s and today he is 47 and this is how he states the driving force behind his party:
“The worst enemy of humanity is capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn’t acknowledge this reality, that the national states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated.”
And to answer your (and my) questions about what is the deal with the cocaine growing, here’s what I learned at Wikipedia:
Morales’ ideology about drugs can be summarized in the words “coca leaf is not a drug”, in fact the chewing of coca leafs has always been a tradition for the local populations (Aymaras and Quechuas) and coca leaves are considered sacred by them. Its drug effect is indeed less strong than the caffeine contained in a coffee, and for many poor Bolivian people it is considered the only way to keep working the entire day, which can be fifteen or eighteen hours long for some. The practice of chewing coca leaves by the indigenous population in Bolivia is more than 1000 years old and has never caused a drug problem in their society; this is why Morales believes that the cocaine problem should be solved on the consumption side, not by eradicating the coca plantations.
God knows we barely have time to worry about Iraq, do we? How can we keep up with those industrious coca-chewing liberals to the south? I just thought it was a great idea – an actual Bolivian running his own country.
Deep Thought: “Whenever I start thinking that I am not living up to my potential, I remind myself of the old farmer and his fight to the death with the insane pig. It’s an exciting story, and it takes my mind off all this “potential” business.”
Today I am grateful for: Desks
Guess the Movie: “I spent a lot of time being scared for you. And I heard you were back. But the man I loved, the man who vanished never came back.” Answer: Batman Begins, 2005.
Winner: la_chatte_gitane.
Thousands Throng Streets as Bolivian Leader Sheds Tears but Talks Tough at Inauguration
· President insists he will not eradicate coca trade
· Warning to US as Morales threatens to turn to China
by Jonathan Rugman and Dan Glaister
Bolivia installed its first indigenous president yesterday, Evo Morales, who insisted he would stick by radical drugs and energy policies regardless of US consternation at another South American country turning to the left. (Rest of article here.)
Comments (12)
excellent post! I must know more about the farmer and his insane pig…lol. :>)
Now I feel like growing a coca plant in my yard…I suppose I would be arrested though. It’s interesting to read viewpoints from other parts of the world because it kind of shakes me up from the illusion that everyone lives and thinks just like us. I’ve never lived in anything other than a capitalist, democratic society and maybe it would be interesting to experience living under another form of government.
Different perspective of the world if honored would cause us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Diversity is what makes the world interesting. Judi
Did you know that La Paz is the highest capital city in the world? Yeah, bet you didn’t know that one! Huh? Huh?
Actually, it’s not even the capital… it’s just the de facto capital. I think they just want the prestige of being so high. (and I’m not talkin’ coca leaves!). I say, good on him… whatever he does. If Bolivians weren’t running Bolivia, who was?
how did it turn out that you are so much more politically aware than I am? when did it flip? are you becoming gramma? I admire your ability to not have your head in the sand in pure abject terror.
Batman, The Beginning or Batman Begins or whatever it’s called.
I’ve always been in favor of legalizing drugs anyway. Seems to me the Bolivians are on the right track.
T
OOHHHH.. Buschco must not like him much… Look at all the anti-capitalism talk, and the pointing out the lack of education opportunities, and nation wide healthcare… OH OH!!! He better be careful… Soone we’ll be hearing about all the WMD in Bolivia!
hey, thanks for the comment!
Yay, Batman Begins wins!
I’m still of the romantic, idealized notion that capitalism is the best of all systems, but that presupposes that the ablest of us possess the sense to realize that the less (but not least) able can be encouraged to reach their potential, and that it is only the least able that would need to depend on outright charity.
In the real world, it seems that no system can work because of perversions that eventually take over and ruin it.
Even with its faults, I’ll take capitalism, thank you.
Thanks for the comment! I think I disagree with Mr. Morales. I’m of the mind that no matter how many government programs we have, no matter how much “free” healthcare we have, no matter what form of government has power, and no matter how compassionate we feel, there will always be poor people and there will always be rich people. The best way to help poor people is to teach them to not be poor, and that’s only if they don’t want to be poor. Food stamps, “free” healthcare, “free” housing, etc., teach people to remain poor. And that’s socialism at its best!
He may be a prelude to a bigger answer…