Breakfast of Champions

This is an email I sent out the last time I was in Caracas, October 2005.......with some additions....

Most people would be bothered having to begin their sunday confronted with a street protest. But being back in Caracas, it makes me feel right at home.

I promised my Mom I would stay from all things political. (Does she know who her child is?) Though in Caracas that means you would be living in a vacuum.

I left the hotel and walked up the street and voila! a protest by a group of citizens criticizing President Chavez. And as I was walking up the street I notice there were no cars. Now for those of you who know Plaza Francia/Altamira and Avenida Fransico Miranda (right by the metro) it is rare to not see any traffic. Then you hear the honking and the quarrels and insults. Soon, you arrive to realize that they have completely closed down the avenue. Finally, motorists just backed up the street and went around. The unifying factor amongst the protesters were skeletons or skulls. Icons of death. They argue that Chavez is killing the nation with corruption and bad policies.

Granted, for those of you on Chavez Watch like me, there is the good and the bad. Clearly his policies have included many social reforms, such as a literacy campaign and healthcare for the poor. These programs are organized under the titles of Missions. For example, Mision Milagros has been providing eye surgery to the blind or those suffering from vision problems to people all over Latin America and I maybe also the US. Mision Negra Hipolita is an aggressive social welfare program aimed at getting the homeless off the streets.

On the flip side, Chavez has yet to overcome his polarizing affect on the nation. There are black lists maintained by both sides of the political spectrum. To some degree the state of polarization has created a climate of intolerance. The Opposition maintains a list barring KNOWN chavistas from employment, as do the Chavistas. Should you criticize his policies in any way in a place of business you are branded. In fact, friends tell me that there is a database in which names are organized based on whether or not they support the President. So, should you seek employment, employers will refer to this database to determine whether or not you are Chavista. If you are not Chavista you could be denied employment. For example, I have met skilled people who can't get work because they may not be of either political camp and lack the contacts to capitalize on a little nepotism.

Considering this, it is important to recognize the context of this policy in the socio-historic framework of Venezuela. For centuries the White European oligarchy had complete control over domestic politics and the economy. Social mobility was virtually impossible. So, even though there wasn`t a database to determine your qualifications for employment in the past there was an instutionalized social code that did. Therefore, you could argue that this new policy is retribution for centuries of oppression and poverty. But does that make it right? Furthermore, is about right and wrong? These are some the questions I have been asking myself for a sometime and even more so while I am here.