4 responses to “Bolivian democracy under serious peril!”

1. 

   Leon Škoro

   October 23, 2017

   Demonstrations on October 10th were much larger than I expected! I was afraid it will end as a fiasco, but people took to the streets in massive numbers. And not just in La Paz, but in other cities, especially in Santa Cruz. It is clear that Morales is losing support, but thre must be program, platform that will gather oposition and dissent together. October 10th demonstrations were step in that direction. Because, now all Bolivians know that there is critical mass that is against dictatorship. I also have I few question, so I will ask you to help me with answers if it is okay with you. Can you explain to me what is the influence of Central Obrera Bolivia (COB)? They are against indefinite reelection, so what are their capabilities in mobilizing people. What about other worker or social organisations? Greetings from Leon

   Reply
   1. 

      Bolivian Thoughts

      October 24, 2017

      Hi Leon, glad to be of some help. Bolivia is a very typical country, most of us are very peaceful and like free rides …

      That made us become political bounty of some crook politicians over time. Most of us like to sit around a table, with spirits and friends and “solve” all the universe’s problems, let alone politics and economics … but whenever there is time to demand and fight over our rights, we simply walk away …. most of us.

      Having said all of the above, we must understand that current government is loosing “credibility and support” comes out mainly of the repeated cases of corruption and also the repeated lies of the egocentric caudillo who said in more than two times that he was going to walk away from the presidency.

      COB and the other social movements that the masismo created are no more than the same … groups of people who want to profit from public funding, get wealthy and forget about those “socialist” ideals … they like most of those socialists out there blame everybody else for the misfortune of poor people … the so-called “socialists of the 21st century” have managed to waste public funding in all our countries, dismantle public office and generated division among their citizens.

      Reply
2. 

   Leon Škoro

   October 23, 2017

   Sorry I am writing again and asking you to explain me some things about COB. I know you are probably busy, but this is the best place where I can get informations about your beautiful country.

   Reply
   1. 

      Bolivian Thoughts

      October 24, 2017

      The COB used to have power when mining workers and campesino farmers took the streets in protest since the early 1950s. Now, as the mining sector is very much shrinking and most of them ended up in the Chapare, and now became coca growers … today’s COB is merely fighting for more quotas with the masismo. Like many “supporters” of the egocentric caudillo. They have supported him until he stopped bearing gifts … like appointing their leaders in public office, giving bonuses, etc.

      So, given the 10/10 demonstrations and the result of the referendum, along with severe and notorious cases of corruption, his “allies” have no better thing to do but negotiate.

      Along those lines, the Bolivian socialists do still want to engage in those ideals that have not worked anywhere else in the world. To the end those “ideals” have only served to remain in power, like China and Cuba …

      Bolivia has been “brain washed” over time, in the sense that almost everybody expects and demands the State to solve problems … with the caveat that a majority does not want to pay taxes, and are always trying to cut corners …

      Bolivian people have begun to understand their rights, they look at other nations and how they have emerged, the sense of being competitive, efficient is growing and that is what people like evo and his occasional acolytes fear.

      What Bolivia needs right now, is a united front, one single candidate to run on the 2019 elections. Once the masismo is removed, three years to rebuild our Republic, clean the house from ineptitude and award independence of powers, granting credibility, food security and stop political persecution would suffice. This united front should then, before the legal with year in office, call for elections where everyone could run, but first we need to clean the house. We are watching Venezuela and do not need to replicate that nightmare!

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