Nothing but Paspalum Fasciculatum here
Great to have you on board Edgar. I have been arguing for quite some time now that this is indeed the solution. I even spoke to Gene Sharp about it. However I remain worried that personnal interests and hidden agendas on behalf of the opposition will block the way for the attainment of organization of massive protest Venezuela-wide. Alas Venezuelans are just too fucking careless.
Yeah that carelessness is getting to me too, It drives me up the wall every time I talk to a family member and they just say 'like Cuba?, you think?, no way...' And that's one of the first things that the education has to be about. There are a few first-hand Cuban experiences that should be more publicized down there. I haven't found a short reference, but this book, being a child's first hand narrative, sounds promising: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obido...309427?
v=glance
Also, our concern about the opposition and their agendas is what made me add that 'keep the opposition personalities in check' snippet, as long as the protest is not personalized it should not be a problem.
Just out of coincidence, an hour or so after I wrote the article, I found that there is a organization that seems to be following this idea (they clearly 'Venezuelanized' the Otpor! logo, and are following the short message ideas). Check this exchange: http://www.noticierodigital.com/...pic.php?
t=29482 (and follow the link) I might write a snippet on them, though I sometimes wonder if too much publicity, too fast, could be an issue.
Debating resistance techniques in foros de yahoo or noticiero digital will lead nowhere, as you know.
Very good post Edgar.
If I was to borrow a slogan to use it would be this one:
"DON'T WASTE TIME MOURNING. ORGANIZE!"
Joe Hill - 1915 - Salt Lake City
The "left" (in the US at least) would probably howl that one of their most hallowed slogans has been usurped (considering that Hill was an organizer and song-writer for the International Workers of the World, the "the Wobblies", back in the day) but considering that much of the Venezuelan "opposition" (hate that label, btw) are further left than their US counterparts it's not a bad fit, imho.
If you don't mind I'd like to offer up more ideas here as time passes. Pragmatic ones, which at this stage of the game I feel are the most important to increase the chances of 1. the elections being held fairly, and seen to be held fairly BY ALL, and 2. a rout of the MVR and their clones in the AN.
If not now, when? (hmmm, another possible slogan)
Alek, not a debating group, an action group. Just one way to distribute information (including 'flyers') across all of Venezuela fast. Then it can make its way into more personal e-mails, printouts, and action. it has to start somewhere.
Mike, you are the one that gave me the missing piece for this article, so any more ideas are welcome!!.
Edgar's post here seems a little desperate, and there may be good reason. Chavez may be unstoppable if he consolidates in this election and realize his 2030 dream of uninterrupted power.
My advice for success is to use Chavez own tactics against him. In other words, make the appeal to the poor like he does. With 60% of the population living below the poverty line, there's no way you're going to win without picking up at least 15 to 20% of their vote.
Campaigning against Chavez is not going to do it. We saw Kerry fail here with those tactics against Bush. You have to give people something to vote for.
If you're a poor person and Chavez is promising health care and literacy programs -- are you really going to vote for someone who is campaigning against that?
Look, it's an uphill battle here, but a united front and message will generate a response. If Chavez wins but the opposition makes big inroads, he won't be able to ignore that. You have to have a clear concise message that includes a robust plan to fight poverty. My suggestion would be to focus on home ownership. Not with giveaway programs that Chavez has failed to deliver on. The American Dream of home ownership for everyone is the single biggest factor behind America's economic success. If you devised plan similar to our FHA and presented it the right way, I believe you could seriously erode Chavez support.
Brook, you are assuming that the vote counts at all, read this the problem is much bigger than you think.
He has ignored the opposition from day one and will continue to do so.
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