Hugo Chavez has been overjoyed recently. First his political supporters “win” EVERY seat in the Venezuelan parliamentary “elections,” paving the way for unobstructed constitutional changes that will cement Chavez’s hold on power and now a new ally in is socialist movement, Latin American style. Bolivia's newly elected president Evo Morales has made it crystal clear that he will join forces with fellow South American socialist, Chavez in the fight against "neo-liberalism and imperialism." Presumably this statement is meant as a jibe against the United States.

While it is clear that Morales is a socialist, it remains to be seen what other similarities he may have with Chavez, such as the Venezuelan president’s aversion to democracy and affinity for distraction oriented politics a-la Mussolini. Given Morales’ initial statement and his recent state visit to Cuba, we may have a hint of where Morales’ loyalties lie and we fear democracy may be the first casualty in Bolivia. Upon receiving Morales for a state visit in Venezuela, Hugo Chavez noted that their two countries were forming an “Axis of Good” to rival the true Axis of Evil centered in Washington and including America’s allies. Morales, like Chavez has also made it clear that under his leadership the state will exercise greater control over the country’s natural resources, particularly the country’s vast natural gas reserves.

While Morales bares many similarities with Chavez, there is the possibility that Morales is genuine. While Chavez has championed himself as a savior to his country’s poor, he has done little in reality to solve his countries vast social ills. Poverty has increased under his rule, housing shortages continue unabated and in spite of the fact that his government has enjoyed an economic windfall due to increases in oil and natural gas, little of this revenue has been used to revitalize and diversify the nation’s economy as few new jobs have been created. In reality, Chavez is a typical Mussolini-esque politician who makes grandiose promises, but consistently fails to deliver. Indeed, the only thing Chavez has succeeded in doing is clamping down on free speech and democracy.

Chavez was a career military officer, who in typical Latin American style staged a military coup in 1992, the coup failed. Chavez then tried a new rout to power (just as Hitler did after his failed coup in 1923) capitalizing on the high levels of poverty and discontent with the ruling regime in his home country, Chavez championed himself as a voice for the common man and promised revitalize the economy (just like Hitler in 1933) he also promised to redistribute wealth and end the power of the elites. Indeed, Chavez’s path to power was helped by the fact that the former rulers of Venezuela, who championed free market capitalism and democracy were in reality demagogues in their own right who exploited the country’s wealth and resources for their political purposes.

Chavez, however, is doing the same thing as those he reviled, while claiming a mandate for socialist change. Because his rhetoric is so tantalizing to the poor, few recognize that Chavez, a man who’s past clearly demonstrates a passion and lust for power, has done no more for the poor or the economy than the nation’s previous leaders. Bolivia’s Morales is a very different person, a man who made his living as a poor farmer and rancher, who even today rents a one bedroom flat in the capital. He has never demonstrated a thirst for power and influence and appears to harbor genuine concerns for his nations’ poor, many of whom are natives who were oppressed for decades by the country’s political elites, who like the elitists in Venezuela exploited the country’s wealth failed to advance democracy and giving credence to the socialists who are now averse to the advantages of free market capitalism, which Morales rejects. Are we apologists for Morales? Certainly not! Socialism cannot bring prosperity in any setting as it destroys the very fabric that makes innovation and success possible. Morales, however, like most poor in these Latin American countries have been fooled. First they were fooled by past leaders who championed capitalism and democracy, though they were advocates of neither (leaving a bad taste for capitalism in the mouths of many). Then they were fooled by socialist demagogues like Chavez who champion the cause of the poor, while in reality they champion the cause of themselves. Perhaps Morales is more than he appears. Time will quickly tell if he is a demagogue or a democrat.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4576972.stm