Harry Belafonte and a coalition of “activists” called on Latin America’s favorite strongman, Hugo Chavez, to pay homage. Belafonte argued that millions of Americans support the “socialist” revolution of Chavez, contrary to the words of the world’s greatest terrorist, George Bush. Belafonte failed to expound on why he regarded Bush as a terrorist but as we have seen from countless historical examples, leftists are never encumbered by facts or reason.

In stating the support of millions for Chavez style socialism, Belafonte was actually correct, however. Sadly, there are millions of Americans who support such policies. Millions of Americans have only paper thin support for representative government, like Chavez, millions firmly believe people should be free of independent thought and serve simply as wards of the state, not unlike Chavez. Many feel that others are to blame for their many problems and self inflicted wounds, not unlike Chavez, and constantly seek to pull a Mussolini and distract other from the realities of their own failures.

With time this chorus of malcontents and drags on society grow more numerous. Chavez, to his credit, has been quite skilled in distracting both Venezuelans and foreign leftists of the inexorable realities of his “revolution.” Chavez is nothing more than a fascist, one who believes in the preeminent power of the state, one who believes that dissent and opposition should be crushed, one who believes that individuality and independent decision making is a threat to his hold on power, just as his hero, Mussolini. All the while, Chavez has done nothing to solve his country’s woes. Even if Chavez was a true socialist and actually cared for the plight of his own people, using his country’s wealth of natural resources to offset Venezuelan poverty, such solutions would prove both fleeting and unworkable in the long run. Socialism deprives individuals of the motivation and incentive to achieve as individuals, opting rather t or rest on their laurels and depend upon the state for salvation, leading to crippling debt and economic stagnation (witness France).

Belafonte, has made it clear that he is an admirer of the fascist model, his intolerance for differing opinions is well chronicled from previous “activist” outings. His support for socialism and state control is self avowed, and while he may be correct, there are many who would be quite amiable to a socialist revolution in this country, those who would rise up in opposition would outnumber these “socialists” 10 fold. Or would they?http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060109/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_belafonte_5