The Latino Mugabe

ARTICLE: "Farms Are Latest Target In Venezuelan Upheaval: Co-ops of City Dwellers On Seized Acreage Are Mostly a Bust So Far," by Jose De Cordoba, Wall Street Journal, 17 May 2007, p. A1.

BLOG: What is the basis of Mugabe’s support?, by Curzon, Coming Anarchy, 15 May 2007.

Curzon wonders how Mugabe holds on, despite all the obvious damage he's done to his nation's economy.

First, there is the devious deal-making with outsiders. Then there is the fear of neighbors to get involved, as Curzon points out.

But the underlying strength, in my mind, is the constant Stalinist purging of opposition, which keeps them off balance and continuously generates news allies who believe, incorrectly, that they're going to benefit--finally!--from this purge.

Stalin was a genius at this, Mao a clumsy paranoid (not that Stalin wasn't too--an occupational hazard): every so often you simply take from some and reward others, while toppling enemies in the process. You keep your opposition fragmented and confused, and you capture just enough of the masses with the belief that--maybe, just maybe--it'll work out for them next time.

It's a neverending shell game.

Chavez is doing this now, replicating some of Mugabe's early madness on farm seizures. Naturally, crop production is crashing as a result, amidst farcical claims that "we are building socialism and fighting capitalism!"

What a cartoon show.

Just like Mugabe:

The government bills land reform as a way to make Venezuela self-sufficient in food. But so far the effect has been to undercut production of beef, sugar and other foods , as productive land is handed to city dwellers with no knowledge of farming. Established farmers and ranchers, fearing their land may be seized next, are cutting investment in their operations to a minimum.

The chaos in the countryside has contributed to shortages in basic items like milk and meat, a paradox in a country enjoying an economic boom traceable to high oil prices. Also spurring the shortages are price controls ...

Let a thousands plots bloom!

Where have we seen this madness before?

And this builds socialism all right, which has always failed in agriculture to a stunning degree.

Watch the downward spiral continue, along with the oil curse fueling Chavez's idiocy.

But rest assured he will always work diligently to keep a certain quotient of the public in his debt and/or in his sights, all the time enriching his relatives, who continue--a la Castro and all Big Men--to move into key positions.

Chavez already blames the shortages on "speculators," who will naturally be targeted next for the purge.

Pretty soon they'll go after people wearing glasses, who must be reading too much "dangerous literature."

People ask why I don't worry aout the Mugabes and Chavezes spreading their example.

No need to, as they guys are completely self-liquidating, like a very contagious disease.

The neighbors just need to wash their hands regularly and keep the borders as closed as possible.

The rest of us just let the demonstration effect do its thing.

Comments

[CitSAR]

I remember reading about a recent Private Ranch seizure. The local hired hands were asked how they felt about the rich landlord being kicked out. They replied: Before we had decent jobs, worked for a respectful boss and were paid fairly. Now we have nothing....

[Brian H]

But the Africans elect Mugabe to head the "sustainable development" file at the UN, to protest the West's nasty comments about him, obviously racially based.

Stupidity may be the only capital crime in Nature, but ... "faster, please!"

[JJennings]

It will be interesting to see how the US reacts to the backlash to Chavez's policies. You know when things start getting a little tougher for him he will blame the US even more for his failures. Will we add fuel to the fire by overreacting publicly or as you imply create a fire line and let it burn itself out.