Long time readers of this blog must remember that more than once I have qualified the Chavez regime as a reactionary one, a throw back to the caudillo regimes of the XIX century that Chavez admires so much, secretly wishing that he participated in one of the many "montoneras", the small battles of the time. We should not be surprised of the result, a country falling backward in time, suffering a massive brain drain. But Chavez cannot see that: besides being gifted with an overblown ego and cheap charisma, his education is limited, and his understanding of the modern world the more so. His inability (more than unwillingness) to surround himself with the brightest comes from this lack of real worldly education coupled with his intolerable narcissism: no one can outshine him. As such he leads the country toward an entity he can understand and think he can manage, an archaic society ruled by outdated principles.
Chavez is afraid of modernity when it could lead to his overthrow. Chavez cannot let one group or means of communication be above his control.
ReplyDeleteChavez has ordered hi-tech fighter jets and submarines from Russia. These are ok because they will be used to keep him in office.
The internet, texting, twitter, etc. can hurt him when he lies to the pueblo. Thus these must be controlled.
Interesting that the little boy who is the only one not wearing a red beret, pointing to a laptop while being dragged back to the past making the wise old saying come deliciously alive with the wisdom:
ReplyDelete" out of the mouths of Babe's"
Anon, I'm not sure that it's fear of the modernity so much as it is that he absolutely needs to be the leader, and doesn't care where he is leading so long as he is in charge. Of course, that's sort of a chicken and egg discussion, so maybe there's no point.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Daniel, I think unwillingness ("to surround himself with the brightest") completely trumps his inability. He couldn't if he tried, but he doesn't try.
I think the kid is partly an expression of Weil's hope for the future. I have to think he's an optimist, otherwise I don't see the point of what he's doing.
"His inability (more than unwillingness) to surround himself with the brightest comes from this lack of real worldly education coupled with his intolerable narcissism: no one can outshine him."
ReplyDeleteVery true. I can only add that the brightest and most capable people, those with the best intentions and the sharpest minds, are unwilling to work for such a retrograde, putrid Regime. If asked, they will refuse and uphold their moral principles. If they haven't left the country, no amount of money can buy the integrity of the best talent Venezuela would have to offer to any other decent government.
Carlos I.