Recently... the world spotlight has been on the controversial comments and persona of their larger-than-life (but duly-elected) chief executive, Hugo Chavez Frias. The country has suffered because of this and “the referendum election” was perceived as merely some form of a bad joke. If Chavez got what he wanted, it was because the people were intimidated by a tin horn dictator and his arbitrary agenda was being rammed down their collective throats. In the alternative, if Chavez didn’t get what he wanted, the public would be ignored as President Chavez, the outspoken despotic oligarch, would “legislate” his desires by fiat and the strong- armed forcing of his desires via executive order.
The US headlines in the major metropolitan dailies hawked that CHAVEZ LOST!!! These will prove to be an out and out lie because by graciously accepting the results of the tally of the votes stating:
"I thank you and I congratulate you," said Hugo Chavez to his opponents. "I recognize the decision a people have made."
Hugo Chavez in effect “won by losing.” Whether you like the man as some savior of Venezuela’s poor or despise him as some corrupt self-serving buffoon, you must acknowledge that he is a really savvy politician. He has already conceded his “loss.” How he will build from it? - Only time will tell?!?!?
In the first hour’s dialogue, let me reiterate how there was strong consensus in the discussion. The results were hardly a mandate for either side. The 60 plus points up for the referendum were split into two blocks. This was just too much to consider in either Block A and/or Block B. Both sides more than likely had parts they liked AND parts they didn’t in the two blocks. Since it was an all “A” and then all “B” proposition, both options were narrowly defeated. This was as it should be. The people felt intimidated – not by the brute force of either the Pro-Chavez side, or the brute force of the Anti-Chavez side. They felt intimidated by the sheer size of the number of bullet points under consideration in the collective two groupings. It was just too much to consider at one time by the voters.
Even in the United States, it is frequently the strategy to lump things together into so-called OMNIBUS BILLS which include all kinds of programs - including the “kitchen sink” - in the attempt to get the necessary supporting votes for passage. When you lump too much together – as I believe was the case here in Sunday’s referendum election in Venezuela – this strategy works against you regardless of your side. Sure... there are points you want and support, but there are enough things you don’t want in “the soup” that you just can’t swallow it, or accept it as a single entrée. Just over 44% of the eligible electorate abstained from casting their ballots. Does this mean that “silence gives consent?” Hardly!
The items proposed are clearly not dead by any means. The no vote for both Blocks was just too close. Politics is “the art of the possible.” Both sides realize this. In the coming days, weeks, months, and even years; the points will be debated, discussed, and compromised. This is the nature of politics in a truly democratic society. The people of Venezuela can expect this to be the case on their horizon – both present and future.
I stated that what we just saw was a marvel of THE PEOPLE getting what they wanted in a fair and open election. In the US, there is an ever-increasing frustration that “the will of the people” is being ignored. The 2006 elections here were without question a referendum on the Bush Administration’s foreign policy and the continued Bush Administration’s warfare in Afghanistan and Iraq. The people wanted out and they wanted out NOW! The pendulum swung big time giving the Democrats control of both the US Senate and the US House of Representative, but just what has changed? NOT A DAMNED THING!!!! Are we any closer almost TWO YEARS LATER to any exit strategy what-so-ever? HELL NO!! The American people are not happy campers and can only look forward to the 2008 election to once again make their desires known.
One of the points that came up during the dialogue was that this Venezuelan election had paper ballots! This was not raised as a matter of “oh, how quaint,” but “why can’t/don’t we do that here?” With paper ballots you have an audit trail – as in there is actually something to audit to verify the results – this is very near and dear to my heart as a forensic accountant, an auditor, and a voter who dearly loves his country.
The eyes of the world are clearly on Venezuela and what just transpired. Sure there will be spin, hype, and lots of “kaka Del Toro” in the effort to demean what we saw in Sunday’s plebiscite. This will be done to further the image of Chavez as some egotistical looney/madman and that Venezuela is just some limp-wristed banana republic. How it was graciously accepted as the will of the people by Chavez was a marvel to behold. We in the US can learn a great deal from our (truly) democratic neighbor across the Caribbean as we continue to watch, observe, and listen.
As an aside, I encouraged listeners to obtain a copy of “Democracy in America” by Alexis de Tocqueville, the auditor-magistrate of the court of Versailles, who traveled the US in 1831 and penned his observations. His writings are as relevant to US/us in the coming election of 2008 as they are to Venezuelans in the election of 2007.
“America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” And... “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.”—Alexis de Tocqueville
Bravo Venezuela!!!
And OH YES!!! I’m Fred Cederholm and I’ve been TH*NK*NG, You should be TH*NK*NG, too.
Copyright 2007 Questions, Inc. All rights reserved. Fred Cederholm is a CPA/CFE, a forensic accountant, and writer. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois (B.A., M.A. and M.A.S.). He can be reached at asklet@rochelle.net.