Recently I was reading up on a local Miami group that supports the anti-capitalist, pro-socialist, “revolutionary,” anti-American ideology of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. It is an offshoot of the “Bolivarian Circles,” which were Venezuelan government-sponsored groups that formed the backbone of Chavez’s socialist programs on a grassroots level and participated in the harassment of opposition parties and journalists (according to the U.N. and the Inter American Press Association). They style themselves the “Bolivarian Youth.” Oddly, the name is reminiscent of the Hitler Youth, a fascist group, even though this Miami version is radically socialist. The “youth” part of the name is somewhat misleading since the members seem to be in their twenties, thirties, forties, and older… I guess they are all young at heart, which is fortunate, because the last thing I’d like is for a radical organization like this one, that advocates the overthrow of the state, to be preaching at our elementary schools. Fortunately for them, the freedom of speech afforded by the Constitution allows them to advocate for the destruction of that very same Constitution… ironic indeed.
Reading their website, I came across their “Ten Point” program and realized that it was remarkably similar to the current administration’s platform. Not surprisingly, I have found a wealth of information about their protests against Bush, but not a single bad word about Obama. Probably they only disagree with his Afghanistan war policy. Here is their program compared to Obama’s policies (I include links for those wanting to follow up on most of these points):
This image is actually on their site
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Bolivarian Youth 10 Point Program 1) First and foremost we want an end to capitalism because it perpetuates social and economic injustice. |
Obama’s Positions 1) Ending capitalism (or hastening the end) through market interventionism (bailouts, increased regulation, government takeover of “failed” companies), increasing entitlement programs, and increasing the size and power of government (according to everything he has said, though this article from Newsweek sums it up nicely). In a word: Obamanomics |
Somewhat Agrees (policies/speeches indicate belief in the injustice of system but not advocating full destruction)
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| 2) We want free healthcare and education for every human being on the planet, regardless of culture, pigmentation, and language. | 2) Promise of “universal health care” through increased spending (and invariably increased taxation)… on the education issue, most politicians advocate education for all in some form or another |
Somewhat Disagrees (not on education for the whole human population and wants “free” health care for more people, not all people)
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| 3) We want every human being to have daily access to guaranteed food, water, and housing meeting healthy human living standards. | 3) Policy of “spreading the wealth,” giving away money to people who pay no taxes (according to Obama’s “Making Work Pay” tax credit) |
Completely Agrees (goes further by advocating redistribution)
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| 4) We want the means of production in the hands of the people. | 4) government takeover of banks, credit unions, and financial institutions (according to the Washington Times, the FDIC, the National Credit Union Administration,the Washington Post, etc.) government intervention in the energy industry (according to the American Institute for Economic Research), etc. etc. etc. |
Somewhat Agrees (is not calling for an end to free enterprise, just undermining it)
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| 5) We want an immediate end to the destruction of the planet’s forests, oceans, rivers, and air. | 5) Increased taxation on oil industry, “cap and trade tax” on energy, and move to mandate better fuel efficiency standards… most politicians seem to agree that the environment shouldn’t be destroyed |
Somewhat Agrees (disagrees with “immediate end")
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| 6) We want an end to police brutality and the total destruction of the prison and military industrial complex. |
6) On the issue of police brutality, most politicians agree. On the issue of prisons and the military, Obama is releasing suspected (formerly known as) “enemy combatants,” closing down the Guantanamo Bay detention center, and closing down “secret” CIA prisons. Though in fairness to Obama, he did try to preserve the authority of the executive to deny suspected terrorists captured abroad access to our courts… but ultimately he failed, now they have legal rights to challenge their detention in the US judicial system. |
Somewhat Agrees (disagrees with “total destruction")
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| 7) We want an end to racism and all racist institutions. | 7) Ending racism is agreed upon by most politicians |
Completely Agrees
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| 8) We want the full emancipation of women and all that that implies. | 8) “Full emancipation” of women is agreed upon by most politicians. |
Completely Agrees
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| 9) We want an end to LBGT gender oppression and homophobia. | 9) Will sign executive order increasing workplace protections of LGBT persons, intends to end the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy… no word on ending “homophobia” given that its a social idea, unless we’re talking about “thought-crimes” |
Completely Agrees
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| 10) We want a world without borders. No human being is illegal. |
10) Reducing workplace raids to find illegal immigrants, reducing deportations of illegal immigrants, and promised a legalization plan for the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. (here’s an article) |
Somewhat Agrees (has not openly advocated “open borders")
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There it is: Obama’s policies tend to agree with the socialist agenda outlined by this group… and to those who have read the Communist Manifesto, you will find similarities there as well.
So to those who say that calling Obama a socialist is unfair or an exaggeration, they should read up on what modern socialist parties advocate and they will find that while Obama is not a flagrant socialist, he at the very least sympathizes with almost all of their views.
Dictator’s Choice Performing Marvelously
Given that this group admires the communist revolution in Cuba and the ongoing “socialist revolution” in Venezuela, do we find it surprising then that Obama has been calling for talking to both Cuba and Venezuela? Already, seven legislators have visited Cuba this week in order to produce a “thaw” in bilateral relations. America cannot afford to legitimize these ideologies that aim at destroying this great nation. As a matter of principle, we must not ignore tyranny at home nor around the world… otherwise we may silently slide into slavery ourselves.
-AG
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