Re: [Marxism] Manufactured shortages in VZLA

[dave.walters@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Petrol. Look, I agree with the issue of gasoline. The last time they (meaning 
the gov't) tried to raise 
prices, it lead to a massacre of masses of rioters who were pissed.
 
It is a mistake, however, to assume that only "middle class" folks have 
automobiles. Not from what 
I know. Tons of poor people and working class people have automobiles and I 
would wager that 
the overwhelming majority of auto transport is from, broadly speaking, the 
working class. The idea 
that poor people wouldn't be hurt as much by a price rise in gasoline and only 
more privileged layers 
of the working class and middle class would suffer is idiotic. Did we not just 
lose a referendum 
on constitutional reform because of this same sort of thinking folks?
 
A real political approach that provides both incentives and alternatives to car 
transport would be more 
in line with a socialist revolution than a simple abrupt, and arbitrary price 
rise. This means 
convincing people who have cars that we have to unite *socially* to come up 
with solutions 
and alternatives. For example, Caracas is expanding its metro/sub-way and rail 
system. So focus 
on people who live near the subway stations. But don?t expect people who live 
up on a hill?4 miles 
from a station to give up their car and there is no bus transport. It?s not 
going to happen and you 
are asking for trouble. It?s these people who will suffer more by prices rises.
 
Food staples. One of the good things about Venezuela is that the gov?t can turn 
sections of the 
capitalists against each other. It?s true that price controls, *generally* do 
not work. But they can, 
given enough *national* incentives. The US during WWII had very extensive, and 
effective, 
price controls but did so at the point of subsidizing necessities that that 
even though they were 
rationed, there was always enough. The gov?t in Venezuela has the capital, now, 
to ?pay off? 
sections of the agricultural bourgeoisie using a heavy carrot and stick 
approach. They can pay small 
and medium landed peasants more than the cost to produce eggs, milk, 
vegetables, etc through a 
cost-plus incentive plan, while alternative forms of collectivized production 
is being organized for the 
long haul. If it works out Venezuela will become a net *exporter* of foodstuffs 
and not an importer.
 
David________________________________________________
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