On the death of Hugo Chavez

The world has lost one of the most dynamic figures of our age. Some (particularly American capitalists) call him a dictator, some compare him to a modern Juan Peron, to others he is the closest thing to a savior. He had elements of all of these: there is no doubt that he made questionable judgments in foreign policy like continuing to support the regime of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus, Ahmadinejad in Iran, and others who opposed U.S. interests yet were not the best of leaders. He also had a classic Latin American strong leader style like Peron and Castro, you could clearly see it in his speeches and his rhetoric. But ultimately what he will be remembered for, what he should be remembered for, is the dedication he had to ensuring the best for the people of Venezuela. He fought to make education, healthcare, and rights for working people a reality for all. He ensured that the power of finance capital that crippled the world economy and that had ruled Latin America for years would have no power over people of Venezuela. Most importantly, he started a revolutionary, democratic process to create a new type of socialist society free of Leninist dogma that encourages direct participation in local politics (Bolivarian Circles) and encourages direct ownership of the means of production through government sponsorship of worker cooperatives. Leaders like Chavez may have their problems, but actions speak louder than words, and the actions of the Bolivarian Revolution he helped create will resonate through Latin America, the international Left, and the world at large for years to come.