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February 3, 2006
Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Begin your day with a smile and socialismo

    If you’re not angry, the popular slogan goes, you’re not paying attention.

    For conscious folks, wading through the sewage stream of bad ideas, of nepotism, collusion, corruption, greed and all that foul waste of legislation produced by our political establishment, anger is an emotion hard to contain.

     There is, however, an exhilarating freshener.

     Look South.

     Despite scoffing and discouraging sentiments by American journalists (including those of a Nation correspondent), a forest of raised fists know—Latin American is undergoing a quiet revolution.

     With the election and planned reforms of new leadership in Bolivia and Chile, these countries join Venezuela and Brazil in repudiating the global free market agenda of the United States and its multinational corporations and organizations.

     Socialism, that’s right, SOCIALISM is back.

     The American press meanwhile is busily trying to downplay the popularity of this resurgence of anti-U.S./WTO fervor.

     I heard an NPR correspondent’s story about Chavez’s reforms. The report had a woman whining about her long commute. With Chavez putting more of an emphasis on free health care and food stamps, the road system will have to wait. Ignoring the millions of Chavista without cars, living in barrios and walking, NPR interviews a woman whose troubles well-off American listeners can relate to.

     In a recent Nation article announcing Evo Morale’s victory in Bolivia, more paragraph sections begin with “But” than any other word.

     Sounding like the latter NPR reporter, Nation contributor Daphne Eviatar’s piece is pessimistic of the Latin American victories. “But the question remains: Will Evo ... be able to live up to his promises?”

     After years of hearing lies about Cuba in the mainstream, and often in the liberal press, I’ve become used to dogmatic and patriotic sniffling when it comes to our views on the South. With a little more research, I’m sure I could easily find stacks of articles and commentary projecting the impending “failure” of the Latin American political and economic revolution.

     For now, though, there is something we can do about it up here in Alaska.

     I propose we support Latin America by wearing t-shirts that, on the back, lists Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, and Mexico. On the front:  (in smaller letters) “Proud to be...,” (in big letters) SOCIALIST!” (In English and Spanish, of course.)

     Then smile with refreshing glee when you hear them gasp.

     And feel your anger, for a moment, dissipate.



     Endnote:  Should anyone care to go there, I would be happy to provide a selection of titles comparing socialism with the failing capitalist model, including a daunting book sent to me by the late Alaskan socialist Bill Stivers.


























Soren Wuerth is perhaps Alaska's best known community activist. He resides in an undisclosed location in rural Alaska and can be reached at soren@insurgent49.com.
- Columnists -

Editor's Desk
by Aaron Selbig

Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Alaskan In Exile
by Neil Zawicki

The
Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford





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in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.