On saturday over 1 million aspiring members of President Chavez new party took part in elections. The elections were to find spokespersons for Venezuelas Socialist Battalions. Over 11,000 spokespeople and 56,000 committee representatives were elected.

This democratic bottom-up approach to politics is a breath of fresh air, particularly in a region where the people have sufferes at the hands of foreign interference and military oppression for so long. The revolution taking place in Venezuela is nothing short of spectacular. It seems that a level of political inclusion has been reached that perhaps only falls short of Cuba.

Does anyone else find it strange that a so called dictatorship provides greater political opportunities and inclusion than our great western democracies ?


United Socialist Party of Venezuela Elects Delegates for National Conference | venezuelanalysis.com

Funny how no anti-Chavez people seem to be responding, must be tough finding out your wrong.

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What exactly are these Socialist Battalions however?

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... I am surprised at your insolence in writing to me at all. You know, as I know, that I bought this constituency... may God's curse light upon you and may it make your women as open and as free to the excise officers as your wives and daughters have always been to me while I have represented your scoundrel corporation.
I have the honour to be... your obliged humble servant, Anthony Henley
- MPs reply to constituent, mid 1700s

They are assemblies where the people come together to discuss politics and the direction of the party.