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Great Dictatorships
One of the fundamental failures of classical and modern dictatorships has been the lack of inclusion. While it may seem paradoxical that criticism of a dictatorship is levied upon one of it’s defining elements, it is not. The most successful undemocratic or quasi-free entities have allowed others to join the fun.
Popular investiture is a characteristic that has made systems historically noteworthy. Take a look at Rome, Napoleonic Europe, the old British Empire, the American Federal Empire and especially the People’s Republic of China among others.
One of the common ingredients has been to permit the growth of “les bourgeoisie.” It has often been said that had the Soviet Union embraced some of Deng Xiaoping’s reforms and perhaps even set up “Special Economic Zones” or even leased say Vladivostok to the Japanese for 99 years then maybe the corruption could have continued unabated.
Capitalism or mercantile attitudes can be used by governments to placate the populous. The great failing of socialist regimes has been that it places an artificial glass ceiling, the kind that allows people to see all of the fun going on outside while keeping them locked in. The political subdivisions of the European Union at least know enough not to close the door to non-governmental commerce.
This is a lesson that Comrade Chavez could learn from. Simply exporting his anti-Americanism will not work. The reason being is that one day America will be “cool” again. His Bolivarian revolutionary ideals are a good start but he has muddied them with the impurities of neo-marxism.
Back to popular investiture, it would be prudent for countries such as Venezuela that are hellbent at being different or dictatorial to not fear opening up to the world. For example, why not encourage “Baby Boomers” from southern Europe to retire in Venezuela? How about creating a currency pegged at 1/50th of a barrel of oil? There are plenty of ways that capitalist ideas can be manipulated to prop up an otherwise foolish form of government.
The great fear of course is that “les bourgeoisie” will want more and more control. This is the delicate tight rope that must be walked. It is one that the butchers of Beijing are walking right now. India while not a Communist Paradise has the same problem with it’s booming middle class wanting restrictions lifted. The problem they face are hundreds of millions of poor traditional Hindus that want Hindustan to not become a ward of Anglomerica.
What has made Anglomerica so great? Taking in millions of people every year for the last few centuries. The Homestead Act. Few government regulations for the first half of American history. The lack of a central bank and the free creation of capital for a good part of our history. Relatively small federal budgets, few foreign expeditions, and focusing on business over politics. Maybe some of these wannabe Empires should review the American formula rather than bashing it. Perhaps, we should reexamine ourselves too.
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