[Sulla123]

Venezuela Imposes 4-Hour Weekly Socialism Class, Universal Says

By Theresa Bradley

April 18 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's government will require workers to spend four hours a week in ``socialist formation'' classes, and is mandating employers form ``Bolivarian Work Councils'' to run courses on the job, El Universal reported, citing Labor and Social Security Minister Jose Ramon Rivero.

The classes will first be held only in public sector jobs, beginning with a pilot program at the nation's Labor Ministry, and will later spread to private businesses, after President Hugo Chavez decrees a law outlining re-education guidelines and rules, the newspaper said.

Topics to be addressed in the four-hour classes include Venezuelan history and ``basic tools for analyzing reality, the environment, the role of the state and socialist scheme,'' to speed the transition from capitalism to socialism, Rivero said, according to the newspaper.

Chavez has asked that socialist education, the so-called ``Third Motor'' of his Bolivarian revolution, be carried out beyond schools, in factories, workshops, offices and fields, the newspaper reported.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aQZIw.pVZ_X0&refer=latin_america

[Far-Right Sage]

If I was a Venezuelan, I would have bolted from the God-forsaken country long ago. As the saying goes, it is better dead than red.

[Falx]

it is better dead than red.

A few billion people disagree with you there. Also who is universal?

[The American Lion]

Is there really 1 billion communists?

[Andres]

Also who is universal?

El Universal is a common name for newspapers in Latin America, so I imagine it is this venezuelan newspaper.

[Truth-a-naut]

This is actually a very good way to politicize a disaffected portion of society.

[Sulla123]

Wonder what the reaction would be if it was....

US Imposes 4-Hour Weekly Capitalism Class, Universal Says

By Theresa Bradley

April 18 (Bloomberg) -- United States's government will require workers to spend four hours a week in ``capitalist formation'' classes, and is mandating employers form ``capitalist workers councils" to run courses on the job, El Universal reported, citing Labor and Social Security Minister Jose Ramon Rivero.

The classes will first be held only in public sector jobs, beginning with a pilot program at the nation's Labor Ministry, and will later spread to private businesses, after President George Bush decrees a law outlining re-education guidelines and rules, the newspaper said.

Topics to be addressed in the four-hour classes include US history and ``basic tools for analyzing reality, the environment, the role of the state and capitalistic scheme,'' to speed the transition from socialism to capitalism, Rivero said, according to the newspaper.

Bush has asked that capitalist education, the so-called ``Third Motor'' of his US revolution, be carried out beyond schools, in factories, workshops, offices and fields, the newspaper reported.

[C-Kokos]

It would of course be hostile, since it would be contrary to our class interests.

Unlike bourgeois liberals, socialists do not pretend to be "impartial" "neutral" and "objective".

[Goranhammer]

It would of course be hostile, since it would be contrary to our class interests.

Unlike bourgeois liberals, socialists do not pretend to be "impartial" "neutral" and "objective".

Yeah, it's easy to tell your "class interests".

This is about as Orwellian as you can get in the modern world. It's scary. Like FRS stated, I would get the fuck out of this country on the first thing smokin', or soon you'll be nice and complacent with no will of your own.

Go on and be an idiot socialist drone if you want. I'd rather be myself.

Zombies. A bunch of fucking zombies. Teenaged "socialists" get everything they deserve, in my opinion.

[Blake]

Gor they WANT people like you leaving the country. You would HAVE to otherwise you would become educated and no longer be you.

[Prosthetic Conscience]

According to Associated Press, the classes are optional for the workers:

CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan businesses could be required to set aside four hours a week for workers to attend optional classes on socialism under a law being considered by President Hugo Chavez's government, the labor minister said according to a Venezuelan news report.

As part of a "pilot project," the Labor Ministry will begin offering training to workers next week, Jose Ramon Rivero said in comments published Wednesday by the Venezuelan newspaper El Universal.

"We aren't saying that the four hours should be mandatory," Rivero was quoted as saying. "It's a challenge that we may choose not to accept, but the reality will demand it of us. We need to train ourselves for what is coming."

Officials at the Labor Ministry did not respond to a call seeking comment.

According to El Universal, Rivero said businesses would be required to form workers councils in the workplace that would have a role in the classes.

The state-run Bolivarian News Agency reported that under the proposed the law, businesses would eventually be required "to permit a space during work for the training of workers."

Few details about the classes were available. However, the Bolivarian News Agency said that during the trial phase the classes will teach "the evolution of Venezuela," and "historical materialism," a Marxist approach to the study of history, economics and society.

Chavez often refers to Marxist ideology but insists his government does not intend to indoctrinate anyone. He has announced a new emphasis on instilling "socialist values" in schools and society, but says personal freedoms will be respected.

His critics, however, accuse him of imposing his ideology ever more forcefully across Venezuelan society and have been alarmed by his recent comments demanding loyalty from the armed forces to his socialist revolution.

Chavez last week told the military that those who disagree with his government's socialist leanings should "ask for you discharge and go do something else," and that every commander was obliged to "repeat from the soul" the slogan made famous by his communist mentor, Cuba's Fidel Castro: "Fatherland, Socialism, or Death!"

Defense Minister Raul Isaias Baduel on Thursday denied local media reports that 49 officers have requested early leave from the military for ideological or political reasons.

"I think those are biased opinions when they try to show that our institution is being politicized," he said.

AP

The original El Universal report, for those with better Spanish than me:

Atrás quedó la idea de reducir la jornada laboral y, ante ello, el Ejecutivo resolvió reservar cuatro horas semanales de la jornada laboral para que los trabajadores participen en un programa de formación socialista.

El ministro del Trabajo y Seguridad Social, José Ramón Rivero, informó que "en principio, no estamos hablando de que sean obligatorias las cuatro horas". Lo que sí será forzoso para las empresas es la formación de los consejos de trabajadores, entes que serán los responsables de adiestrar a la masa laboral conforme a los lineamientos definidos por el Gobierno, indicó Rivero.

source

[KurtFF8]

Even as someone who is more prone to support socialism over capitalism, I think this is the wrong way to go about it.

I think that if they want their system to be successful, making the people understand is crucial, but requiring a class for 4 hours every week may be a bit excessive. Perhaps requiring it where people are already enrolled in school would be a much wiser move and encouraging people to attend would be better, but I don't like the mandatory aspect of it.

But

According to Associated Press, the classes are optional for the workers

If that's true, then I don't see what the fuss by the right-wing in this thread is all about.

[Sulla123]

It seems to be the same old tactic of indoctrination just starting off slower. I seem to remember basicly the same idea being used in the Soviet Union early on, China, vietnam, north korea etc. And I would be it will start out as an option then more and more it will be linked to promotion and status and how you are seen by the company and others.

[KurtFF8]

I agree that its implementation will probably be severely flawed as Chavez isn't quite the socialist leader he could be.

[Meistro1]

Of course, Party Membership in Communist Russia was 'voluntary' as well, so long as you didn't care about such bourgois principles as success.

[KurtFF8]

Well the USSR was much more authoritarian than Venezuela.

[NYYS]

the only thing that bugs me about this is that in 20 years when venezuala is a broke and shattered and ruled by an insane, deranged Hugo Chavez dictating to the country while on life support people are going to complain that the world isn't fair because look at all the poor people in venezuala and it's not right that here in America I have 22" gold rims on my escalade.

I think right now everyone that makes that argument should agree to sign something that says they won't pull that shit in 20 years and accept that venezuala has done this to themselves.

[Gletkin]

It seems to be the same old tactic of indoctrination just starting off slower. I seem to remember basicly the same idea being used in the Soviet Union early on, China, vietnam, north korea etc. And I would be it will start out as an option then more and more it will be linked to promotion and status and how you are seen by the company and others.

In other words, they'll behave exactly like us.

Capitalist managers get hired and promoted based on how much they've been educated on "economics" which in practice is capitalism.

If Venezuela's way of running their industries are to be changed, then whoever's going to run them, be it the workers themselves or state-appointed bureaucrats, are going to have to trained in the new processes.

I don't see what all the fuss is about in this particular case. Just seems like common sense to me.

[Sulla123]

In other words, they'll behave exactly like us.

Capitalist managers get hired and promoted based on how much they've been educated on "economics" which in practice is capitalism.

If Venezuela's way of running their industries are to be changed, then whoever's going to run them, be it the workers themselves or state-appointed bureaucrats, are going to have to trained in the new processes.

I don't see what all the fuss is about in this particular case. Just seems like common sense to me.

No unlike capitalism where you either the company works or go bankrupt it will be based on who is a good socalist. Who is a true believe in the couse of socalism. In a capitalist economy generaly people dont care what you think as long as you do your job. But you will notice trends in the countries I mentioned when under communist rule to promote those who believe not the most well suited to the job.

[Gletkin]

It would be better if the classes focused on more practical matters than history or theory.

But if these classes are optional than it doesn't really matter.