Darling of the left Evo Morales has nationalized Bolivia’s leading power companies, following the lead of Castro protege Chavez, and all but condemning Bolivia to capital flight, corruption and increased poverty and suffering for Bolivians (not to mention rolling blackouts).  One of the power companies whined that as recently as last month the foreign investors in these companies had been assured such a move was not imminent.  Hehe.  Welcome to national socialism amigos.  It’s a little like dealing with the Mob, minus the honor.

It’s hard to argue with the success of nationalizing private industry, seeing how it has worked so well for the Soviets, the North Koreans, the Cubans and closer to home, the Venezuelans.  Of course, the supreme irony is leftists make these announcements on Labor Day, that most bogus of all holidays, a sort of mockery by the elite of the laborers, those who suffer the most under populist regimes.  Celebrating laborers?  People take the day off and engage in pity parties instead of, perhaps, spending a few more hours working or studying, self-improvement rather than self-congratulatory behavior.  Or, God forbid, spending time with their children and educating them about the folly of self-delusion.  But that would defeat the point, wouldn’t it?  Those who take responsibility care less of self-indulgent political orgies and more for accomplishment.  Labor day loses its meaning when you are focused on your dreams rather than your memories.  It’s like giving the chronic gambler a day off from paying his juice and offering him credit at the poker table because, well, he’s a gambler.

I know, one of you American socialists will remind me of how well nationalizing industry has worked for the United States since the coronation of Comrade Obama.  After all, who can argue with the success of Government Motors and Goldman Sachs?  The former has gloriously repaid their TARP loan 5 years early (with more Fed money), and the latter forced the Fed to bailout AIG so Goldman could pay out billions in bonuses, then changed their corporate structure so they could access inflation-net free money.  In other words, Goldman called on former Goldman people in the Fed and the Treasury to cover some bad bets, and without that would have likely gone bust themselves.  Some on my libertarian flank remind me this is ‘corporatism’ not ’socialism‘.  They’re both bastard sons and worthy of condemnation. (Sorry ‘BM‘).

So the real question is whether the trend will infect Guatemala, which has a relatively free market despite all the governmental dysfunction.  There is a large contingent of indigenous here, who tend to be more easily manipulated by revolutionary types, but from what I’ve seen, the 7 or 12 families are pretty powerful and not afraid to flex their muscles.  However, Colom’s popularity is sagging which is usually an early warning sign for theft by government, aka ‘reform’.  Despite the recent centralization of power in the hands of cultish personality types in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Venezuela, the people here have gotten a taste of what the free market can do, the power of exports and foreign capital and those shiny gadgets from abroad, so I think the general trend is still in the direction of progress.  Most of the people I run into are hoping for a Strong Hand next time around, so stay tuned.

Update/Reply to first hatemail:  I’ve yet to meet a liberal who wasn’t big hearted, but as St. John Chyrostom said, the path to hell is paved with good intentions.  It’s not good enough to want to help people, you can not do evil with the hope of doing good.  Nor can you suspend the laws of economics or nature anymore than you can gravity (although like a long jumper you can try).  I personally wish everyone had a 136 IQ, great parents, perfect health, a loving spouse and semi-obedient children and a great job, but it just isn’t the life we have.