Bolivia has transformed itself by ignoring the Washington Consensus

[Judi Lynn]

Bolivia has transformed itself by ignoring the Washington Consensus

By breaking with orthodox prescriptions for progress, Evo Morales has helped to forge a new Bolivia centred on 'living well'

Luis Hernández Navarro
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 21 March 2012 04.00 EDT

Gabriela Oviedo is a fashion model and TV personality. She is a 28-year-old brunette, almost six feet tall. Born in the Bolivian province of Santa Cruz, she was elected as the national beauty queen in 2003. In 2004, Gabriela took part in the Miss Universe pageant. There she was asked to name one of the biggest misconceptions about her country. In awkward English, she answered: "Um … unfortunately, people that don't know Bolivia very much think that we are all just Indian people from the west side of the country. It's La Paz, all the image that we reflect, is that poor people and very short people and Indian people ... I'm from the other side of the country, the east side, and it's not cold, it's very hot and we are tall and we are white people and we know English."

Gabriela's answer, heavy with racism, raised such a wave of outrage in her country that she was forced to give up the contest. Two in every three Bolivians are indigenous people. Her answer, however, was not an isolated occurrence. It reflects the persistence of a white, deeply anti-indigenous Bolivia, which survives today even though deep changes have been introduced, including the approval of anti-racist legislation.

In spite of the force of racial discrimination, on 22 January 2006, the Aymara Indian and cocalero unionist Evo Morales was elected president. Since then, the Bolivian state and society have undergone a profound transformation. The country has been decolonised. Indigenous people hold key cabinet positions in government and also in political institutions, while their standard and quality of life have been notably improved.

In the past six years, Bolivia has become one of the Latin American countries most successful at improving its citizens' standard of living. Economic indicators such as low unemployment and decreased poverty, as well as better public healthcare and education, are outstanding.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/21/bolivia-washington-consensus

[rudycantfail]

1. Thanks.

That's awesome.

[knowbody0]

2. bravo

it is a Latin American Spring. not televised. the population rose up against the corporations that had exploited and enslaved them. and it silently spreads throughout Latin America. the rebels become heroes, the people begin to thrive. the propaganda machines malfunction in the new era of technology.
I smell freedom, may it last, may power not corupt these new leaders. amen

[sabrina 1]

3. Maybe we can start imitating what they are doing. Because what we are doing sure isn't working

and it didn't work for them either, or for Europe, or anywhere else.

Bravo to those brave people for their courage and determination to take their country back and get out from under the evil of colonialism.

[txlibdem]

4. America needs to quit being a "wholly owned subsidiary" of Corporations

Corporations need to be broken down into tiny little bits that can't hurt a flea.

I applaud Bolivia for doing what we cannot: get themselves out from under the boot heels of Multinational Corporations.