"Leftists" vs "Reformers"

[Darth Wong]

Did you ever notice that when the media reports on liberals in Venezuela they call them "leftists", but when they report on liberals in Iran they call them "reformers"?

This bit of DoubleSpeak has been brought to you by the so-called "left-wing media", which never seems to live up to its description.

[KrauserKrauser]

Well I would think that the terms work as the liberals in Iran are working for capitalist democratic reforms while the liberals in Venezula are more just buddy with with teh dictator for life. I see there being value in having different terms to describe them as they are seeking different reforms and changes.

[Darth Wong]

So they were "reformers" and now that they're in power, they're "leftists"? So of course, that would mean they were all referred to as "reformers" earlier, right?

[KrauserKrauser]

I honestly don't know, I don't follow the media's labels for the left wing political supporters in Venezula.

I also don't know the exact goals of the two liberal agendas but I would think they would differ greatly enough that there is value in distinct labels as they are seeking different goals.

Liberals in Iran - more secular government, market reforms, women's rights, justice system reforms, etc.

Liberals in Venezula - Even more nationalization of resources, industries, properties, etc.

These seem like significantly different goals and worthy of seperate labels.

[aerius]

If they're with us they're reformers, if they're against us they're leftists.

[Patrick Degan]

Liberals in Venezula - Even more nationalization of resources, industries, properties, etc.

You will, of course, be able to demonstrate the validity of your axiom that "Venezuelan liberal = Chavez supporter", I trust...

[Guardsman Bass]

Liberals in Venezula - Even more nationalization of resources, industries, properties, etc.

You will, of course, be able to demonstrate the validity of your axiom that "Venezuelan liberal = Chavez supporter", I trust...

"Leftist" is probably appropriate in Venezuela's case for two reasons:

1. They're representing traditional leftist Latin American policies, like state assistance to the poor as well as nationalization of foreign property/formation of state enterprises.

2. They're protecting the status quo (the Chavez government), which is pursuing these policies right now.

"Reformers" doesn't work at present (which would not necessarily be the case ten years ago), because they're trying to defend the system that exists, not change it.