A RADICAL OF THE MIDDLE?

Those who are politically between the extremes are commonly known as the passive, silent majority, but a radical of the middle is neither passive nor silent … but nor is he strident, aggressive or vulgar. 

A radical of the middle does not let a few extremists bring the country to the verge of a civil war. Like a good father, he would put them face to face in a cage in Bolívar Square, roped belly to belly, televised, until they came out friends and compatriots.

A radical of the middle believes the nation must hold responsible those who are responsible, “no matter what head must roll”. He would dismiss civil servants for their pure ineptitude and would imprison both those who are corrupt and those who by striking damage the nation’s vital interests.

A radical of the middle knows that the nation cannot survive without a strong and efficient State (not necessarily a big one) and a dynamic private sector. He knows that educational excellence is necessary for the country to advance, but that this has no value without a good general educational system, since a genius gets nowhere without good countrymen. To him, the grandeur and strength of a nation is measured in terms of the treatment it gives to its small and weak.

A radical of the middle is concerned both by the brain drain and by the “heart drain”. He sees the opportunities and the threats of globalization and does not accept proposals or impositions, no matter where they come from and regardless of how fashionable they may be, without analyzing them critically himself.

A radical of the middle knows that with the help of OPEC oil has generated fabulous income which, unfortunately, PDVSA and the governments have wasted... but he believes that there are better options than selling the kitchen sink. He is convinced that, on balance, the public debt will never be of any use; he wants to eliminate it and seek foreign investment, but only when the interests of national investment have been assured.

A radical of the middle knows that the country cannot be saved from the trenches and has marched against the government, but has also abstained himself from marching in opposition to the opposition. He respects the current Constitution and the right to make changes to it and, above all, Democracy itself… since it was designed precisely for him... as only he is able to duly represent the minorities at the extremes. His current slogan is “Neither Havana nor Miami… CARACAS”

Translated from El Universal, Caracas July 19, 2003