Liberty! Equality! Stupidity!

If the population as a whole seems more intelligent and reasonable than usual these days, that's because the moonbats who usually bring down the group average are down south, partying with the hard left's newest superhero:

To the beat of drums and trilling whistles, thousands of activists from around the world showed their opposition to globalization and the Iraq war at the opening Tuesday of the World Social Forum backed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The six-day conference got under way in Caracas amid a light drizzle as activists paraded along wide avenues chanting "Socialism, yes! Imperialism, no!" About 80,000 people signed up to attend the forum, including tens of thousands from outside Venezuela, organizers said.
[...]
Organizers emphasized the event was not intended as a rally for Chavez, though the event was backed by funding from his government.

A red government truck led the march, and activists stepped aboard to shout slogans, many praising Chavez and shouting "Long live the revolution!"

Daniel Poppe, a 27-year-old German activist, said he believes in Chavez but felt uncomfortable about the truck and the slogans. "I don't like nationalist propaganda," said Poppe, who wore a red Che Guevara T-shirt.

The marchers included several Palestinians who held an Iraqi flag, and others who stretched out the wings of a giant dove made from white sheets. Several marchers from Syria chanted "Down, down U.S.A.!"

Others held banners focused on women's rights, indigenous rights or the environment. [emphasis added]

They say the world is running out of many resources, but we'll never have a shortage of useful idiots. (Via Tim Blair)

Update: in this crowd of self-professed socialist revolutionaries, capitalism is thriving:

...street sellers in downtown Caracas have also realised the potential of exploiting the huge market for left-wing souvenirs.

Many of them have switched from selling pirated DVDs and CDs to T-shirts showing the face of President Chavez or old classics like Che Guevara.

"The Chavez T-shirt is my bestseller," says Luz Castillo, who owns a little stall next to the conference centre for the Caracas World Social Forum. "I've sold six shirts within the space of an hour. I'm making a profit of $7 per item."

Other street vendors are selling Chavez posters, watches, books, flags, audio tapes and even toy plastic dolls of Venezuela's charismatic leader.

"Chavez is cool," said Alejandro Montoya, a student from Peru, who explained that he had paid $1,500 for a tailor-made tourist package to take part in the Social Forum.

"Is it a lot of money? Yes, of course, but just remember it's a chance in a lifetime for me to come face to face with my hero, Comandante Chavez." (via Harry's Place)

Why can't these guys spend their money on something useful, like lottery tickets or crack cocaine?

Posted by damian at January 25, 2006 06:47 PM | TrackBack