It's very interesting to see how they try to foist the communes as a grounds up movement. The communes and communal councils are not considered in the Venezuelan Constitution, they are an invention which was introduced when the ruling clique realized they were losing popularity amongst the masses.
Given recent poll results, it's evident Maduro is following a foreign script to try to set up a command and control system. The communal councils, distribution of weapons to Bolivarian militias and the so called communes are just an atempt to bypass and weaken the constitutionally mandated order. Why are they doing this? Because they risk a huge defeat in the forthcoming elections for municipal authorities. They have the ability to use state funds for propaganda, but they lack the huge amount of cash used last year to buy votes. And the 40% inflation, crime rate and corruption levels are really hurting the PSUV popularity.
Because the PSUV has evolved as a conglomerate of mafias, corrupt officials and a few committed communists, their local candidates tend to be the ones who can offer the most real cash and corruption links to the local mafias. This means the center had to move in and designate the local candidates for everything. The move from the top has caused a lot of resentment (never mind the talk against the corruption which was implanted by Chavez within the PSUV). This has resulted in a breach between Maduro/center which is clearly mentored by Cubans and the wild crowd at the local levels. The commune move is just an atempt to enlist people who can bypass the established PSUV corruption networks.
But the problem they face is enormous because the same local mafias Chavez nourished, armed and sustained by allowing so much corruption understand they don't have a future if all they have is a job as a low level aparatchik in a Cuban style set up. That system is a Neo fascist system where only the ones at the very top live very well, and the population has to eat the garbage they leave behind.
The idea that Maduro is going to direct a communist society is sheer lies. If you notice they are making deals with multinationals in the oil sector (see the note about the ChevronTexaco deal). They are headed towards a fascist dictatorship, same as Cuba. This is the endpoint of most communist systems which go the Stalinist route and eventually entrench a party upper class very interested in holding power forever. Like Jaua said recently, "you can complain about things but you can't be against the revolution". Code words for "we, your rulers, will let you whine a bit, but WE WILL ALWAYS BE IN POWER"..
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