Fisher, The problem with the left

They say that politics is the art of what's possible. It should mean that all those who choose this long, winding road need to understand that power resides in the capacity to coherently reconcile what is with what can be.

The left had a chance to do that, a possibility, but what happened? Business as usual. That's why people's distrust oozes over every political newbie on the spectrum. Such forces here in Panama are cursed to never know when to say "Hey, this is the right moment --- let's get rid of this party of malfeasance, corruption and scandals." Historically, these opportunities have presented themselves but gone untaken.

Just to mention one example, the case of the late Marcos Alarcón during the Education Reform battle. It is said that great popular leaders are given one opportunity to spark the social engine and to capitalize on its momentum. Well, the chance was there, his speeches had the right amount of spice, the guy got support from teachers and common people alike. But what happened? The reform was defeated, and instead of remaining a popular leader he skipped boat to the nearest opposition party.

And what about the left? Funny-looking Juan Jované received a lot of political abuse these past few months after his removal as director general of Panama's social security system. It was largely due to one unforgivable position: he didn't want the institution privatized. President Moscoso made a big mistake when she appointed him just to assuage any disagreements with the unions, which supported his candidacy.

But now, after three mobilizations and millions of stones thrown, now that the tear gas canisters fired at the protesters are nothing more than collectables vegetating on the night table of a FER-29 university student, I ask: What did we gain from all that?

Absolutely nothing.

The first mobilization was huge and for the first time in recent history someone with a clear-cut affiliation with the left had support. Jované was the man of the moment when the raised his fist and called for a united front. Political commentators like La Prensa's Roberto Eisenmann were calling him "the Panamanian Lula da Silva."

But then he faltered. What's even more worrisome is that the left as a whole misbehaved. The Frente Popular por la Defensa de la Seguridad Social, a popular assembly created to defend the institution from the greedy claws of some special government and corporate interests, was torn by sterile fights among its members. Conrado Sanjur, Saúl Mendez and SUNTRACS members of were on the front lines, trying to take control of the movement, filibustering discussions and making consensus impossible. Now the Frente is hardly functional. All the petty discussions about membership credentials, about who's the strongest, the fairest and the prettiest in the popular arena, killed this noble effort to defend the Panamanian social security system, which is now in the process of privatization. And the funny (yet sad) part is that Jované, when these discussions began to dumb down what were to be concrete and fruitful deliberations, was the first one to leave.

Perhaps, sick and tired of wasting his time in these failed caucuses, he waived any political hopes when he had every right to aspire to one, even if it meant waiting until the 2009 elections. So in 2003 the left woke up with its left foot.

But that's not all, folks. SUNTRACS wants to throw a party, that is, a political party. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of sympathy for the social movement here in Panama, but I am not going to be so easily convinced. I applaud the initiative, but I have my doubts.

To what kind of person would this prospective political party appeal, when SUNTRACS is all about throwing rocks and closing streets? To whom will they appeal if all they say are the same archaic, prehistoric slogans? A platform based on the expropriation of public utilities and deliberate default (not renegotiation or delay) of international credit obligations appeals to which electorate? To the suicidal?

One thing the left needs to understand nowadays is that in order to avoid chaos and violent stalemates like those happening in Cuba and Venezuela, the present-day political arena must be dealt with head first, bravado later. Imperialism is not as gentle and "multilateral" as before. A sudden, hasty step and kaBUSH! Game over.

And politics boils down to that, a game --- a democratic game that must reward the highest number of people without creating resentful losers. It is possible. The left has a chance, if it forgoes extremes and appeals to the median voter to create a genuine and sincere alternative that might do some good for Panama's poor and dispossessed. Jované's time has run out, but his example as an honest man (despite what his adversaries say) is a good lesson for the upstarts out there. Integrity does count.

It is time for the left to wake up and smell the opportunities. But it must wake up without hangovers from power struggles, authoritarian practices and petty political interests. And, as experience has sadly shown, the left can not and should not stay silent just for the sake of maintaining a non-existent unity. We need to speak up and denounce autocratic leaders who only worry about patronage positions. By doing that, the left can create possibilities for itself in a near future.

Also in this section:
Gutman, After the tyrant from Tikrit is forgotten
Leis, Guernica and El Chorrillo
Fisher, The trouble with the Panamanian left
Girvan, Caribbean ministers ponder progress
Clark, Jobs are the biggest US export
Jackson, Misgivings about the main candidates

opinion

Why the left is prone
to waking up left foot first?

opinion

Why the left is prone to waking up left foot first?

Why the left is prone
to waking up left foot first?