Thousands rally against leader’s term limit end

[Judi Lynn]

Thousands rally against leader’s term limit end

Mar Saturday 21st 2015
posted by Morning Star

THOUSANDS of people marched through Ecuadorian capital Quito on Thursday evening against left-wing President Rafael Correa’s bid to scrap constitutional term limits.

Grievances regarding labour law changes and land ownership rules were rolled into the opposition protest demands.
There were some clashes with police but the demonstration was largely peaceful.

Leaders of some unions and indigenous groups swung behind the march, joining forces with failed right-wing 2013 presidential candidate Guillermo Lasso and other conservative forces.

But such opposition has opened up rifts in labour and indigenous bodies.

Social Movements Co-ordinating Body spokesman Rodrigo Collaguazao blasted the leadership of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, which supported the demonstration, of seeking to destabilise the country and accused its leaders of being out of step with its grassroots.

Union federation CUT questioned why some avowedly left-wing organisations would play into the strategy of the right.

“The actions … do not represent the peaceful and democratic will of the Ecuadorian people, nor the majority of the workers of the country,” it said.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-a617-Thousands-rally-against-leaders-term-limit-end#.VQ0PlmdFCwk

(Short article, no more at link.)

[Marksman_91]

1. So just wondering, do YOU agree with having no term limits?

Doesn't really sound very democratic of Correa, if you ask me.

[Judi Lynn]

2. The US had NO term limits from its inception until a massively effective Democrat

died in his 4th term in office, and a Republican Congress moved to limit terms, knowing there would NEVER be a Republican who would help the people that much, and keep getting re-elected. They knew the same thing could keep repeating with great Democratic Presidents.

That argument doesn't travel well with people who know anything about U.S. history, and thanks to intelligent US patriots who have pointed that out enough to those of us who hadn't been bright enough to pick it up, or realize it for ourselves.

[Marksman_91]

3. You still haven't answered my question

I am asking you, do think think Correa should be trying to eliminate term limits? Do you agree with him? It's a very simple question, just answer it.

[Marksman_91]

4. Figures...

When a leftist government is clearly showing undemocratic behavior, you don't even bother to acknowledge it. You're the definition of hypocrisy

[Mika]

5. Term limits are undemocratic.

That you spin it to the opposite is revealing.

[Marksman_91]

6. No, term limits are totally democratic

Especially for presidential terms, they give room for newer generations to step in rather than allow the same old figures to perpetuate themselves in power until they physically are incapable of carrying out their duty. All the most successful democracies in the world have term limits. I'm actually astounded that you would even support the idea of allowing a single person to perpetuate themselves in power.

[Mika]

7. OK. So FDR's 4th election was undemocratic?

I see where you're coming from.

[Marksman_91]

8. Different times back then. There was a great depression followed by a world war

And for God's sake, this was over 60 years ago. His third nomination happened during a time of conflict that, while the US wasn't directly involved in it at the time, seemed to be escalating to the point of potentially affecting them at some point. Society has drastically changed from then to what it is today, people are more informed now about politics as well as both national and international events in general. Even though I like Obama, for example, I'd rather vote for a new alternative that can carry out his positive policies while introducing new ones that can potentially improve on them.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Oh, yeah. Things were really different "back then," "over 60 years ago!" Brilliant.

Friday, Apr 18, 2014 08:05 AM CDT

The plot to overthrow FDR: How the New Deal sent conservatives into a rage

The right's temper tantrums over Obamacare are nothing compared to what Roosevelt had to deal with
Joshua Holland, BillMoyers.com


[font size=1]
This piece originally appeared on BillMoyers.com.
[/font]
~ snip ~

Last week, historian Harvey J. Kaye told Bill Moyers how FDR created a progressive generation that helped change American society in dramatic ways. Investigative journalist Sally Denton details a darker reality of that period in her 2011 book, FDR, a Nation in Crisis, and the Rise of the American Right. It was a time, she writes, in which radicals of various stripes questioned the viability of American democracy and a group of bankers went so far as to plot to overthrow the president.

On Saturday, the 79th anniversary of Roosevelt’s death, BillMoyers.com spoke with Denton about this poorly remembered history. Below is a lightly edited transcript of our discussion.

Joshua Holland: Today, we think of FDR as a heroic figure. He remains one of the most popular presidents in the public’s imagination. How did business interests react to his presidency at the time – and to the significant changes he was bringing about with the New Deal?

Sally Denton: My book focuses on the year 1933, his first year in office, and there was great alarm throughout the country. It was the height of the Great Depression, and there was a sense that he was moving the country in a dangerous direction, especially among the moneyed interests. They saw him as a traitor to his class. There was concern that he had taken the dollar off the gold standard and there were elements on Wall Street and in major American corporations that were very worried about where he was heading.

There are parallels to today, when we see the same kind of hue and cry, and fear that America is turning socialist. But remember that Franklin Roosevelt was an über capitalist, so in retrospect, it all seems a little bit disingenuous, if not silly.

~ snip ~

Holland: There was also an assassination attempt against FDR in 1933.

Denton: Yes. Five people were wounded and the mayor of Chicago was killed in an attempted assassination of FDR. An Italian immigrant named Guiseppe Zangara was responsible. Roosevelt was coming into Miami, and he had not yet taken office. In fact, that was one of the reasons that the inauguration was changed from March to January, because there was this long interregnum between when Roosevelt was elected in November of 1932 and when he took office in March of 1933. And at the time, the country’s falling apart and nobody’s in charge — Herbert Hoover’s thrown his hands up and is appalled that he’s lost the election, and the country’s really teetering.

More:
http://www.salon.com/2014/04/18/the_plot_to_overthrow_fdr_how_the_new_deal_sent_conservatives_into_a_rage_partner/