So Evo Morales has won the Bolivian election. I think he’s going to be a complete disaster myself but then I say that about all and any socialists.

Via the PSD Blog there’s this NYT piece.

After days of protests and martial law, Bechtel – the American
multinational that had increased rates when it began running the
waterworks – was forced out. As its executives fled the city, protest
leaders pledged to improve service and a surging leftist political
movement in Latin America celebrated the ouster as a major victory, to
be repeated in country after country.

Today, five years later, water is again as cheap as ever, and a group of community leaders runs the water utility, Semapa.

But
half of Cochabamba’s 600,000 people remain without water, and those who
do have service have it only intermittently – for some, as little as
two hours a day, for the fortunate, no more than 14.

"I would
have to say we were not ready to build new alternatives," said Oscar
Olivera, who led the movement that forced Bechtel out.

Hurrah, Hurrah, the evil Yankee corporation was beaten…..and the people still have no water. To a great extent that’s what’s wrong with the movement. Beat up on the Americans and corporations but what is the alternative? There’s nothing actually being offered to replace such plans.

However, I’m fully in support of this part:

…Washington’s war on drugs in the region in jeopardy.

Anything that undermines this crass stupidity is welcome. It’s the illegality that causes the problems and he’s going to make growing coca legit.

Now all we need is for our own governments to make taking it legal and problem solved. Although I still wouldn’t actually recommend that people do, especially if you want to be a Tory MP. Or perhaps it’s de rigeur in such circles now?