TWO CYCLES

Our peaceful Revolution has two cycles: the electoral cycle and the prosperity cycle. We must understand them in order to design the tactics and strategies. Let's see.

The electoral cycle is the period of bourgeois elections and a non-elections period.

In the non-election period, Revolution can develop its own logic, its physiology. It is a favorable period to establish the material and spiritual basis of Socialism. Revolution is ahead, it has the initiative, and the battle is taken in a clear field. In this stage of the cycle, we must take the most of it to gain awareness, organization, and training in order to sharp the revolutionary force.

On the contrary, in the bourgeois-electoral period, the oligarchy fights within its field. This is supported by almost century of customs and conditionings. We have already said that the bourgeois elections are made to perpetuate the bourgeois system and elevate its spiritual essence: selfishness. This election is a tournament where the mass is immersed in what is trivial; the glitter of marketing superimposes to the substance, what is immediate covers what is strategic, and the manipulation of advertising guides the decisions. The promise, the material gift refuses any argument. From them, that is the custom, a fragmented mass, depoliticized, childish.

Therefore, it is a period where the revolutionary consciousness, the organization, the information gained during the non-electoral stage is tested. If accumulation is deficient; then Revolution has to make concessions to the bourgeois-electoral logic; and subordinate it to itself the advance, granting that awareness and training decreases. Now, if the accumulation is successful, Revolution can give other content to the elections.

The prosperity cycle, at the same time, consists of a period of "normality" and a turbulence period.

The period of "normality" is characterized by a good economic situation, of high oil prices, retracted oligarchy, without initiative, working in the underground of infamy, preparing assassinations, coups, screaming from Miami or Peru, but without raising too many waves. In this period, Revolution has the opportunity to move forward, to break with the culture of rent and laying the ethical and spiritual foundations, which strengthen Revolution.

The period of turbulence is characterized by economic difficulties, low oil prices and the pressure of the recognition of the mass. During this period, as in the election period but even dramatic, the strength gained in the period of "normality is tested".

There are two cycles and four periods. Success will depend on the tight assessment of each one. These cycles represent a high risk of loss, in the propitious stages for the accumulation there is the temptation to forget that the wind ahead of us is temporary, and neglecting the strengthening for the turbulence periods. These periods of prosperity are favorable for the theory spin, reformists and restorer. The class that swings between the bourgeoisie and the workers, which the classical writers call petit bourgeoisie -a term that offends some- has a fertile field for the testing of their mistake.

With Chavez!