by Eric Jude Cortes
Here’s how the story goes. A young, charismatic, populist candidate sweeps to power through appeals to poor peasants, the urban workers, and anti-norteamericano rhetoric. This newly empowered leader makes a few positive reforms that please the common folks, and then things start to change. Using their cult of personality and initially positive responses from the people, they gradually solidify their hold on power. Elections are delayed, cancelled, or rigged. Checks and balances are weakened and destroyed. And ultimately, dissent is crushed.
You probably have some idea who I am talking about. It could be Antonio 
Lopez de Santa Anna, Pancho Villa, or even my pal down in Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. But the person I am speaking of is none other than President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa. While certainly not a dictator yet, lately, Correa has been taking steps to increase his power and set himself up to join that nasty group, that Latinos like myself cringe at, Latin American despots.
In a recent referendum that was barely approved by Ecuador’s voters, the president has now increased control over the country’s court system. To understand the importance of this move, one only need look at United States history, in which there are plenty of examples of an independent judiciary challenging overreaches in presidential authority. If the president had control over the judicial branch, United States v. Jones and United States v. Nixon would have had much different outcomes. By increasing his control over the Ecuadorian courts, Correa has effectively stifled a legitimate means of dissent. In another move, bound to make opposing Correa difficult, media companies will have new restrictions on them and greater government scrutiny will be placed upon journalists; thus opening the door for censorship and restrictions on free speech that contradicts the ruling party’s philosophies.
You may argue that referendums are democratic and it is wrong of me to claim that Correa is becoming despotic when his new power clearly comes from the people. However, allow me to point out, that two of the most hated men in history, Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte, also received dictatorial powers through plebiscites. In spite of this, Hitler and Napoleon were still tyrants. An autocrat with popular support is still an autocrat. Even though Correa may have received his new powers from the people, his aspirations are clearly still reprehensible.
The time has come to openly oppose those who tarnish the reputations of the proud democratic nations of South America. While many of Rafael Correa’s policies have been legitimately beneficial to the people of Ecuador, he must be reminded that the modern world is no place for despots, even the benevolent kind. If the developing world is to become the developed world, it must stop repeating the mistakes of the past. Rafael Correa’s powers grabs must be stopped and his ilk must be swept into the dustbin of history.
To learn more about Eric, randomly bump into him on the street and politely ask him some questions.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those
of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.
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About Eric J Cortes
This is just despicable pro-imperialist rethoric… shame on you!!!
Beautifully written and exactly right. There is nothing “pro-imperialistic” about this. We must encourage Latin America to move forward to take it’s place in the world, but retrograde populism is not the way to do it.
Jimmy. i feel no sense of shame for pointing out autocratic practices of anyone. Please point out specifically how my article is pro-imperialist. Can I randomly say, “Your comment is pro-dictatorial propaganda! Shame on you for opposing democracy and checks and balances!” Can I misuse an ellipsis also, and add two too many exclamation points to make an unsubstantiated point like you did?
Thanks so much Jayne for actually reading my article and understand that there is nothing “pro-imperialist” about saying its bad to weaken checks and balances.
Although I’m a Correa supporter overall, I do think his over-reach of power within the judiciary can be problematic. However I find it very disingenuous the way in which you portray him. I think it’s a exaggeration to include Hitler or Napoleon here, or to attempt to make a equivalency between them and Correa. Although I may not agree completely about the results of the referendum, at the end of the day it is a result of democracy. Plus “election are delay, rigged” actually people were protesting because they were sure Correa was being robbed and the billionaire conservative candidate was rigging the election. You may argue that he openly defends himself and attacks the opposition but if you think about it, well there really isn’t a FOX News down in Ecuador so he has to do it by himself. No one is perfect but he has been, the most successful president in the past ten years in Ecuadorian politics, and his reforms in education, agriculture and federal welfare have been working. I assume you’re a conservative based on your previous post, but don’t be afraid of a little democratic socialism, this country needs of bit of it as well.
When you state; ¨The time has come to openly oppose those who tarnish the reputations of the proud democratic nations of South America.¨ are you talking about the US Empire? Check out our Latin-American history and see who the real foe is. but why look outside of US, when you have the Military-industrial complex with ¨ hidden agendas to take just for themselves. It’s just like Hitler, Mussolini and etc… ¨ Are you afraid to do internal criticism? Are you afraid of the patriot act and the civilian surveillance in US? The quote says “Ver la paja en el ojo ajeno, y no la viga en el propio”. That´s my point, USA government has the rhetoric of human rights while they invade and bomb sovereign countries killing hundreds of thousand civilians. Are Correa and Chavez that bad when you compare both governments? It’s up to you to make an intelligent decision.
What a stupid short sighted article Eric. First of all did you talk to a few Ecuadorians before writing your opinions, disguised as facts?
Rafael Correa is the BEST president Ecuador has ever had. He is the first president in Ecuador to last more than a term in power with the ratification of the Ecuadorian people in seven different fair elections and referendums. How dare you say that he is a dictator??? Ecuador enjoys more democracy than you do in the USA, where corporate power is put ahead the needs of the people. Ecuadorians have ratified a new constitution, HAVE voted YES to a change to a corrupt legal system, have even been asked in referendums if we want to abolish bullfights?? That is the level of democracy currently enjoyed by the Ecuadorian people.
Correa enjoys over 70% popularity. People in Ecuador are willing to fight to defend his life without a second thought because he is the only president that is listening and working for the people, and not to make himself rich like all our previous politicians. Go visit Ecuador first, talk to the people and then rewrite your opinion piece. SHAME ON YOU.
As American expat (of Swiss-Polish heritage who lived in 13 states within the US, last being Southern California, who is a very-well traveled, political atheist, anti-religion, God-loving, free thinker), now living in Ecuador for nearly four years now, your piece is way, way, way off the mark. This response may sound harsh, but you need to hear it from another person currently walking the walk. I completely agree with Gabriela that Correa is one of the finest, fairest, knowledgeable, well-rounded president/politicians I have ever experienced in my 35+ years of life and experiences with US politicians, with the exception of John F. Kennedy and Ron Paul. I also agree with Pablo that your connection of Correa to Napoleon and Hitler is more than an exaggeration–it borders on discrediting you and your whole article. To come to that conclusion just because he was elected by popular vote is a huge stretch and shows your ineptitude regarding the subject of dictatorship and Ecuador itself. As Gabriela said, you should come talk to the people before you write such a blatantly skewed, uneducated, article, which seemingly I can only imagine is because it comes from your Brooklyn, NY-based lifestyle, Catholic religious beliefs, a US public education of false history brainwashing, and environmental food and water poisoning. If you really want to find a real dictator, you might just take a really hard look at where you live. You currently in a country that is ruled by corporations and the military industrial complex, with a puppet president, where people can be jailed for no cause and our constitution is in literal shreds and nearly null and void. The US is as close as you can get to dictatorship, possibly only one thin level removed. The freedom of everything is palpable in Ecuador, save for the elitist here, that also want to keep things status quo to protect their own skins and centuries-old ill-gotten gained property (in many cases.) Also, if you really are a history major, study the real history of who has always been behind most of the dictators of this world through the last 500+ years. Then you will truly see that Correa is not even close to being a dictator. A good start would be to read “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man”, by John Perkins, and then take a good look at this days old video of Correa being interviewed by Julian Assange, a modern persecuted saint, IMHO, who is trying to keep your free speech rights intact. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZvUwC5JTAJY. I hope you will be enlightened to what Correa is trying to do and what he is up against. In our world today, real leaders have to operate under the radar of the powers that be, and believe me, it isn’t just the US president or the US. You will hear Jullian Assange at the end of the interview tell Correa jokingly “Don’t get assassinated”. There is a reason for that, and you will better understand why Correa appears to be a dictator to you, once you have read the book aforementioned and watched the video. I trust you will, if you really want to help the Latin (and world) cause.