VOA标准英语2010年-Venezuelans Have Little Consensus on '

For years, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has described his program of boosting state control over the economy as "21st Century Socialism".  The president does not spell out how this version of socialism differs from 20th century socialist¹ experiments in other countries, or from classical Marxism.  Many Venezuelans have only a vague idea of what "21st Century socialism" means.

"I do not really know what his form of socialism is.  I do not understand it.  It must be something he invented," says one retiree.

Ask ordinary Venezuelans for a definition of 21st century socialism, and some are at a loss for words.

"I do not know a precise word.  I know it has helped me," says a disabled woman.  "Some say socialism means assistance, protection, that sort of thing."

 

President Chavez defines his program in generalized terms.

"This nation belongs to everyone," he said. "It is everyone's property. And that property must be distributed equally, in harmony."

He ties his socialist ideals to Christianity.

"Christ cared about the poor, not the rich," he said.  "Christ said: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are the poor."

Among Venezuelans who say they understand the meaning of 21st-century socialism, most define it in relation to their own political beliefs.

"Equal earnings², everyone living at the same level," said a chef.  "Living well, with wealth distributed equally among the people."

"21st century socialism: a pretty way to say communism.  That is all it is," said Leslie Contreras, a Caracas clothing designer.  "Everyone ends up the same.  The rich leave and the middle class becomes poorer."

President Chavez has been intentionally³ vague in defining the term, allowing him to mold the concept to fit the rhetorical need of the moment - according to political analyst⁴ Luis Vicente Leon, who adds that few Venezuelans spend time pondering political terminology⁵ as long as their needs are met.

"What do Venezuelans care about?  That they have food, health care, medicine, and services," he said.  "They do not care how it is provided, just that they have it."

Chavez-backers note that 21st century socialism is in its infancy⁶.

"It is a work in progress," said one man.  "We are on the path to socialism, to greater equality among Venezuelans."

But economist⁷ Orlando Ochoa says a day will come when the concept implodes⁸.

"Twenty-first century socialism is an attempt to revive 20th century Marxist socialism, financed by oil money," he said. "Some people see it as humanism, cooperation, and social investment - the way the government portrays⁹ it.  The gulf¹⁰ between reality and perception will have to be bridged."

Until then - whether anyone can define it or not - the term remains¹¹ the daily bread of Venezuela's political diet.

1 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

2 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

3 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 terminology   

n.术语；专有名词

参考例句：

• He particularly criticized the terminology in the document.他特别批评了文件中使用的术语。
• The article uses rather specialized musical terminology.这篇文章用了相当专业的音乐术语。

6 infancy   

n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期

参考例句：

• He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。
• Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。

7 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

8 implodes   

v.（使）向心聚爆( implode的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

9 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。