Maria Corina Machado. She is the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. That decision by the Nobel committee was met with controversy. On the surface, it might seem justified as she seeks to end the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, who is considered an authoritarian.

A brief history lesson about Venezuela: It achieved its independence from Spain in 1811 and became a fully sovereign nation in 1830. It established its own constitution, institutions and government. Officially, it has a federal republic with the President as the head of state and a National Assembly as its legislature.

However, today, after more than twelve years of his presidency, Maduro has gone down the path of dismantling its democratic institutions, with its elections being considered not free and fair. The government is now characterized by a lack of civil liberties, suppression and severe human rights violations.

Getting back to Ms.Machado, and that Nobel Peace prize. On its surface it would seem justified since she wants Maduro gone. Replaced by, who else, herself. The question is, what is Machado’s own political background? Is she a true reformer? A person who supports human rights, free and fair elections, a government that its citizens can trust? A fierce supporter of peace, far and wide?

Hmmm. First off, she dedicated her Peace Prize to—Greta Thunberg! Not really. Hell, no. Greta who?, asked the Nobel committee, apparently. Maria the wannabee savior for the people of Venezuela, dedicated her prize to Donald Trump. Yeah, the guy who, not all that different from Mr. Maduro, is currently wiping his ass with the U.S. Constitution, dispatching masked, armed and unidentifiable ICE goons into communities, spreading fear and loathing. Under the guise of wanting to deport immigrants with hard core criminal histories, his “gestapo” will arrest anyone who gets in their way. Brown, Black, Asian communities are especially terrified. By now, however, it is clear no community is safe, even upscale, predominantly white areas. U.S. citizens have been “taken”. Children have been taken from their mothers.Trump is as much an authoritarian as Maduro or any number of other far-right governments scattered about the globe. And so what does that say about Maria Corina Machado, kissing one authoritarian’s ass while vilifying another?

Of course, DT wanted the Nobel for himself, but the Nobel committee couldn’t possibly ignore the hypocrisy and denunciation it would have garnered. So Maria, the Peacenik gets it. Maria dedicates it to her favorite authoritarian, while posturing as a legitimate person of the people. She has been described as the Latin American version of Margaret Thatcher. Meaning right-wing. She is a supporter of Israel. Peace Prize? Israel? Genocide?  I’d say that she is essentially part of the rise of global fascism.

Oh. I should add Venezuela has oil. Lots of oil. Same as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and even Canada. We want it but overthrowing any of those other countries, with the exception of Canada–maybe—would be orders of nuclear WW3 more difficult. Central and South America? Our CIA is very good at regime change down there. We throw our weight around, but still–even with a mentally addled gasbag as “leader”– know who to move-in on, and who to play the longest of long games with.

One might assume the GOP is enamored of Maria. But apparently so is the Democrat Party. Recently, U.S. Democrat Senator Dick Durbin posted a press release singing Ms. Machado’s praises: “her steadfast and courageous fight for democracy” and “steadfast courage in the face of cruelty”.

Keep in mind, however, that when “far-right and fascism” is invoked here in the United States, it is not just the current Republican Party that is aiding and abetting such. Recently, Senator Dick Durbin, a very high ranking Democrat sang Maria’s praises in a press release. Among other accolades bestowed upon Maria was her “Stedfast and courageous fight for democracy” and her “steadfast courage in the face of cruelty”. Durbin used Maduro to contrast Machado as worthy of such praise. The conflicts of ideological interests be damned. She may be okay with a genocide but, hey, no one is perfect, right?. Margaret Thatcher? If the shoe fits…

Durbin, as with the Democrat Party, from its members in congress to statehouses with Democrat majorities, down to local precinct captains, are as compromised and collusive in our current dramatic shift to a far-right government, run by a buffoon who should have been held accountable by the Biden administration for nothing less than a televised, live-streamed attempted insurrection. Trump didn’t have to steal his way back into power.  He was virtually escorted back into the White House by the Bidens, Schumers, Pelosis, Durbins, and an empty suit Attoney General named Merrick Garland.  Durbin’s fawning over Maria Corina Machado is an affront to any notion of “leadership”. Thanks to him and the Democratic Party’s complicity in this embracing of a far-right shift, as of today the government is shut-down, and the felonious flim-flam man they refused to prosecute is using food as a political point of leverage, as well as the public’s access to healthcare, childcare and other once norms that back when transcended political differences. It’s always messy, this politics thing, but now it is horrific messy, and the two parties have pretty much morphed into one. Corporate high rollers call the shots, and so much for we the people. Durbin is not seeking re-election. He’s in his early 80’s and has his nest egg. A useless tool of that corporate version of the “opposition party”. Good riddance.

There are many already establishing their candidacy to replace him. Including myself, a member of the Green Party. It is clear that the Duopoly needs disruption. The electorate needs to embrace the idea that voting Red or Blue has zero upside–unless, of course one is of the billionaire class. In a country of 340 million people and about 1300 billionaires, I’d say there’s a lot of people who haven’t been thinking very critically, the time is now to start doing so. Press releases from a Democrat praising a fascist should be a wake-up call, If not then we continue with that so-called “American Dream”. As George Carlin once said, it’s called a dream because you have be asleep to believe it.

The alarm clock is ringing! Wake up!