ABSTRACT
The idea of cooperatives was not at all contrary to the values of the Indians as long as these were truly advantageous and as long as the Indians could participate fully in planning and running them. Another common characteristic of peasant peoples of which the innovators were unaware was that preventive health practices are rarely understood by village people and, consequently, are rarely wanted. The Indians had little interest in medicine which concerned itself with the well as much as with the sick. The Revolutionary Government gave voting rights to the whole adult population of the country, "white", mixed and Indian, without any restrictions based on literacy in Spanish, which before had barred the Indians - and many of the mixed - from participation in political life. The uncertain atmosphere prevailing in the rural areas of Bolivia after the Revolution did not permit the orderly conduct of farming operations on the larger estates.
