Brilliant Article: Hugo Chávez slips into demagogy

by Bernardo O'Higgins Mon Jan 17, 2005 03:14

This Mugabe of the Southern Hemisphere was exposed for his policies and oppression of rights. What a disastrous policy - look at Zimbabwe.

by Barry Mon Jan 17, 2005 04:11

Imagine, a Latin American leader who wants his people to be taught how to read and have access to free health care, and FOOD !!!. Argentinas economic system (which youve just basically described) would put this tyrant to shame. Despite being the obvious choice of Venezuelas majority poor, those illiterates are obviously too dumb to know whats good for them.

Perhaps if the US stopped organising coups and fomenting right wing industrial chaos, the land question may have been sorted out earlier. However that would be short sighted and missing your point. The mans obviously another Mugabe. Im sure he has concentration camps somewhere. Despite many of the coup plotters being at large, because he insisted upon their rights being upheld under the Venezuelan constitution. This human rights malarkey is obviously a ruse.

This man is obviously thouroughly rotten. Lets have another Pinochet to replace him, and bring democracy to Venezuela. Big buisiness is always being oppressed throughout the world. Perhaps you could compose some stirring folk ballads to highlight Hugo Chavez and the dastardly campesinos persecution of the wealthy and innocent multi-nationals.

His choice of a British company to target first, is blatantly sectarian too. Hopefully his links to Real IRA facists will be exposed shortly as well.

by iosaf the diplomat Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:10

This time it is Colombia which accuses Venezuala of sheltering terrorists intent on destabilising Colombia.
Some years ago it was the other way round.

"reading between the big fat lines".

There is a lot of land who no-one actively bears responsibility for in the "borderlands". Now you know how it goes, you find a house no-one actively bears responsibility for and if you're homeless you squat it.
If you're political and artistic you open a social centre.
If you're a gardener you plant some vegetables, if you're a mad scientist you set up your lab.

"sure you wouldn't prefer a cup of tea?"

This story having all the "nasty / nice popular / unpopular leader of the right " versus "nasty / nice popular / unpopular leader of the left " will run and run.

"ah go on have a cup of tea, shake it with some soda, smoke it in a pipe, you'll go to heaven for two minutes".

by iosaf the teacher- Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:19

What the Man has said :-

"Mr president Alvaro Uribe, from here, in the name of the effect desde aquí, in the name of this effect which has been born,, in the name of your children and mine, in the name of your and my people who are at base the same, I raise this hand, I do not believe that you knew of this operation which has flagrantly violated teh sovreignty of the Venezuelan people, of the Venezualan nation, which we categorically reject, and I invite you to rectify, which I invite your government to publically rectify immediately."

If you're a fan of the Man you can catch it all on
http://rebellion.org
or goto link at end of comment.
*******************

Throughout the Americas, campesinos (a technical term for the poorest peoples on earth) farm land which more often that not is not their own.

They grow crops to sell for cash ( a technical term for capital in its most liquid form). Their choice of crop is based on free market laws of demand (a technical term for they do what they're told).

They more often than not "do not" grow the food in varying amounts which would guarantee their children health. They more often than not "do not" rotate their crops and thus protect the fertility of the earth. They more often than not spend their lives in back breaking work growing the crops that are the staple of Western Life.

Some of these are drugs, like I dunno for example let's say - Coffee and Tobacco.

If the "campesinos" of the Americas are to be guaranteed a future for their children who are just as entitled to a future as any kid in Ireland, then they have to be allowed grow the crops they need to eat, as well as the crops they need to "sell" for the liquid capital stuff. They'll need less liquid capital stuff if we build their hospitals and schools for them and give them "free money" to do this with.
http://eldinerogratis.com/

This means re-organisation and rationalisation of land, resources, land use, distribution of "non liquid capital stuff" and creative solutions to "supply and demand". It is a global issue which means bringing lots of stuff and people in to the big hug.
And it's going to be a squeezy hug and get done.

The poor of the Americas come first. along with the Africans.

Because they have come last in the considerations for far too long,
and it's a "new Americas century".
Get used to it.

If you're a farmer or an ecologist you might like to think about what food they can grow and share the land with the "cash crops" they need to as well.
If you're a legislator you probably have enough laws now, and its time to stop being a pharisee.

All you need is love. All they need is food and cash.
if you goto heaven for two minutes, you come back to hell and the "campesino" doesn't really care because his kids never got to first base first aid or first school.
= Basta.

;-) How do you know the Messiah isn't trying to get born in a South American village?
What sort of welcome are you preparing your Messiah?

by Fran Farrar Mon Jan 17, 2005 18:45 Fran6508 at aol dot com

Vheadline,an online publication about Venezuela is unfortunately down and offline:(
Efforts are focused to get it back online again because the dedicated staff and editor don't want to give up and quit.
I'm sure many of you have read about President Chavez Frias..the hope of 80% of the Venezulan population living in poverty.
The remaining 20% of the people of Venezuela are well off or extremely wealthy..Many of these people are indifferent or have exploited or manipulated the large majority of society which is impoverished.
To get an idea of Vheadline and it's impressive reporting you can still access it by clicking Google and the word cache..which is a snapshot record of a once existing article.
Let's hope Vheadline will be back on the net gleaming and beaming through the efforts of a demanding public.. and donations or assistance..whatever one can afford :)

by adrien rain burke Mon Jan 17, 2005 20:21 eandubh at pacificnet dot net

I predict that my country, under George Bush, will be responsible for another attempt to remove Hugo Chavez - this time in the form of a contrived war with our satrap, Columbia. Such a war could drag on, and drain Venezuela of the money needed to carry out the social reforms so loathed by those in power. We need not consider the lives lost and hopes blasted, as you may be sure my government does not.

As for Mugabe and his methods, they are crude, and may fail because of cronyism. But whose ancestors, among the white farmers whose land is being confiscated, obtained their land through non-violent means, such as, say, purchase?

On the bright side, America is going broke under W's mad stewardship - we may not be able to run the world for long.

Slán, adrien
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Trailer/8989
Art Kills - Want to Quit?

by JA Tue Jan 18, 2005 03:45

That.

The Colombian status quo cannot maintain two fronts, one with the Guerilla and one with Venezuela.

JA

by Barry Tue Jan 18, 2005 05:15

And if Colombia/George Bush can create a situation where

a) Chavez and Farc are portrayed to the US public as comrades in arms

b) The Colombian regime needs American military support to prevent it succombing militarily

guess wholl be the next oil-rich nation America will have to invade in its "war on terror".

Thats precisely why anti-chavez propagandists like the one who made this post continuously refer to him as a tyrant and dictator. Its only a matter of time before further crimes against nations are committed. The more I read the words of the Islamic Jihad Army video statemant the more true they appear to be.

by - Tue Jan 18, 2005 21:16

for other commentators.
1)
the USA has been broke for years.
its just that you weren't let notice, and have only noticed since we globally turned on to NO WAR
and PEACE and stuff like LOVE, and HUGS.

the US corporations aren't broke yet.
but they do appear to be going through little changes.

2)
no-one is toppling the man. He is the legitimate leader of his people and was elected with a majority of votes by his people.

3)
Lulu and Toledo of Brazil and Peru with which both Colombia and Venezuala have joined forces and handies even though they're from different ends of the "left-right" spectrum to help Mr Chavez and Mr Uribe get over the problem.

4)
you are right. of course you are. your opinion are based on deep thought, reflection, dialogue, listening to others, searching for concensus and confronting your own prejudices. Never forget you're right, make sure you never waiver in being right, and don't move even an inch in your geo-political analysis because thats exactly what all those billions of people you haven't had the chance to meet need from you.

by Orlando Tue Jan 18, 2005 22:36

A real tyrant Mr. Chavez
Created Missions which have nearly wiped out illiteracy, help adults complete high school and go to university free of charge plus provide free meals and books. Built new and re-built primary and secondary schools which provide free education and meals for all children.
Created a Mission that provides good food at low cost to everyone who want it
Created a Mission that provides free health care and just announced 600 new clinics with high tech equipment to treat the poor.
Helps organize the poor campesinos in co-ops to work for themselves providing land and equipment.
Has many infrastructure projects on the go in the country, metro, trains, airlines etc
Wants to recover the land that was stolen from the campesinos via “democratic governments” of the past and return it to those who want to produce food for the nation.
Really bad for the country this guy is, when are the American going to rescue us from this tyranny??
We need more MacDonald and Wal-Mart like businesses, please help us keep importing 80% of food we consume, Poor Venezuelan importers, what are they going to do???