I’m Back
Well, I’m back from the other side of the equator and completely exhausted. My thanks to Ross for doing such a great job keeping this site running. When I get a few minutes, I’ll write a little more about Venezuela, Chavez, and why Bush isn’t 100% wrong for opposing the guy. For now, lemme leave you with this example of the housing for the majority of Venezuela’s residents :
For a country so rich in oil that they can subsidize it to the tune of 17.66 cents per gallon (or 100 Bolivars per liter), there’s no reason why the majority of the population should be living in poverty. More later.
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That’s a pretty picture- I had to look at it more closely to see what a dump it is.
Comment by xave — July 30, 2005 @ 5:14 am
I’ve done some travelling around South America. La Paz was an eye-opening experience.
Plus I just saw “City of God” for the first time and now consider myself one of the foremost experts on the area.
Will be interested to hear your thoughts greg.
Comment by d — July 31, 2005 @ 7:24 pm
p.s. I know where Venezuela is… ha
Comment by d — July 31, 2005 @ 7:25 pm
I’m confused as to D’s intent.
Comment by Ross A Lincoln — August 1, 2005 @ 12:10 pm
Chavez certainly has some disturbingly authoritarian tendencies. He’s no Lula, I’ll grant.
But blaming Chavez for Venezuela’s grinding poverty is ridiculous. Bad as things are now, they were even worse before he came along.
And that’s the Venezuela Bush wants to return to - the one where oil can be plundered with no benefit to the Venezuelan people whatsoever.
And in any case, you don’t violently overthrow democratically-elected foreign leaders just because they aren’t the nicest people on the planet. By that standard, the world would’ve ousted Bush himself long ago.
Comment by Mathwiz — August 1, 2005 @ 2:10 pm
d
did you also just learn how to type? ‘cuz it clearly makes you the worlds snarkiest troll.
really, a million more like you and we’ll have shakespeare.
The poverty there (as well as anywhere) is tragic, the corruption is tragic, people CAN do better, and I feel it is a shame that we do not.
Comment by mdhatter — August 2, 2005 @ 3:21 pm
Sorry, I can’t type for sh*t after work. I was taking the piss out of myself re: City of God.
I have some distant family throughout South and Central America, I’m genuinely interested.
d.
Comment by d — August 2, 2005 @ 4:27 pm
Mathwiz,
Chavez certainly has some disturbingly authoritarian tendencies. He’s no Lula, I’ll grant.
But blaming Chavez for Venezuela’s grinding poverty is ridiculous. Bad as things are now, they were even worse before he came along.
Bullshit, poverty has increased in Venezuela since Chavez took power. This is according to government figures. Despite having higher oil prices than ever and more revenue than any other previous government.
And that’s the Venezuela Bush wants to return to - the one where oil can be plundered with no benefit to the Venezuelan people whatsoever.
That’s also the Venezuela Chavez wants, the difference is who benefits. Chavez has been in power for 7 years! How long before it is his fault?
And in any case, you don’t violently overthrow democratically-elected foreign leaders just because they aren’t the nicest people on the planet. By that standard, the world would’ve ousted Bush himself long ago.
I agree on this, Chavez shouldn’t be violently overthrown. He is not a whole lot worse than previous governments, but he is not better either. But still, the incompetent attempt of overthrowing him was in 2002… three years already! that’s almost a whole term (US standars) in which Chavez has enjoyed popularity and high oil prizes. How long do we have to wait?
Before we never had problems like these. Amazing!
Comment by Alfredo Octavio — August 4, 2005 @ 1:27 pm