Post: #1

I have been watching some Venezuelan documentaries about the elections, Chavez, ect and man this is interesting.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-revol...televised/

He was thrown out of office in a coupe where the wealthy business leaders and military generals took control of the government / country. Then the common soldiers decide to rebel against the new government and its generals and retake the country and get Chavez back into power which they do.

I cant imagine the tension between the Chavez govt and the wealthy figure heads of the country.

On top of all this I find it crazy how much support Chavez gets from the people of Venezuela. And how they think socialism is the answer to their problems. Do they not realize they are one of the poorest if not they poorest (people wise) and dangerous countries in South America? He shits on USA and capitalism yet the quality of life in the US is a thousand times better. Venezuela is something like the 4th largest exporter of oil in the world. No excuse for why their country is still in shambles. Chavez has had plenty of time to get things turned around and hasnt.

Interesting stuff.

Post: #2

He's loved because he's brought education and health services to the poor. Socialism is a great thing when done properly. If you take the NHS in the UK; a great example of socialism in action. Everyone regardless of age, race, sex or financial status receives free medical treatment. Perfect.

Post: #3

The failed coup marked a milestone in political movilization in the whole world. Venezuelans had suffered neoliberal policies in the 80s, like many Latin American countries, and they had learned that political movements must be done from bottom to top, to avoid getting their leaders bribed or killed. So, when the coup was attempted (with the help of the Spanish embassy, shame on my country), people in many neighbourhoods started to mobilize and demonstrate; in the end, they made enough pressure so Chávez had to be freed. This model is been exported now to Egypt, Spain and the USA. If you want to learn more about it, I reccomend you "The shock doctrine", by Naomi Klein.

I agree with KingofScotland. Chávez has greatly reduced the levels of poverty and other social indicators, in huge contrast with Colombia, which has the worst human right record in the western hemisphere, and where every year are made more than half of killings of trade unionists in the world.

Post: #4

Colombia and Venezuela switched places. Venezuela is what Colombia was in the 80's.

Chavez destroyed a country that had/has so much potential. But then again, the USA, Europe, and plenty of other countries are being destroyed by politicians too. Fun times.

Post: #5

(10-25-2011 02:13 PM)KingofScotland Wrote:  He's loved because he's brought education and health services to the poor. Socialism is a great thing when done properly. If you take the NHS in the UK; a great example of socialism in action. Everyone regardless of age, race, sex or financial status receives free medical treatment. Perfect.

Venezuela has some of the highest poverty rates in South America and is the most dangerous country in South America.

This shouldnt be the case with it being rich in resources.

The funny thing is Chavez buddy Castro has one of the poorest countries also in Cuba.

Post: #6

Chavez is more incompetent than anything. His band-aid services to the poor in the form of aid is outstripped by a huge rise in the country's unemployment, crime, and inflation rate.

I was rooting for him in the beginning, but he's just another dictator.

Post: #7

Yeah, for all Venezuela's Oil wealth, why does the country have a homicide rate that is higher than Haiti, South Africa, Colombia or Panama? Considering the stranglehold that Chavez has on the country you would think he could maintain law and order. At least Fidel accomplished that much.

Post: #8

Wonder how long it will take for the "people" to realize this?

Im beg to think these people are just plain ignorant. How long has he had to change the country?

Post: #9

The "people" are in the same situation as any other under a dictator. Chavez is a psuedo-dictator for the 21st century, he controls the media and pumps propaganda to the masses on a daily basis. The press has no freedom, so he has been able to quell an opposition to his views and anyone who dissents is dealt with swiftly. Any future "elections" held in the country are pure theatre. Chavez will not step down, he admires Fidel to much. Voters went to the polls in 2007 and rejected his referendums. Undeterred, he pushed again hard and in 2009 eliminated term limits for elected officials in Venezuela. I doubt he's going anywhere for the next 20 years or so. Which is a shame, lots of gorgeous women in Venezuela.....

Post: #10

(10-25-2011 11:17 PM)azulsombra Wrote:  The "people" are in the same situation as any other under a dictator. Chavez is a psuedo-dictator for the 21st century, he controls the media and pumps propaganda to the masses on a daily basis. The press has no freedom, so he has been able to quell an opposition to his views and anyone who dissents is dealt with swiftly. Any future "elections" held in the country are pure theatre. Chavez will not step down, he admires Fidel to much. Voters went to the polls in 2007 and rejected his referendums. Undeterred, he pushed again hard and in 2009 eliminated term limits for elected officials in Venezuela. I doubt he's going anywhere for the next 20 years or so. Which is a shame, lots of gorgeous women in Venezuela.....

He'll probably die within 2 years. His health isn't looking too good.

Post: #11

if u r one of those dudes that likes being the only gringo in town great place to go...gold mine.

once chavez goes i think veenzuela will boom again if the next person can pull itt ogther. great country and yes stunning women

Post: #12

While it's true that Venezuelan economy has got worse with the global recession, the situation is still better than in the 90s. In 1996 inflation was 100%, and poverty rate was 70% (today it's 23%). Chávez has made many mistakes, but it's commendable that he hasn't cut social spending despite the fall of GDP. I doubt the opposition would fare better.

On the other side, calling him a dictator is plain wrong. All elections have been free.

Post: #13

(10-25-2011 06:01 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  The funny thing is Chavez buddy Castro has one of the poorest countries also in Cuba.

That's mostly due to the completely unneccessary US trade embargo though.

(10-25-2011 09:07 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  Wonder how long it will take for the "people" to realize this?

Im beg to think these people are just plain ignorant. How long has he had to change the country?

He's probably done more for the people than anyone else ever has though and when the opposition are made up of the upper class rich who don't care at all for the poor then what's the best option?

Calling the people ignorant and implying they aren't human (I think that's what you were getting at?) is actually ignorance on your part.

Post: #14

(10-26-2011 02:09 PM)KingofScotland Wrote:  

(10-25-2011 06:01 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  The funny thing is Chavez buddy Castro has one of the poorest countries also in Cuba.

That's mostly due to the completely unneccessary US trade embargo though.

(10-25-2011 09:07 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  Wonder how long it will take for the "people" to realize this?

Im beg to think these people are just plain ignorant. How long has he had to change the country?

He's probably done more for the people than anyone else ever has though and when the opposition are made up of the upper class rich who don't care at all for the poor then what's the best option?

Calling the people ignorant and implying they aren't human (I think that's what you were getting at?) is actually ignorance on your part.

Venezuela is a fucked up country. By far the most dangerous, and one of the poorest despite the fact of having something like the 4th largest oil reserve.

Chavez had had plenty of time to turn the country around and hasnt. It is still a complete shit hole rife with poverty, crime, and violence.

I didnt call the people non humans but I most certainly think they are ignorantly hoping for something that is not there. Chavez is viewed as a complete lunatic around the world.

You dont get that bad of a rap for nothing.

Post: #15

(10-26-2011 01:37 PM)Hawk Wrote:  While it's true that Venezuelan economy has got worse with the global recession, the situation is still better than in the 90s. In 1996 inflation was 100%, and poverty rate was 70% (today it's 23%). Chávez has made many mistakes, but it's commendable that he hasn't cut social spending despite the fall of GDP. I doubt the opposition would fare better.

On the other side, calling him a dictator is plain wrong. All elections have been free.

I called him a psuedo-dictator. You say tomato I say toemato. True, he's no Saddam or Qaddafi. Call him a "president for life" if you will. Chavez won't let a little thing like an "election" get in the way of his socialist vision. If you think he can possibly lose an "election" in Venezuela to another candidate while he's alive, well then I got some ocean front property in kansas to sell to you.

Post: #16

Still have a strong desire to visit this place...I'm planning an south america trip and i might put venezuela in. Kinda risky....but somebody has to do it. Still have to save a lot of cash....wait and see what happens with the health of Chavez...maybe at that time he is already dead anyway..

Post: #17

(10-25-2011 07:26 PM)Roosh Wrote:  Chavez is more incompetent than anything. His band-aid services to the poor in the form of aid is outstripped by a huge rise in the country's unemployment, crime, and inflation rate.

I was rooting for him in the beginning, but he's just another dictator.

Exactly. A part of the venezuelan people may "love him" because he is a cheap populist who controls the media and operates a louzy propaganda scheme over a mass of uneducated people(an he want to keep'em that way).It's the same theatre that you see in North Korea (demonstrations of "love" for the deceased Kin-jong-Il)in a different proportion.Venezuela under Chavez is a shithole.

Post: #18

Sure, Chavez sucks, but I feel Venezuela is fucked either way. The alternative to him is probably some elite stiff who spends most of his time in Miami and is only nominally Venezuelan, and someone who could give a fuck about the majority of Venezuelans for whom government is crucial. That's how it's always been. This is still one of the most unequal countries on the planet, and it got that way well before Chavez.

Though this doc is a bit dated and probably not as useful as it once was, it gives you a bit of insight into some of the issues plaguing Venezuela.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...9629840148 (War on Democracy by John Pfilger).

Or you could check out the more recent South of the Border by Oliver Stone but you know where that's headed....

http://video.tvguide.com/South+of+the+Bo...er/8205557

Post: #19

(10-26-2011 02:37 AM)Big Nilla Wrote:  He'll probably die within 2 years. His health isn't looking too good.

--------
“The international team of doctors in charge of treating Hugo Chávez’s cancer does not expect him to live more than six months,” said Roger Noriega, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/09/24...rylink=cpy
--------

Very interesting. I cannot wait to see him leave.

Post: #20

Did you see his comment last week about how it's possible the USA has found a way to infect left wing leaders in Latin America with cancer? Priceless.

Post: #21

(01-03-2012 07:39 AM)KingofScotland Wrote:  Did you see his comment last week about how it's possible the USA has found a way to infect left wing leaders in Latin America with cancer? Priceless.

Lol. Yeah. What a nutter...

Post: #22

You say that but what if.....

Post: #23

(01-03-2012 04:52 PM)KingofScotland Wrote:  You say that but what if.....

Even if the CIA had developed some cancer killing ray gun, only Chavez would have enough self-delusion to think he's worth the time to actually use it. In his mind he is some sort of big threat to the United States, a true revolutionary boldly fighting the evils of capitalism.

In reality he is an ego maniac who has run his country into the ground, and is not even on the radar in America. Places like Iran, or North Korea are where the real issues right now.

If you see the new Kim suddenly drop dead of cancer... then maybe.

Venezuela will be served better when he is dead.