tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26205819.post3406596992691439829..comments2023-10-23T08:37:35.635-07:00Comments on Everything's Corner: The Latin American populist trioEddiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16719417739757760997noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26205819.post-69105082443703066232007-03-08T21:04:00.000-08:002007-03-08T21:04:00.000-08:00eddie... So with a little push here and some oth...eddie...<BR/><BR/> So with a little push here and some other inspiration... you have me writing items on Venezuela.<BR/> You can see one of them <A HREF="http://ivorytowerz.blogspot.com/2007/03/venezuela-politics-propaganda-and.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.<BR/><BR/> Chavez is definitely a provocative figure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26205819.post-2215734118530271012007-02-27T20:37:00.000-08:002007-02-27T20:37:00.000-08:00And here we are again... thanks for the invitation...And here we are again... thanks for the invitation.<BR/><BR/>I too have been to Venezuela and I remain unconvinced that Chavez is either the savior or the devil. The old aristocracy created many of the problems and they continue to create problems, fighting Chavez every step of the way. <BR/><BR/>And Chavez has used questionable tactics in response.<BR/><BR/>Also, there has been civil unrest off and on during much of the past six years... through the national strike period and beyond. <BR/><BR/>With fewer checks on his power, we will get to see now what Chavez can do both for ill or good. As you say, the signs are not good, but we have to remember that in certain quarters, all the news we receive is slanted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26205819.post-71920054302309745092007-02-25T10:43:00.000-08:002007-02-25T10:43:00.000-08:00Hi Rockwell...First of all, thanks for visiting th...Hi Rockwell...<BR/><BR/>First of all, thanks for visiting the page and thanks for leaving a comment. I appreciate them!<BR/><BR/>Well, although I'd really like to speak good about Chavez's policies, I simply can't. I had the opportunity of visiting Venezuela before and during his rule, and the difference is immense. Poor people aren't getting any richer, but the whole country is gradually sinking in an economic slowdown.<BR/><BR/>It's true, Chavez has won all of the recent electoral contests (although some Venezuelans claim that the process was not as clean as they'd wish it to be, but I can't know whether their claims are true or not). I'd dare to say that the reason for it is because he sells poor people the idea of ruining the rich. In countries where the jealousy rule and the rich people are seen as evil and enslavers (such as most countries in Latin America), that formula really pays. And Chavez knows that. <BR/><BR/>The situation in Venezuela is really bad. I heard that Chavez introduced recently a series of economic policies in which prices are fixed, and producers are forced to sell at or below their production costs. I really fear that such situation will lead to civil unrests at a certain point in the future, as businesses will have to close and unemployment will reach record-highs.<BR/><BR/>Future is uncertain under these conditions. And Chavez just keeps leading Venezuela to an autocracy. As you say, it'll be important to keep a close eye on his movements.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comments! Please come back soon...Eddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16719417739757760997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26205819.post-53606902978704115302007-02-24T21:18:00.000-08:002007-02-24T21:18:00.000-08:00I doubt that any of these other presidents is taki...I doubt that any of these other presidents is taking orders from Chavez, just like they don't take orders from Castro. But of course, both those leaders have been influential in Latin America's leftward turn.<BR/><BR/>Chavez is a mixed bag. His nationalization binge and war against the Venezuelan media should be watched closely, as with his move to rule by decree.<BR/><BR/>However, he has won just about every electoral contest since 1998 with more than 60 percent of the populace backing him including the fall election in 2006 -- all elections which seem to be fair to outside observers.<BR/><BR/>Many of these leaders are more complex than what you hear about in the conservative mainstream media.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com