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| PDVSA El Palito Oil Refinery factory, Venezuela. (image va Wikipeda) |
By Jamie Douglas
I recently wrote an article about the slow but steady decline of Venezuela, which earned me several very positive responses, along with several negative ones that were critical of my calling him a “dictator,” and one even claiming that Chávez was more democratically elected than President Obama of the USA. But Obama did not change the constitution or shut down the free press, or there would not be the farcically named “Fair and Balanced” Fox News, a propaganda outlet for Rupert Murdoch, a man despised on all continents by those who love the dissemination of impartial information.
This week’s news from Venezuela is straight out of an Ayn Rand nightmare. Chávez is preparing to get swept back into office in 2012 by looting the corporate coffers of those who are still drilling for crude in that insane environment. He has imposed a tax on profits of 95% for the corporations that are still playing in his sandbox, the Orinoco Belt, one of, if not the, largest reserves of heavy crude in the world.
The proceeds of this daylight robbery are to go toward social projects to buy him another term in office by placating the poor, whom he just last week priced out of the basic food basket by ending government subsidies, thus causing these costs to rise by 48%.
Placate the poor with the money from the rich oil companies while the price of crude is being driven up by speculators that are only in it for themselves. Very Robin Hoodesque!
Don’t get me wrong here, I have no problem with the crude drillers; they are only doing what the market place demands, with the US’ enormous appetite for fossil fuels. All those workers on the platforms deserve the high salaries they earn. It is dangerous and difficult work that keeps thousands of workers away from their families. And now comes the Dictator of Venezuela, acting like the former Mexican ruling party, the PRI, used to do, leading up to next year elections. Fix the roads, build crappy housing, improve infrastructure etc with the money ultimately extorted not from the oil companies, but from consumers in the rest of the hemisphere who will pay a dear price for his “Bolivarian Dream.”
His reelection attempt utilizing these means will contribute to a higher inflation rate, a double dip recession, and an end to the fictitious “recovery” of the US economy. And presto bingo, the USA will have someone to blame for their miserable failure to balance spending and reduce the deficit. The USA needs to be reminded that you do not cure your economic ills by having your monetary printing presses catching fire, due to overload. And all this is to take place by the end of 2012 at the latest. Of course, the moment the elections are over, all those social programs will come to a screeching halt, and the poor suckers who voted for the Bolivarian Dream will still be living in slums with open sewage ditches.
Chavez seized unprecedented powers after the floods and landslides in and around Caracas, ruling by decree and thus steamrolling the newly elected opposition in congress, all the while sucking up to the poor masses by throwing them a crumb here, an unfulfilled promise there, so they will vote him back to be their dictator for another term. The Venezuelan economy is in shambles, there is a brain drain affecting all sectors of industry and science, and his biggest claim to fame right now is that his two best friends are an unlikely pair, the Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and la Presidenta de Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who has not announced her intentions for re-election, but all her cronies are busy greasing all the local peronistas kirchneristas to support what is sure to be her bid to extract a second term in office from the electorate of Argentina.
Chávez announced today (4.26.2011) that “a high ranking Libyan delegation” has arrived in Caracas to negotiate, with his assistance, for an end to hostilities in that oil rich North African nation. Just who the hell is this maniacal megalomaniac to think that he has any influence over affairs of the world? He has trouble feeding his own people and keeping his own press repressed! A classical case of delusions of grandeur! But as is usual with the ranks of the self-impressed, he will be the last to know, but probably not until way after he has completely destroyed the Venezuelan economy and its citizens’ self esteem.
And by the way, even though I am not a great fan of Barack Obama’s, I am sure he is the legitimate President of the USA. The problem with the USA is bigger than the Presidency, whether there are war criminals in charge or not, and it has a lot to do with the Senate, the House and all the little politicians that have torn the fabric of the Republic asunder with their own selfish, lobbyist inspired actions.
Jamie Douglas
Patagonia
I encourage you to write to me, jamie@expatdailynews.com with any questions or suggestions you may have, and if necessary, we can establish a voice communication via Skype. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel related business. My advice is based on my own experiences, and is free of charge. (Donations accepted).
Jamie Douglas is an Adventurer, Writer and Photographer with an amazing array of Nikon equipment, and a lifetime of experience traveling and documenting. To contact him for assignments and new adventures, email: jamie.douglas [at] yahoo.com
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Well-written article ... not sure I entirely agree with you, but some excellent points. Who else do you write for?
ReplyDeleteI follow Mr. Chavez fairly closely. I read up where I can – mostly from places such as the Economist, and the Buenos Aires Herald. Sure, he's nuts - but if I lived there, I'd vote for him. Then again, I'm also a fan of Barrack Obama, and if I lived there, I'd vote for him. (I'm Canadian)
I backpacked for just over a year around South America in the 90's – back again in the late 90’s, and again about 5 years ago. Love the continent, love the people. If I could talk my wife into it, I’d move to Buenos Aires. One of the first stops on our backpacking trip was pre-Chavez Venezuela. Things weren't going well - the economy was still reeling from a banking fiasco where a couple dozen rich bastards fled to Florida with piles of cash. About 2/3 of the ATMs weren't operational. Place was a mess. Change of some sort was obviously needed.
As you’re probably well-aware, corruption is deeply rooted and almost acceptable to most sudamericanos. Deep down, most know it’s not right, but what can they do apart from get in the game? And in places such as Venezuela and Colombia where there is so much money, ‘fixing’ the problem takes forever. There’s no simple cure and probably never will be.
Sure, he's got issues. Barrack's got issues. There will always be issues. But I ask you this: what (or who) is the option? It’s easy to throw shots at the person in power, but who would be a better option – who was a better leader? In the USA, would the McCain/Palin ticket have fared better? Trump should take over for Obama?
Chris at Goodliffe dot com