Posted on 07/18/2005 12:08:04 PM PDT by GPBurdell
I've decided to boycott Citgo gas stations. I'm not one that normally participates in boycotts, but for Citgo I'll make an exception. I not trying to start a nationwide movement, and I won't be out front of my local Citgo with a placard, I'm just making my personal decision public.
I was informed by my brother, a resident of San Francisco, that many of the leftists of that fair city only purchase gasoline from Citgo to send a message to Bush. He told me that supporting Citgo was a way to support Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan strong man.
At first I doubted my brother's words. Surely Citgo was not in the pocket of Chavez? However, I did a quick Google search which led me to two pieces of information which confirmed my fears:
From the Citgo website:
CITGO is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Venezuela, through PDVSA, has made substantial investments in CITGO, allowing CITGO to grow dramatically and become a major player in the world’s energy market.
And this from commondreams.org:
Looking for an easy way to protest Bush foreign policy week after week? And an easy way to help alleviate global poverty? Buy your gasoline at Citgo stations.And tell your friends.
Of the top oil producing countries in the world, only one is a democracy with a president who was elected on a platform of using his nation's oil revenue to benefit the poor. The country is Venezuela. The President is Hugo Chavez. Call him "the Anti-Bush."
Now Common Dreams would have you believe that Chavez is a nice little man who only wants to feed the poor but has been undermined and attacked by that vicious George W. Bush. The truth, however, is much different. Chavez is a socialist dictator who has instituted death squads, smashed those who oppose him and is attempting to foment leftists revolution in South and Central America. (for more on Hugo Chavez's reign, visit this page at Publius Pundit).
Based on all of this information, I have no choice but to no longer patronize Citgo gas stations. This will hurt, as the closest Citgo station to my house sells gasoline about $.10 cheaper than the competition, but I will not support Hugo Chavez.
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