"This is democracy." Chavez announces next steps toward socialism

Houston Chronicle ^ | January 9, 2007 | John Otis, South America Bureau

[potlatch]

[MadIvan]

A price of oil is to be desired if only to bankrupt this fool.

Regards, Ivan

[Red Badger]

What Chavez is doing is for his own personal power, as with any common dictator. He's doing it under the guise of democracy, being for "the poor" and underclasses, with their wholehearted support, with the expectation that they will get something for that support. The old stereotype jokes still ring true. Democracy is 3 wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner and if you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always count on the support of Paul..........

[wideawake]

Were I an oil executive, I would examine the feasibility of alternate means of self-defense.

[OldFriend]

Anyone doubt that the demonrats would nationalize the energy industry in America?

[Jack Black]

You are of course right, it is both a democracy and a republic. I think what the advocates of "it's a republic, not a democracy" side mean is that the design of our nation was designed to restrain the 'demos'. Everything from the electoral college, to the state legislature electing senators, to the set up of the Supreme Court were designed to prevent the 'people' as a mass from running amok.

The program of the Democrats (Socialism) requires ending many of these checks and balances and empowering the 'demos' to take more control. Including voiding property rigthts. The Democratic hostility to "The Republic" is seen in everything from Hillary's outrage over the electoral college to the Progressives ammendment of the Constitution to directly elect Senators.

It is hard to see how we won't end up where Chavez is eventually.

[massgopguy]

They'll get kicked out of OPEC once the incompetence takes effect.

[dfwgator]

Rinse. Lather. Repeat.

[george76]

bttt

Jimmah Carter must be so pleased.

[Jaysun]

Capitalists produce wealth. Demogogue comes in and nationalizes the wealth. Wealth disappears. Country spirals into poverty. Demogogue overthrown. IMF comes in to bail out country. Demands privatization of public companies. Capitalists come back and produce wealth. Demogogue comes in...

May the circle, go unbroken, by and by Lord, by and by.....
That's it man. The demagogues are able to coast on the previously produced wealth for a little while. Then everything goes to sh*t. But then the good people refuse to give up their handouts, and the only way out is to hit rock bottom.

[PGalt]

"This is democracy."

Of course it is. Democracy is mob rule.

[george76]

Nice job with the truck and the finger.


Chavez is number one.

[Jaysun]

Liberals are divorced from reality. It won't matter what happens. They will still support socialism and any problems will be blamed on attempts by capitalists to prevent Venezuela from becoming a true socialist paradise.

If they weren't divorced from reality, they wouldn't be liberals. That is other than those who simply see liberalism as a facade used to gain power.

That's right. But I believe that some, particularly the younger ones, are just idiots. They've been lied to and they don't know any better. They really believe that socialism works and a healthy dose of reality would do them good. There are many liberals that have been reformed this way, many here on FR.

[potlatch]

Or perhaps #2, lol.

Thanks george

[caisson71]

Chavez says what Pelosi does.

[traviskicks]

The article doesn't say why trading was halted...:

[rellimpank]

----related---

---http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-01-09T172620Z_01_N09356980_RTRIDST_0_VENEZUELA-MARKETS.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna

[Jacquerie]

I won't hold my breath waiting for the old media and libs to criticize a fellow traveler.

Say, regarding your tag, can I assume therefore that you are not married?

[bruinbirdman]

"Chavez asked the National Assembly, which his allies control, to give him powers to carry out many of his proposals by executive decree"

One decree he is thinking of making: nationalizing the churches

yitbos

[Red Dog #1]

Start nationalizing CITGO, any other Venezuelan business, assets and bank accounts in the US to compensate American investors.