Oil powerhouse Venezuela struggles to keep lights on

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 10/22/08 | Brian Ellsworth

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FELIX, Venezuela (Reuters) – Despite having some of the world's largest energy reserves, Venezuela is increasingly struggling to maintain basic electrical service, a growing challenge for leftist President Hugo Chavez.

The OPEC nation has suffered three nationwide blackouts this year, and chronic power shortages have sparked protests from the western Andean highlands to San Felix, a city of mostly poor industrial workers in the sweltering south.

Shoddy electrical service is now one of Venezuelans' top concerns, according to a recent poll, and may be a factor in elections next month for governors and mayors in which Chavez allies are expected to lose key posts, in part on complaints of poor services.

The problem suggests that Chavez, with his ambitious international alliances and promises to end capitalism, risks alienating supporters by failing to focus on basic issues like electricity, trash collection and law enforcement.

"With so much energy in Venezuela, how can we be without power?" asked Fernando Aponte, 49, whose slum neighborhood of Las Delicias in San Felix spent 15 days without electricity -- leading him to block a nearby avenue with burning tires in protest.

[Russ]

Blackouts in a Socialist paradise? Let’s hope we can prevent that from happening here on November 4th.

[stboz]

Hugo Chavez, pick up the red phone......you have an important message.

[NormsRevenge]

Be quiet, peasants!

Hugo's entertaining guests.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (L) talks to US actor and director Sean Penn (black cap) in Cumana, 400 km (249 miles) east of Caracas, October 19, 2008. Penn accompanied Chavez on a visit to a Venezuelan Petroleum company (PDVSA) gas plant. REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/Handout (VENEZUELA)

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Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (L) talks to US actor and director Sean Penn (black cap) in Cumana, 400 km (249 miles) east of Caracas, October 19, 2008. Penn accompanied Chavez on a visit to a Venezuelan Petroleum company (PDVSA) gas plant. REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/Handout (VENEZUELA)

[Parley Baer]

Soon to come to a neighborhood near you with Obama as president. Everyone will have to buy a windmill and put up solar panels.

No drilling, no nuclear power no clean coal and on and on.

[GatorGirl]

The sad thing is that the Obamabots won’t look at Chavez or Castro and put two and two together—those countries are socialist hellholes.

No, they said The Messiah will make the poor rich and we’ll all have outstanding health care—la, la, la, la, la!!

[ari-freedom]

don’t complain if you voted for this clown

[NormsRevenge]

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (R) speaks during a visit to a gas pipeline project in Cumana, 400 km east of Caracas. Chavez will urge fellow members of the OPEC oil cartel to implement a cut in production, with a goal setting a price floor of no less than 80 dollars a barrel, the Venezuelan leader told AFP Sunday. (AFP/Thomas Coex)

[Tarpon]

Socialism rats in the wires.

[informavoracious]

Is ENRON at it AGAIN? Ask Why-why-why

[The South Texan]

Coming soon to the USSA if the Sheeple sell us out to The One.

[fhayek]

Blackouts in Venezuela. Blackout at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the Bills-Chargers game. What’s the connection? Both areas are run by left-wing politicians.

[ken21]

not to worry,

comrade obamao

will invite chavez to his inaugural!

si.

/s

[television is just wrong]

well that is socialism/communism for you.

WE WILL HAVE THE SAME DAMN THING IF OBAMA GETS IN.

Change we do NOT want.

[Oztrich Boy]

"With so much energy in Venezuela, how can we be without power?"

If the Saraha Desert goes communist, there would be a sand shortage within 10 years.

[Boiling Pots]

No, these are nothing but lies propagated by the Corporate Right Wing media.

Venezuela, like Cuba, is a Paradise where everyone is well fed, well read, healthy and strong.

/DU

[Proud_USA_Republican]

I take it the babe in the red beret’s job is “official microphone polisher” when he’s on his diplomatic tours.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

[rom]

Blackouts...Socialist?

You Racist Bastard!

[1scrappymom]

I have to love it when Karma bites communists in the posterior.

No sympathy here.