Posted on 12/19/2002 8:20:59 AM PST by Zviadist
Looks like democracy isn't the answer to every problem.
Chavez's opponents have demanded an EARLY referendum in February which he has refused. Constitutionally, there WILL be a referendum only 6 months later, in August 2003. That is the very definition of self-determination and constitutional govt: allowing the people to vote, and following the constitution.
So if this is just an internal Venezualan thing, why drag the U.S. into it? We have no troops in Venezuala.
Every time some third rate socialist gets his butt into hot water, idiots all over the world start screaming that it is all the CIA's fault.
What a hoot. The CIA couldn't even keep a score of misogynist camel jockeys (who could only have made their intentions and presence more obvious by buying ad space in the New York Times) from killing thousands of people and destroying our most notable landmarks and damaging the Pentagon itself. And I am supposed to believe this same CIA is about to topple a popular (he won the vote and you keep assuring me he is what the people want) latin American president against a majority of Venezualans' wishes?
Are you guys trying to be funny, or does it just come naturally?
That's a really funny position for a Chavez supporter. They reason there is a problem there IS PRECISELY BECAUSE the property owners and middle-class are refusing to let Chavez & Co confiscate their private property without a fight
Chavez is popular among the poor (ie unproductive) segments because he is STEALING money from the productive segments
I did learn about the Monroe Doctrine in high school in Poland.
The US intervenes in political situations in Central and South America when it is in the best interests of the United States.
Well, maybe. But the official justification is usually quite different. Besides - often US interventions were harmful to the interests both of US and affected country.
I'm not in favor of democracy -- I'm in favor of a constitutional republic. There's a difference
If I walk on the street and a group of five thugs comes up to me and demands my wallet, hardly anyone would disagree that they were criminals and their actions illegitimate. But when 50 million get together and vote to steal the possessions of 10 million, then it assumes an air of legitimacy that it philosophicly does not deserve
It's amazing how few Americans understand the difference and know "which" political system we participate in. Thanks for making this statement. I correct people on a weekly basis.
Let's see, you can limit that number with the realization that 1) Not all 6 billion are within the borders of the U.S., and 2) you should only primarily look for Arab males 17-45.
On the other hand, the CIA is miraculously able to make people hate a president who gives them everything they want.
The US is already involved. No troops, just money.
So? Since shortly after 1917 the commies have been dumping truckloads of cash on every leftist twit with his hand out to cause trouble here. Every major media outlet, universities, and even grade schools are staffed with everything from socialists to stalinists.
If money made that much difference, we'd be calling Lenin an extreme right-winger by now.
Exactly. Why do people insist there should be a double standard for the brown people in the south? Do they believe those people are less capable of functioning rationally and democratically? I would prefer to hold all to the democratic standards.
Perhaps you should. If you are talking about the recent referrendum (not an "election"), then we are talking about a ballot that did not represent a democratic choice. There was only one option offered. As to how Hussein originally took power, it was indeed a coup d'etat.
And what do you do? Steal it from him? Does his stealing it (thought I would strongly disagree with this assessment) justify your stealing it from him? I don't like nationalized industry. It is crap. But if that in itself denotes dictatorship, then we'll have to overthrow the UK, Germany, Japan, France and half the rest of the world.
Are you people retarded? Show me where I have said I am a Chavez supporter. Seriously, show me. I have consistently said on these threads that I could not care less about Chavez and his policies. I do know that he was democratically elected and that the people who lost that vote are now trying to take power through other means. It is a political struggle with a legitimate government on one side and a gang in the streets on the other side. I don't know how much simpler I can make my position without resorting to drawing pictures.
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