Eva Ryan

I really do hope that the people of Venezuela have a smooth transition. I'd hate to think that the government of Venezuela is so fragile that the death of the charismatic leader of the Venezuelan government is enough to plunge the nation into civil war. After all, there's all that oil to be had.

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ElyHynes Elysium

@EvaRyanSL is so FIC Humble follows her

Cristiano

If the death of JR Ewing on the new Dallas is any indicator, hope for peace is remote.

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"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream" - Vincent Van Gogh

* my blog *

Cindy Claveau

See, I wouldn't mind reading Richie's opinions if he ever had a note of empathy or compromise in his posts. But it seems to me like he's so all-black-and-white on everything as to be out of touch with reality.

He not only reads about Venezuela and knows everything, he apparently is also an expert on American politics.

If I have to choose between Richie's book-learnin' and Cristiano's actual heritage, I think I'm picking the latter. Not for political reasons but because Cris probably knows more about Venezuela than the rest of us put together.

Also: I don't know the answer but it's Israel

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"As long as there’s one person on earth who remembers you, it isn’t over." - Oscar Hammerstein

Casey Pelous

My, god, didn't you ever see Darby O'Gill And The Little People? The place is overrun with leprechauns, headless horsemen, and banshees!

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"I am not more than a lossy Human being, and think that we all are equals..." - Wasted Engineer

"Casey, I've already established that you have no idea what you are talking about." - Perphides

Kamilah Hauptmann

And the price of of just about anything is crazy, it works out consistently to more, sometimes dramatically more than in Anglo-America. I think a Big Mac Meal there when I was there last was like 45BsF? Or at the 'official' exchange rate, about $10 (The currency's been devalued to what's about double or triple what it's actually worth since then) $10 for a Big Mac meal, a bit high but not bad, right? Now figure your $500/month income... About the only thing cheap is cooking gas, and gas for the car you can't find parts for much less afford.

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Some days you herp a derp, sometimes the derp herps you.

Brenda Archer

Well then! Why waste your time?

You know what we really think better than we do, after all.

Nothing we can say or have said will have any effect, because we aren't saying what we really mean, after all. What's the point?

detrius

To be frank, Ireland has a population of less than 6.5 million people, so whatever problems they have, there will simply be a physical limit to their scope.

For example, their unemployment rate is stuck at 14.1 percent, one of the highest in Europe and almost twice that of America (7.9 %) - but because of America's much larger population, this translates into 430,000 vs. 12,300,000 people without a job. Just one or two large companies setting up shop in Ireland would take a much larger bite out of their unemployment numbers than they would in the USA. And if you moved there and opened, for example, an American Diner in Dublin, hiring five people, this would be the equivalent of employing 150 people in America.

In other words, the individual impact is higher in small countries like Ireland, and if you also consider that humans, as a social species, will try to cooperate and solve their problems (if you can stop them from emigrating to other countries), things will eventually get better there.

So yeah, smaller is better.

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Chalice Yao

Just to put this into relation even more, New York City has an estimated 8 million. Not the state New York, but New York City.

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"Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?" - George Carlin

Kamilah Hauptmann

And New York looked quaint and provincial after Shanghai.

Vivianne Draper

Just don't ever need an abortion to save your life because its a catholic country and they don't do that there.

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Vivi's real life jewelry shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NaturalTreasuresbyDe
AND
http://www.naturaltreasuresbydeb.com

Vivianne Draper

so, basically what yer saying is.....

size matters

Lloyd Newman

Lest Richie think it's only liberals glad to see Venezuela out from under Chavez's thumb...

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Cristiano

Hugo Chavez Successor Nicolas Maduro Shows Venezuelan Leader's Influence, Even In Death

jacqueline trudeau

4 times re-elected by a larger percentage than any US president has had in decades. Is that what the far right is calling "under the thumb" these days?

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Trudeau Classic Sailing Yachts

Richie Waves

He controlled 5% of the Venezuelan media! that's like... more than britain! (isnt)

jacqueline trudeau

I do love it hearing about all these evil things he was supposedly behind. Compare and contrast to the "democratic" country of your choice.

Hey Capitalists! Listen up. You don't like leftist leaders of countries getting elected by the underclasses? And then *horrors* watch them do unimaginable things like nationalize basic industries and services? Then don't prop up murderous puppets like Batista, Pinochet, Cordova, etc. It's simple really.

Free Xue

Anyone recall the name Mohammad Reza Pahlavi?

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"We're not going to give up on destroying the health care system for the American people."
~U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan

Cindy Claveau

It was fascinating to watch the news here this morning.

Virtually every major American news network had nothing but bad things to say about Chavez, but most of their ire sounded like it was directed at the fact that he was (omg) a Socialist.

Not everybody agrees:

Ex-representative Joe Kennedy praises Hugo Chavez’s charity

Former President Carter remembers Hugo Chávez for gains for poor | Online Athens

Richie Waves

BUT LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS OF HAPPY WESTERNEY LOOKING IRANIAN ELITES WHILE HE RAN IRAN!!!



seriously, posted on reddit every week.

Dictators and right wing autocrats are good. America does countries a favour installing them....and bechtel..

Free Xue

Image link is broken, access is forbidden. Argument: FAIL.

Essence Lumin

I have to agree with Richie that the US is a right wing country and disagree with him that this is a right wing forum.

On the other hand, there is a saying in bars that one shouldn't talk with strangers about religion or politics. You aren't all strangers by any means but I may regret this post.

Richie Waves

What was their inflation rate when Chavez took over? hint, worse than it is currently.

Venezuela Inflation Rate

Richie Waves

Foreign policy wise, Americans on this forum are right of the center line. Especially those that somehow are seen as the informed here like Jaher.

He basically parrots the the US government line word for word and is seen as some kind of of well informed opinion maker around here.

edit: There are of course exceptions but by and large.

Isabeau Imako

I agree.

But you can be against both. Being better in some areas, doesn't necessarily make one the next messiah. Not being a puppet doesn't mean you can't be a despot.

Robert Jung

I know a Venezuelan family that currently resides in the U.S. although they are currently traveling. They are generally left of center politically. I don't know what their party affiliation was but I'd guess they supported the traditional Venezuelan party closest to what would be called "Social Democrat" or moderate Socialist in Europe. Although I don't think they prefer full democratic state socialism, they wouldn't have been concerned if a democratic radical socialist party was voted in.

They did not like Chavez at all. Yes he did create some reforms for the poor that the liberal middle class semi socialist party may have been unable or unwilling to do, but according to my friends, the cost of that reform was the loss of political and intellectual freedom, safety, the teaching of propaganda to children and the dumbing down of the educational system.


I wasn't going to post in this thread, because all my info and information is 2nd hand and I know next to nothing myself, but I thought I should pass along what I have heard this couple talk about.

It may be true that the liberal/democratic socialist parties of the past may not have been effective but Chavez was an idealist. Idealists are convinced they and their plan is completley correct and needs to be implemented without delay. They have a point. Moderates often team up with conservatives to stop any real change for the poor. Unfortunately radicals don't mix well with democratic tolerance and compromise and slow gradual change, and democratic compromise often ignores the poor. . The lowest classes, the least enfranchised sometimes initially gain when radicals come to power, but freedom usually is lost..


I'm pessimistic, but it would be wonderful if the people of Venezuela are able to return to democracy and have the opportunity to listen to the ideas of the conservative business parties, moderate leftist social democrat parties, and more radical democratic but fully socialist parties, and then be able to vote in free open elections for the party of their choice.

If they choose a democratic radical socialist but still democratic government I hope the U.S. does not interfere. If the voters choose the industrial capitalist party/parties then I hope the poor are not forgotten or punished.

As I said, I didn't intend to participate because I am aware I don't know much, and am just trusting the options of the people I know. Chavez may have helped the poor. My friends are leftist leaning middle class intellectuals ( American liberals seem fairly conservative by contrast!) and they were opposed to Chavez.

Sorry - I never know when to stop once I start typing! I need an "editor" that actually edits for me ;-)