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It is a mistake for the US to try to overthrow the democratic government in Venezuela.

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by glynch, Feb 18, 2014.

  1. glynch

    glynch Contributing Member

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    US Support for Regime Change in Venezuela is a Mistake
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    By MARK WEISBROT - THE GUARDIAN, February 18th 2014


    By Mark Weisbrot - The Guardian

    When is it considered legitimate to try and overthrow a democratically-elected government? In Washington, the answer has always been simple: when the US government says it is. Not surprisingly, that's not the way Latin American governments generally see it.

    On Sunday, the Mercosur governments (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Venezuela) released a statement on the past week's demonstrations in Venezuela. They described "the recent violent acts" in Venezuela as "attempts to destabilize the democratic order". They made it abundantly clear where they stood.

    The governments stated:

    their firm commitment to the full observance of democratic institutions and, in this context, [they] reject the criminal actions of violent groups that want to spread intolerance and hatred in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as a political tool.

    We may recall that when much larger demonstrations rocked Brazil last year, there were no statements from Mercosur or neighboring governments. That's not because they didn't love President Dilma Rousseff; it's because these demonstrations did not seek to topple Brazil's democratically-elected government....

    Of course we all know who the US government supports in Venezuela. They don't really try to hide it: there's $5m in the 2014 US federal budget for funding opposition activities inside Venezuela, and this is almost certainly the tip of the iceberg – adding to the hundreds of millions of dollars of overt support over the past 15 years.

    But what makes these current US statements important, and angers governments in the region, is that they are telling the Venezuelan opposition that Washington is once again backing regime change. Kerrydid the same thing in April of last year when Maduro was elected president and opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles claimed that the election was stolen. Kerry refused to recognize the election results. Kerry's aggressive, anti-democratic posture brought such a strong rebuke from South American governments that he was forced to reverse course and tacitly recognize the Maduro government. (For those who did not follow these events, there was no doubt about the election results.)

    Kerry's recognition of the election results put an end to the opposition's attempt to de-legitimize the elected government. After Maduro's party won municipal elections by a wide margin in December, the opposition was pretty well defeated. I
     
    #1 glynch, Feb 18, 2014
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2014
  2. glynch

    glynch Contributing Member

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    For those who prefer a video with basically the same info.

    <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AGWOkyXOQoI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  3. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    Looks like the Venezuelan people are handling it on their own.
     
  4. SacTown

    SacTown Member

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    If Bush were president, he'd use this Venezuela situation to attack Vietnam.
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. XIrocket

    XIrocket Member

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    Oh I know send Liberal hero Sean Penn!! That will do the the trick!

    Funny how he is silent now that his pal socialist pal is dead the citizens want democracy.

    Another liberal scum bag.

    LULZ
     
  6. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Contributing Member
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    They've had democracy there for years now.
     
  7. jdhu

    jdhu Member

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    We shouldn't get involved in any coup, but the fact is that the election that Maduro "won" was questionable, to say the least. The governing Socialist party controls the media, changes the constitution to suit its needs, gives out handouts to buy votes, intimidates the opposition, and has thoroughly wrecked Venezuela's economy (which should be booming, given the country's oil reserves).

    Pity the large number of VEnezuelans (I think 47%, by "official" numbers) who voted for Caprilles.
     
  8. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    Like the Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
     
  9. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Contributing Member
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    No, like one where the leader was elected in monitored elections and got the vote of the majority of the people.
     
  10. HR Dept

    HR Dept Contributing Member

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    It would be a mistake for the US Gov to overthrow any Gov that they are not currently at war with.
     
  11. Commodore

    Commodore Contributing Member

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    too many think elections = democracy

    Palestine had elections. Hitler was elected.

    You also need things like property rights, respect for the rule of law (as opposed to rule by men), a court system, protection of individual freedoms like speech and religion.
     
  12. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    Those are tools of the Capitalist.
     
  13. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Did a supreme court filled with the winner's party members decide to accept the vote count of the state that has the winner's brother as governor . . . . which had a bunch of questionable ballots . . . . . . . in which the winner said on national TV that his brother guaranteed them that state???

    Rocket River
     
  14. droopy421

    droopy421 Member

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    [​IMG]
     
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  15. Cohete Rojo

    Cohete Rojo Contributing Member

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    /Egypt
     
  16. glynch

    glynch Contributing Member

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    Well the elections were held to be valid by virtually the entire world, with the US finally getting on board.
     
  17. glynch

    glynch Contributing Member

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    Despite the claims of the Venezuelan right and their conservative backers primarily in the US they do have a court system, protection of individual freedom, speech and religion.

    What are the rightists/ one percenters in Venezuela going to claim? "We want to have all the money and power like before you peasants could read, write and vote."

    In a way thes elite in Venezuela are like our own one percenters and those who believe the spin of the one percent -- worried that the 99% will get more.
     
  18. Svpernaut

    Svpernaut Contributing Member

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    Exactly. Russia has "elections," as does North Korea. Neither is the pillar of democratic freedom.

    A democracy is where the laws that are enacted are the direct result of the will of the people. Those people, then have the right to change those laws as they see fit. In our case, through the ability to elect representatives who can pass bills and legislation.

    Now, one could argue if the US is even a real democracy anymore - but that isn't the point of this discussion.
     
  19. DonkeyMagic

    DonkeyMagic Contributing Member
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    I'm willing to accept Venezuelan women refugees in my home
     
  20. Buck Turgidson

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    You spend a lot of time down there, glynch? Know a lot of Venezuelans?
     

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