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

Maduro is a complete nincompoop. Just has no understanding of how an economy works and the resulting failures on all sides are just an example of that.

Then again couldn't the other side come up with someone better than the typical Bush, Kennedy, blue-blooded i.e. my grandpa was this and parents were that people?

Great so you went to Harvard, that means squat with his political connections.
Do we really need some entitled, person who's greatest achievement is what mommy, daddy and grandpa did?

All it does is give strength to what others say that you are the puppet of the other side that claims to be a free capitalism based group, but usually ends up in familial cronyism and using the government to safeguard their own industries which is usually not that much better than Communism.

 

I don't really agree that Chavez's performance could be applauded by any commentator, at least one who knows his/her facts. In other words, this isn't the fault of biased media, in my opinion.

I can agree that consideration of the poor and underrepresented is a good thing, something that seems to be lacking in a lot of 3rd world countries. However, you do NOT go about that by intimidating the opposition, trying to control the judiciary and central bank, etc. Look at the Venezuelan economy today, and tell me what successes one could claim.

 

He gets applauded in Pravda.

No one knows the facts, was Petróleos de Venezuela shut out of US refineries over politics? Was it sabotaged from within during the 2002 strike when the top management had to be replaced? Were Venezuelan aristocratic families undermining efforts for a fair system? Were people trying to kill him?

I dunno, probably some truth to those.

 

Actually that model seems to have worked well for the PRC, Singapore and initially for Taiwan.

Just to be clear I am not in support of that model. A benevolent authoritarian state can work if it has the right leadership but the problem is that there isn't a way of making a change peacefully if there isn't the right leadership.

 

OK, solid point; key word is "benevolent." In grad school, one of my classes studied whether concentrated power can increase early economic development. It makes some sense; decisions can be made and executed quickly (same justification for martial law and executive power in wartime).

Chavez failed miserably in attempting (if he even did) to be a benevolent dictator.

 

Healthy skepticism is great, but tin-foil hat isn't. Not saying you are tin-foiling, but I will go with the respected (and numerous) sources over guesses.

 

I concur the U.S. should not get involved, but calling Venezuela "democratic" is a joke.

 

What the so called "elites" are seeing.

 

Didn't know where to post this but Miss Venezuela (Gensis Carmona) was fatally shot in the head today protesting for Venezuela's freedom. So ****ed up.

Semi Graphic:

Spoiler

 

Wow, so sad.

 

I don't like the analogy. Hitler was no more elected Chancellor than Gerald Ford was elected President. If Jerry became Prez for Life after capital hill burned down, then maybe there's a pattern there.

Chavez, OTOH, was ousted by a CIA-backed military coup during the Bush admin only to be brought back by popular support.

I don't think he'd get that same support now (LOL), but the idea that we should have any part or role in this country is only reinforced by the commodity they control and we'd like to influence.

Otherwise, the American people and its politicians largely don't give a **** (Refer to other emerging nations such as Thailand).

 

Given current events and pasty history of Venezuela this is richly ironic.

https://www.vocativ.com/02-2014/venezuelan-princess/

I keep hearing the Venezuelan government is all about lifting up its poor. I'd say Chavez's family and friends throwing lavish parties at the Presidential compound and skipping out on bills flies in the face of that message.

 

yeah, that's not really on the scale of a nationwide socialist revolution

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Why this picture is not being shown on American TV ? U.S. media is doing a terrible job covering Venezuela. <a href="http://t.co/LGoru0cCgY">pic.twitter.com/LGoru0cCgY</a></p>&mdash; JORGE RAMOS (@jorgeramosnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/jorgeramosnews/statuses/436991826101547008">February 21, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

International coverage by the US media is when some cute white American girl gets lost or mutilated.

Or even murders someone else overseas.

 

What overwhelming piece of evidence did I miss on the Amanda Knox case....?