Much to the chagrin of other big oil companies ... Venezuela to Sell Cheap Oil to U.S. Poor http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802326_pf.html The Associated Press Friday, November 18, 2005; 7:57 PM CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela will soon begin selling heating oil at discount prices to poor communities in Boston and New York, following up on a promise by President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's state oil company announced. Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company that runs roughly 16,000 gas stations in the United States, will offer fuel at discounted rates in Boston as early as next week, according to a statement posted Friday on the company's Web site. In Boston, up to 1.2 million gallons of discounted heating oil will be offered, for a total savings of $10 million, the statement said. Heating oil will be sold later in the Bronx, a New York City borough. The statement said the distribution of the discounted heating oil will be organized with the help of local nonprofit organizations. Chavez often blames the plight of the poor on unbridled capitalism and strongly criticizes the Bush administration for failing to reduce poverty in the United States. Although tensions between the United States and Venezuela have increased since Chavez was elected in 1998, the oil-rich South American country remains a major supplier of fuel to the United States. Chavez offered cheap heating oil for poor U.S. communities in August following a meeting in Caracas with the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Venezuela, which has the largest oil and natural gas reserves outside the Middle East, is the world's fifth most important oil exporter and a founding member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Classic "win the hearts and minds" strategy that the US perfected to a tea. Of course it hasn't really worked in Iraq and Afghanistan and probably won't work in Boston and New York. Way to go Chavez!
This is a political move by Chavez intended to undercut public support for President Bush -- not a charity case. Only the most naive would not be able to see that. It is unfortunate that those ignorant to the Venezuela/USA/Mexico rift are going to fall for Chavez' scheme hook line and sinker. Very gullible. Chavez is an incredibly ignorant man, who has thus far used demagoguery and machismo to appeal to his largely uneducated, poor base of supporters. He is a rogue who is undermining stability in South American and acting in the worst interest of his people.
He's not doing it to undercut Bush's public support - no one here cares. He's doing it to gain popularity amongst the international community by mocking a leader who is widely unpopular.
What's wrong with cheap oil from the standpoint of an American consumer? If Chavez wants to sell oil at a loss well so what and its certainly not something new. The Saudis have often increased the oil supply to depress the price when they fear that oil will get so expensive as to lead to things like conservation. Or do you only considerate this to be a bad thing when Chavez does it as opposed to the Saudis?
Whether you agree with his policies or not, it still stands that Chavez is a mastermind politician. Especially in front of a crowd. Anyone who's seen him give a speech will realize this immediately. Bush looks like a 3rd Grade dropout next to Chavez' cogent thought process and charismatic articulation.
Regardless of Chavez motivations you can bet he's not half as evil as those bastards that make baby formula. What's that you ask? How can baby formula companies be evil? By offering free samples of their product until the mother's milk dries up and they're dependent on the formula, that's how. http://www.westonaprice.org/children/tricks.html And on that random note, I'm off to bed...
Chavez doesn't need to undercut Bush's support in the U.S. because has very little support to begin with. You are correct that Chavez has done a lot to help the poor, and undereducated in Venezuela. In fact the poor have had their standard of living rise by 33%. Venezuelans as a whole have had their standard of living rise by 17%. His recent approval rating in Venezuela was 70%. So his base is 70%. Whatever his motives are for providing free heating oil to poor schools in Boston and the Bronx, it ends up being good for those schools, and our education.
It's political, but who cares? One wishes American politicians would choose to be political in such a manner.
