Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela welcomed a Russian fleet, the first of its kind in the Caribbean since the end of the Cold War. Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev is going to visit not only Venezuela, but also Peru, Brazil, and Cuba. Apparently he is going to attempt to reintroduce Russian influence into the Western Hemisphere. Chavez has agreed to buy a load of weapons, and wants Russia's aid in developing a nuclear power plant. It will be interesting to see if Russia has the funds during the current financial crisis to assist anyone.
Of course we all know Chavez is a socialist of sorts. He wants the government to own and control everything and he wants to stay in power permanently. If that's socialism, then it appears that Venezuela is headed in that direction. We will have to wait and see if Chavez allows a national election when his term is up.
With its new discovery of oil fields, I see Brazil continuing on the capitalist road, not a lot of interest in socialism with the rapidly rising middle class.
However, Peru and Bolivia could be other stories, especially with their current governments and the amount of poverty both countries suffer from. Government taking over the industries that produce a profit is very likely to happen.
Which leads us to North America and our own country. We Americans are now big stock holders in Citigroup. Next week we could be hearing that we own controlling interest of the Big 3. As the Fed makes more money available, putting the deficit in a ridiculous position, instead pf loaning money and expecting interest, the government is taking stock options instead. At this rate the government could end up principal stockholder of several banks. Who knows what could follow.
I realize this is supposedly a short term measure to stimulate the economy, but it looks like the beginning of socialism to me. How far will Pelosi and Reid push this idea? Just what are Obama's plans to stimulate the economy and re-stabilize the country.
Before our very eyes we could be watching a change in the way this country has been governed for over 220 years. In an effort to "save" the country, the folks in Washington just might decide that overall national ownership and control is the way to go. We could end up replacing Cuba as principal socialist state in the western Hemisphere.
Contact your representatives. Ask just how much stock and control does the government need of banks and businesses? With the Patriot Act we allowed some of our rights and liberties to go to the side, so we would be protected from terrorist. Now we are allowing the government to throw our money all over the place, redefining plans when something fails, assuring us they know what they are doing, when in reality it appears they are clueless and have decided to take control themselves.
Socialist governments don't work - please feel free to contradict me if you provide an example of a productive socialist state - we have to make sure the boys and girls in DC don't get carried away with themselves.
Speak up before its too later and we find we have sacrificed even more of our freedoms and liberties.
Its Common Sense!
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2 comments:
Hugo Chavez was set off against the US by Bush Administration's stupid and incompetent move to oust him from power. He prevailed and Bush/CIA failed. Instead of accepting reality and making good with him, Bush and his cronies (including the media) have been hounding him. As a result, he has turned really nasty to the US. He is trying to move other South American countries away from US influence. Bush's failure to deliver a Free Trade Agreement to Colombia also strengthens Chavez's hand. This is another one of Bush/Cheney disasters.
As for nationalizing oil and other assets, Chavez is making a huge mistake. This type of socialism does not work, has not worked in any other country and will not work in his country either. All it does, is place industries at disposal of mediocre bureaucrats with no accountability and these incompetent idiots become rich at public's expense. This could be Chavez's ultimate downfall if he is around long enough to reap the rewards.
I agree that regretably the USA has a very poor history of relations with its neighbors to the south.
Now we can see where that policy could come back to haunt us in a terrifying way.
Hopefully Chavez will remain all talk and little action. However, if he decideds to put his new Russian weapons to use the USA could find itself going to the aide of Colombia or Brazil.
The question is, do we currently have the resources to help anyone else, or will we head for a fiasco?
Only time will tell.
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