Author Topic: Hugo Chavez's mission to destroy Venezuela's economy continues (Read 187 times)

Real American · « **on:** January 21, 2007, 05:41:10 PM »

Hugo Chavez's mission to destroy Venezuela's economy continues

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http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americ....ap/index.html

Chavez to U.S.: 'Go to hell, gringos!'

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez returned to his weekly radio and TV broadcast Sunday, extolling the ideals of socialist thinker Karl Marx and telling U.S. officials to "Go to hell!" for what he called unacceptable meddling in Venezuela's affairs.

Chavez defended his government's effort to establish a socialist model and rejected U.S. concerns over a measure to grant him broad lawmaking powers, saying: "Go to hell, gringos! Go home!"

The National Assembly, controlled by the president's political allies, is expected to give final approval this week to what it calls the "enabling law," which would grant Chavez authority to pass a series of laws by decree during an 18-month period.

On Friday, U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said that Chavez's plans under the law "have caused us some concern."

Chavez, who this month announced plans to nationalize Venezuela's main telecommunications company and the electricity and natural gas sectors, says the law will permit profound changes in areas ranging from the economy to defense.

Relations between Caracas and Washington have been tense since a 2002 coup that briefly ousted Chavez, who accused the U.S. government of playing a role in the putsch. The Bush administration has repeatedly denied involvement, but recognized an interim government established by coup leaders.

Criticizing excessive consumption and self-indulgence, Chavez also announced plans to raise domestic gasoline prices and approve a new tax on luxury goods such as private yachts, second homes and extravagant automobiles.

"The one who will pay is the one who fills up the BMW," Chavez said of the gasoline tax.

He did not give details of the gasoline price hike, which he said would not affect bus drivers who provide public transportation, or the luxury tax. He said revenue from the new measures would be put toward government social programs.

In Venezuela -- one of the world's leading petroleum exporters -- gasoline costs as little as 12 cents a gallon thanks to government subsidies.

Fond wishes for Castro, comments on Hussein
In typical style, Chavez spoke for hours Sunday on his return after a five-month hiatus to the weekly program "Hello President," sending best wishes to ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro and commenting on topics ranging from watching dancing Brazilian girls wearing string bikinis at a recent presidential summit and Washington's alleged role in the hanging of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"They took out Saddam Hussein and they hanged him, for good or worse. It's not up to me to judge any government, but that gentleman was the president of that country," Chavez said.

Chavez urged Venezuelans to embrace "21st-century socialism," which he said aims to curtail what he sees as U.S. cultural domination and redistribute the country's oil wealth to the poor through programs that provide subsidized food and cash benefits for single mothers.

"Socialism isn't going to fall from the sky. We are going to understand it, work on it, plant it, sweat it," said Chavez, praising Marx's ideals. "Socialism is built on practice."

Chavez said government officials were considering new legislation that would force businesses to set aside several hours a week for employees to study, and he recommended they read leaflets outlining socialist concepts.

A vociferous former paratroop commander who revels in the role of talk-show host, Chavez suspended "Hello President" over five months ago, saying that broadcasting the weekly program would have constituted unfair use of state airtime ahead of December's presidential election.

Chavez was re-elected to a six-year term in a landslide vote.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

D-Reborn · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2007, 05:51:51 PM »

well they voted him, they're fucked up, poetic justice

big mat · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2007, 11:34:39 PM »

karl marx is the shit

IRAN iz Gangsta! · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2007, 08:53:47 PM »

He talks more shit than Ahmadinejad and US isnt even concerned. lol

AndrE16686 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2007, 09:32:17 PM »

capitalism works, it's the best system, but it needs regulating.

A country should have control of it's own natural resources, it's a question of sovereignty. Not capitalism or socialism, but sovereignty.

for instance, it would be fucked if Japanese conglomerates owned all the oil wells in Texas and employed the locals on a shit scrapping salary. I can't understand why you yanks hate Chavez so much.

The Kryptonian · « **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2007, 08:57:36 AM »

I agree that a nation's resources should be theirs to determine. While I aint no Commie, I do believe that a nation should be able to share the benifit our natural resources with its people, and not have some outside industrial company keep them in squalor.

Kool Beenz · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2007, 09:59:07 AM »

all his power went to his head

Soulful · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2007, 02:09:24 AM »

haha u silly fuck..more power to him..us has lost most of its control n influence over that region because ure busy havin your own people killed in another country where u didnt have any buisness being in first place.