NationStates Jolt Archive

I know this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4505936.stm) has been announced for several months, but haven't seen it discussed here(also I was unaware Citgo was doing this in the Bronx as well as New England. So what do you think about the Venezuelans, who are not as prosperous as the Americans, giving us heating oil. Is it a good deed? A snub at Bush? A disgrace to the people of the United States? A mark of how insane it is that oil companies in the US gouge prices so much people need FOREIGN AID to both heat their homes in the winter and not become desperately poor?
Personally, I think it's a little of both. Big Oil needs to be more well behaved andtruthful(not likely, I know) but this gesture, although appreciated by the people who recieved it, is in the end an insult to Bush (not like there's anything wrong with that:p ) and by extension the rest of the government because to me it says "Look at yourselves America. Your government won't regulate rampant uncouth business practices or help people with the cost of the basic necessity of heating, so you need a less-developed country with a GDP a fraction of yours to do it for you! They're probably wrong about that Chavez guy too...;) "

Sorry, long rant. So, your thoughts?

It's a dumb move by Chavez, but I'm not complaining.

It's a dumb move by Chavez, but I'm not complaining.
It's a hilarious move by Chavez. He should get on one of those credit card commercials: "Making America's oil companies look like Scrooges and its administration look clueless... priceless."

go Chavez!!!!!
w00000000000000t

It's a hilarious move by Chavez. He should get on one of those credit card commercials: "Making America's oil companies look like Scrooges and its administration look clueless... priceless."
He needs to get all the revenue out of that oil that he can. Oil prices are cyclical, and may drop quite a bit in the future. Meanwhile he's driven out foreign investment and domestic wealth. He can't afford to give away cheap oil.

Chavez is an idiot and I suspect his primary motivation is to somehow embarass the US, but if it helps people who need it ... meh.

He needs to get all the revenue out of that oil that he can. Oil prices are cyclical, and may drop quite a bit in the future. Meanwhile he's driven out foreign investment and domestic wealth. He can't afford to give away cheap oil.
That's why I said he should be on the credit card commercials. People who use credit cards usually can't afford what they're buying, either. That doesn't make it any less priceless.

That's why I said he should be on the credit card commercials. People who use credit cards usually can't afford what they're buying, either. That doesn't make it any less priceless.
Gotcha.

So what do you think about the Venezuelans, who are not as prosperous as the Americans, giving us heating oil.
There was a vote? I wasn't aware that there was a giant yea/nay ballot on the issue put to the venezuelan people.

I think i'll let Stephen Colbert give my answer

http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/play.jhtml?itemId=36019

priceless

There was a vote? I wasn't aware that there was a giant yea/nay ballot on the issue put to the venezuelan people.
The Venezuelan people are in the process of becoming citizens of a dictatorship. If they are even allowed to vote, it will be only for candidates from Chavez' party.

The Venezuelan people are in the process of becoming citizens of a dictatorship. If they are even allowed to vote, it will be only for candidates from Chavez' party.If we only had as much Democracy as in Venezuela... we would be a better country.

The Venezuelan people are in the process of becoming citizens of a dictatorship. If they are even allowed to vote, it will be only for candidates from Chavez' party.
To my knowledge neither the representatives of the Americas, nor the EU found anything wrong with the vote (unlike the Egyptian one...).
The opposition shot itself in the foot on this one.

... unlike the Egyptian one...
true...

In my book.. no way Egypt is a Democracy... Those Egyptian Elections are a joke... I am not even going to compare them to real Democracies like Venezuela.

I think i'll let Stephen Colbert give my answer

http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/play.jhtml?itemId=36019

priceless

Haha. That pretty much sums it up.

To my knowledge neither the representatives of the Americas, nor the EU found anything wrong with the vote (unlike the Egyptian one...).
The opposition shot itself in the foot on this one.
Oh no? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4501890.stm

Oh no? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4501890.stm
I meant the process. None of the inspectors found anything that would've pointed towards fraud or the like.
Voter turnout was very low indeed, and in many countries that would've made the poll invalid, but in Venezuela it was by the law.

I'd think if the opposition had not boycotted it, turnout would've been higher, and Chavez wouldn't have had 100% of the seats, which would've had to be a favourable outcome to what we have now.

It's a dumb move by Chavez, but I'm not complaining.
No, it is smart. The poor will overthrow Bush and declare the US a vassal of Venezuela! Bwahahaha! The Venezuelan Empire! Nyach! Nyach! Nyach!

I guess we can't kill their President now... I was lookign forward to a good assination... Sorry guy from the 700 club :(
:sniper:

The Venezuelan people are in the process of becoming citizens of a dictatorship. If they are even allowed to vote, it will be only for candidates from Chavez' party.
Apparently I need to start using giant tags.

Oh no? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4501890.stm

US propaganda organs did have a problem with the election, no doubt about it.

When the people of a country whose government one is trying to smear as evil overwhelmingly vote in favor of that government, of course one whines and prevaricates.

That does not mean that truth is on one's side.

The actual election observers did conclude that the election was legitimate, and it's their opinion that is significiant.

I meant the process. None of the inspectors found anything that would've pointed towards fraud or the like.
Voter turnout was very low indeed, and in many countries that would've made the poll invalid, but in Venezuela it was by the law.

I'd think if the opposition had not boycotted it, turnout would've been higher, and Chavez wouldn't have had 100% of the seats, which would've had to be a favourable outcome to what we have now.

Turnout, from what I have read, was roughly equivalent to what it was in the last two elections that elected parliaments and not presidents.

The opposition got exactly what it wanted, which is avoidance of humiliation at the polls and an excuse to denounce Chávez as an authoritarian dictator.