Venezuelans Continue to Suffer Under Chavez

Once again, Hugo Chavez is hurting his people. The Venezuelan leader has instituted electricity rationing policies, with various punishments for those who dare violate Chavez’s rules.

I hope our federal government allows the building of nuclear power plants and domestic drilling very soon. Chavez is America’s fourth-largest supplier of oil, and by buying from his country we give him the economic power to continue to hurt millions of people.

I no longer own a vehicle- it’s not necessary in the DC area- but when I did I refused to buy from Citgo gas stations as the company is owned by the Venezuelan government. If millions of people in this country instituted that policy in their lives, the free market would help to break the back of Chavez’s dictatorship and give his country’s people the freedom they deserve as human beings.

Chavez Sets The New International Standard?

This is what I propose: If Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, says something positive about someone, the United Nations should seriously consider deeming that person a human rights violator.

There are pros and cons, of course. Cons include that since Chavez is unpredictable and- according to some- insane, he might actually support someone who isn’t a mass murderer or dictator (he paid a backhanded compliment to President Obama, for example). Pros, however, include the ability to get rid of the Human Rights Council (since Chavez will be doing their job for them) and getting rid of some of what will now be?extra effort and cost?in worldwide intelligence gathering.

All in all, not a bad trade-off, methinks.

Hugo Chavez Is Nuts or Brilliant

It’s offical- Hugo Chavez is either nuts or brilliant like a fox. He now declares The United States of America wants war with him, hence our moving troops into Colombia. Never mind that the country has a huge drug problem- we want to attack Chavez. *Rolls eyes*

I’m not sure of Chavez’s intent- is he brilliant enough to make people believe him and therefore be a rallying point for anti-Americanism? He is working?with Iran and Russia, after all, neither of whom is particularly friendly with us, and Chavez’ paranoia is always at a high level. Or, given the irrationally passive and terrorist-appeasing foreign policies of President Obama thus far, will his national popularity keep sinking? It’s hard to declare an apologist, dithering?Commander-in-Chief to be a major threat, after all.

My take? Chavez is desperate for the influence he had during the Bush years, and with Russia and Iran dealing with him directly, it gives him a bit of official power in addition to influence. Unfortunately, I think his near-insanity is going to cause him to burn out. I just hope not too many Venezuelans suffer as a result.

Argentine President Follows In Chavez’s Footprints

The Wall Street Journal had an op-ed yesterday talking about the lack of free press in Argentina. Apparently the country’s president, not liking the copious amounts of (well-deserved) criticism she has received from the press in the time since her election, has decided to pull a Chavez and exert state control over much of the nation’s media. Chavez- who recently told citizens to limit their showers to three minutes- is the epitome of a “Dear Leader” dictator, and it appears he’s not the only one with such humble aspirations in South America.