A little bit of footage about life in Venezuela, at the moment. Normal TV coverage, but it does show how empty the stores are, and people trying to buy appliances before devaluation kicks in.
Everything imported is now twice as expensive in Venezuela.
The devaluation, on top of the declining services, is obviously changing the public mood.
The key point is coming up, for Chavez. In the next two or three years, he will have to surrender power, or do something ... drastic. Is he going to break the Constitution? Will he try to rule through a puppet? Will he retire to his estate, to grow coffee?
No left wing tyrant has willingly given up power in the last 200 years. Pinochet is the only one who has, but as the left will be quick to tell you, he was right wing. There will be blood.
This gets increasingly comic as time passes. Let us grant, a strident, boastful, bombastic bozo may be the perfect leader for a country that feels new economic strength, as a time comes when the dreams of a poor people can be realized.
And that was Venezuela's future, a decade ago. People had a right to some anticipation, and perhaps even can be excused for lining up behind a guy who promises to develop the country in a humane way, even if it means bashing a few heads together.
Except the braggard now thumps his chest while he pisses the nations future down the wall. Look at the state of the country now ...
Quote:
President Hugo Chavez inaugurated a folksy new radio talk-show on Monday by declaring an "electricity emergency" in oil-rich Venezuela. [....]
With electricity cuts weighing on Chavez's popularity ahead of important legislative elections in September, the government blames the shortages on the drought and soaring demand during five years of economic growth until 2008.
But critics say poor management and under-investment have undermined the power grid and exposed the failings of Chavez's "21st century socialism" policies during his 11-year rule.
Analysts say power cuts have played a big part -- along with water shortages and high crime levels -- in cutting Chavez's popularity levels from more than 60 percent a year ago to around 50 percent now.
Chavez's program? Well, if he declares an emergency, it means more power for him. And how will he use his increased power?
Quote:
"I call on the whole country: 'Switch off the lights.' We are facing the worst drought Venezuela has had in almost 100 years," Chavez said in what appeared to be a new radio version of his long-running "Hello Mr. President" TV show on Sundays.
He wants people to organize their own brown-outs.
I suggest anyone interested read the article. There's lots of information there, about the electricity shortage, is the cause a drought or mal-investment? for instance. http://www.reuters.com/article.....1720100209
I wonder if Chavez has thought of making curly light bulbs mandatory. It's what we're depending on, here in Dalton McGuinty's Ontario. That, and windmills.
One of the scariest things about government is its exemption from laws by virtue of its monopoly on lawmaking and enforcement. I see this every day, from the mundane to the profound.
Why else are the biggest polluters in Canada publicly-run enterprises? The Department of Environment may be able to intimidate INCO, but it can't do beans with Ontario Hydro. The US mortgage crisis was hugely enabled (at least) by the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- virtual departments of government -- in creating sub-prime mortgages.
I think we are on the same page on Venezuela. I too see the slow death spiral, the inevitableness of it ...
One of the scariest things about government is its exemption from laws by virtue of its monopoly on lawmaking and enforcement. I see this every day, from the mundane to the profound.
Why else are the biggest polluters in Canada publicly-run enterprises? The Department of Environment may be able to intimidate INCO, but it can't do beans with Ontario Hydro. The US mortgage crisis was hugely enabled (at least) by the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- virtual departments of government -- in creating sub-prime mortgages.
I think we are on the same page on Venezuela. I too see the slow death spiral, the inevitableness of it ...
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
Tens of Thousands of Venezuelans Protest Hugo Chavez
