Hugo @ MindSay

http://www.wnpj.org/node/1759

On a totaly seperate note, I am at home, enjoying a nice Triple Black before I go back to work. God I love small, trusting companies. BUT... I am not driving nor operating any heavy equipment... just dealing with tweakers who want free sewing machines from a newspaper.

Also, if you peeps want to watch something that has the potential to blow up in one of the biggest specs in history of our generation... keep an eye on Venezuela and their newly elected President, Hugo Chavez. Their congress and the people have, in essence, given him full power of the country for the next 18 months, allowing him to create, reform, and/or eliminate any and all laws governing over the judicial, economic, militaristic, etc systems.

He has openly said that he is taking the country into Socialist style of governing. If you read about it, I hate to compare anyone to the Nazi's, but it sounds like the rise of Hitler. Not that Chavez is bad (nor does he have anything against any race, religion, etc except the U.S., mostly Pres. Bush), but a struggling country elects a shining new Official who promises to take the nation to new heights, changes nearly the entire government instills a sense of national pride, focuses alot of the peoples anger onto one source (aka U.S.A.), and so on. People are lined up at the embassies to get passports and readying themselves to leave the country should the worse come to pass.  He's already refused to renew an agreement for, I believe, is our only Air Force Base down in South America in 2009, which would be a huge blow to America's anti-drug enforcement.

And what, do you I hear you ask, does this really matter in the big scheme of things? How will it affect me? Well, Venezuela does provide a nice lil chunk of our oil, I believe about 2 billion (not for sure though, but close) barrels worth.  If you can remember when there was an oil strike from them not so long ago, how high the gas prices surged.  Think if they cut us off completely?  We would survive no doubt, but an uprecedented blow like that would hurt.

Even though we supply them with a large amount of their income, their sudden boost in their money supply (70% higher than last year, insane) I would think offers the possiblity that in not too long, they could become self sufficient, especially the way Hugo is spending it.  People are able to afford their own cars, businesses now have better access to utilities, so much money is being invested to bring up their education, health services, transportation networks, etc.  That plus the Nationalism Mr. Chavez has instilled in the country, may not be long before the U.S. is seeing a slim cut of some of their exports and Venezuela find new import partners.  While we provide about 30% of imports, they are making new allies all over.  From Castro (long time friend of Chavez I believe), to their neighboring countries, to other socialist nations.

It might be nothing more than a lot of hot air, but it might also be an ominous sign of things to come.

Anyway... Happy Friday!

If Hugo Chavez is offering the world (including the U.S.), oil for 50$/barrel (vs. what we are paying now 78$/barrel, I think) why wouldn't our President seize the opportunity to jump on this offer?
Congress was proposing a $100 rebate/voucher to the American Public (which was scrapped last week) and there is relatively widespread contempt for the high gas prices nationwide.
It seems like buying oil from Venezuela at a discounted price would make sense right?
Well no. At leat for our government.
Who can tell me why? (I think I have a pretty could idea)
(you win a prize if you give a good guess)
GOOD LUCK!!!





This picture's funny.

Bassicly This Blog Serves Three Proposes

One as a project for my Media Studies class

Two as a project for my Canadain and World Issues class

Three to make my research for this project more enjoyable and fun.

I am not a expert on the topic yet, however by the time i am finished this project I will know a little more.

So here is my first REAL entry...





Issue: Is Venesulza in danger of becoming a far left dictorship?

Concerns: If Venesulza becomes a far left dictorship it will isloate its self from the rest of the world(such as what has happended with Cuba, Russia, Libya, and China). Already the goverment is in voilation of atleast seven Human Right Violations.

Impalitcions

Polictial: Hugo Chavezs the leader of the MVR(Movemant for a Fith Republic) is at the center of the left wing goverment. If put into power it will make realitons with many countries very diffcult. Leaders of Oppostion partys believe that Chavez revolution(the Bolivanian Relvoution) is dangering Venezuelan democracy.

Social: Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch believe that the hundreds of injuries inflicted durning oppostion demonstrations have resulted in little investigative action taken on the part of Chavez. They also believe that Chavezs is responable for inproper treatment of detainess, torture, and censorship(the Social Responablity Law is a key factor in the censorship).

Ecominc: Currently 60% of Venesulzanins live in poverty. Ironic since the courntry is home to 15% of Americas crude oil supplies, and one of the largest oil resvers lin the world. This raises the question, where is all the money going too? Since Chavezs has been in power there has been little increase in the number of people who are now above the poverty line(yet one of chavezs key platfroms in the election was to erase poverty).

Enviroment: The hositle media enviroment in Venesuzla makes it hard to get any information on the country. Currently all media is owneded by the State alone.

Soulitions: It was seem to be the only possible way to deal with these problems would be to over throw the President, Hugo Chavezs, but is there a better way?