Who ruined the Venezuelan economy? Chavez Frias?
<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 By: Oscar Heck
VHeadline.com commentarist Oscar Heck writes: According to a recent article in the Boston Globe: “Enrique Salas Romer, who lost to Chavez in the 1998 election and may run again, says the opposition coalition is now focusing on a single theme -- the economy. Unemployment is close to 30 percent, according to unofficial estimates … “We're now entering a new phase in which the debate will center around human rights -- mostly the right to eat,'' Romer said.”
What a farce!
Typical of the Venezuelan opposition! I hope that no one will believe statements such as: “…human rights -ú the right to eat.”
The vast majority of the Venezuelan middle and upper classes (the majority of the opposition people) really couldn’t care less about poorer Venezuelans!
I will explain: Romer is equating “the right to eat” with “human rights.” Fulfilling a “dream” such that every Venezuelan has enough to eat, is the typical and historical middle-to-upper class tactic to justify their “civilized” and “acceptable” control of Venezuelan society!
It has “always” been enough (for the upper classes - the 20%) that the 80% has enough to eat … and nothing more! Nothing more!
Chavez is trying to make sure that the poor have:
- access to food at good prices (by-passing speculators)
- access to good education (with filled stomachs)
- the ability to start their own businesses (not having to depend on a “boss” who pays minimum wage)
- dignity, not to get pushed around with lies and threats from the upper classes
- the ability to complain and report corruption and abuse
- and much more…
The above list (what Chavez is attempting ... but much being sabotaged by opposition people) represents only a partial list of what the ruling classes do not want.
- They do not want the 80% to be well-educated, otherwise they will have to share real jobs with “others” who are not part of the “mafia” families (e.g. PDVSA’s surplus employees).
- They do not want the 80% to know how to defend themselves, so that they can keep on abusing them under threat of dismissal or death (e.g. forcing employees to sign papers in support of the mafia-organized stoppage).
- They do not want the 80% to feel dignity, otherwise the will have to import maids (slaves?) from some other country (and pay higher wages!).
- They do not want the 80% to learn how to start their own businesses, otherwise the “cheap labour” work force will diminish, forcing them to pay higher wages and lowering their profits from 3000% to 1000% !
As for a political platform based on “the economy” ... this is another joke.
Who ruined the economy? Chavez?
No, it was the opposition themselves, including Romer, a staunch supporter of that “criminal” opposition. Now “they” want to propose ideas to “fix” the economy? I would not trust these guys for a second!
The opposition wants a referendum. If Chavez loses the referendum and elections are called, it is almost sure that Chavez will win (with an estimated vote of 40-45%). What will the opposition mafia do then?
- Will they continue to use illegal, unethical, immoral and criminal methods to continue trying to oust a democratically elected leader from power?
My prediction is, yes. They seem to have learned very little in the last year: a failed USA-backed coup, a failed two-month CTV/Fedecamaras-led stoppage of Venezuelan industry, a failed attempted shut-down of the Venezuelan banking system, a failed teacher’s stoppage in January 2003, a futile call for an unofficial referendum do dissolve the present government … and finally, the falling-apart of collaborative relations between different sectors of the opposition.
Oscar Heck Oscar@vheadline.com
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