tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post2527026270495646252..comments2024-03-26T00:37:34.943+01:00Comments on Venezuela News And Views: Chavez seeks open conflictDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-71367962564785889282010-03-26T21:35:31.872+01:002010-03-26T21:35:31.872+01:00To me this is further evidence that Chavez is now ...To me this is further evidence that Chavez is now actively crossing the Rubicon into totalitarianism, and I'm sure that the visit of the Cuban henchman had a lot to do with these recent events. Now it is very clear that whatever happens in the 'elections' in a few months won't have any impact whatsoever. Chavez no se va. There is no question of this in my mind. Venezuela may not be Cuba just yet; there is still an, albeit increasingly battered, private sector. But it is going that way and has now passed the point of no return. This is a trend that is unfortunately being mirrored in other parts of the world; as the relative power of the democratic nations, especially the United States, has declined, the forces of tyranny and suppression have seen no reason to flinch from their opposition and have instead increased and consolidated their hold. I could think off-hand of the examples of Iran, Russia and China or Zimbabwe. At the same time there has been a counter-trend recently in certain nations where democracy is already established, of it being reaffirmed; I think of Chile and Colombia, for example.<br />Chavez has clearly identified himself with the former. The price he is apparently now prepared to pay is the final loss of any remaining support that he had among social democrats worldwide. Now, if you support Chavez, you have either to be a totalitarian sympathizer or just plain stupid; I don't quite know where people like Danny Glover or Sean Penn or Noam Chomsky currently fall on that continuum.<br />Meanwhile, inside Venezuela, the die has truly been cast; and in my opinion no longer the need to debate the question of democratic participation any further. You have what you deserve; you now need to take the actions necessary or suffer the consequences.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07605250739418926462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-86472890621371239972010-03-26T04:14:24.662+01:002010-03-26T04:14:24.662+01:00A memorable quote from Benjamin Franklin:
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...A memorable quote from Benjamin Franklin:<br /><br />"<br />Politicians are like diapers, they must be changed often and for the same reason<br />"<br /><br />Thugo Chavez...1979 Boat Peoplenoreply@blogger.com