Chavez wins elections, we are screwed!

[nicoenarg]

Ha ha, you have a skewed view of the US. I agree that the US may be seen by some as the "most desired country in the world for the oppressed." But keep in mind there are 2.25 million people (mostly minority) incarcerated in your paradise.

Even if you are referring specifically to "the most desired country in the world for the POLITICALLY oppressed" that is changing rapidly in the US. Sure, it's not as bad as Saudi Arabia, but it's definitely not what it used to be.

Right. Your definition of "oppressed" and mine differ a lot, it seems. To you people who are in prison are just outright "oppressed", to me, that doesn't matter much.

You and I come from completely different backgrounds and hence the different worldview, sleslie. And that shows quite a lot in the perspective you use to comment and the one that I use.

As for whether "it is not what it used to be", doesn't mean it still isn't the most desired place for the oppressed to go. And no, I am not only talking about people who are politically oppressed. There are a lot more things that are considered by a lot of people in the world. Politics may be the most important thing on this forum, but it isn't so in a lot of countries around the world.

EDIT: I am curious why you would add "mostly minorities" in your sentence above. Does that, in and of itself, make the US a racist place in your opinion? Or do you realize that it is a possibility that the minorities could be responsible for why they end up in prisons, just like people belonging to the majority.

Also, your condescending tone in your comment assumes that I think there is nothing wrong with the US. Your assumptions are downright stupid, if that is in fact what you think. Paradise is a word I didn't use. Maybe try to stick to what I actually said?

 

[nicoenarg]

Oh and just for kicks, here's a survey for you:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/153992/150-million-adults-worldwide-migrate.aspx

And yes, I know it isn't about "the oppressed".

Hurry! You should tell these millions that they will get thrown in prison the day they land in the US, provided they're "minorities" of course!

 

[PhilinBSAS]

The USA saved Venezuela from a Belgian invasion in 1909 invoking the Monroe Doctrine.

Hurrah! Beastly Belgiums

Venezuelans play baseball and consume more Coca Cola per capita than any other nation.

Definitely no Cycling and Hoegaarden - hurrah hurrah!

Righting a wrong, usually with violence or giving way to violence, might be inevitable, and even just, but it is by n means a rose garden, and there is a point where the natural law of paradox ...... that Nationalism and Socialism are essentially the same thing, despite the heroic 50 million toll War that was fought to separate those two inextricably linked concepts

whoa

​

just a minute please we seem to have moved just a little away from Venezuela or anywhere resembling

Ponder this awhile ...

That great thinker, social reformer and activist Ernesto Guavarra de la Serna y Llosa the 44th anniversary of whose death at the hands of CIA funded cowards we celebrated yesterday said:

"1. Democracy cannot consist solely of elections that are nearly always fictitious and managed by rich landowners and professional politicians".

2. "Where a government has come into power through some form of popular vote, fraudulent or not, and maintains at least an appearance of constitutional legality, the guerilla outbreak cannot be promoted, since the possibilities of peaceful struggle have not yet been exhausted".

To me at least that seems just a bit nearer the OP than the "natural law of paradox"?

btw my Dad and Grandfather and many other men and women who took part in the quote 50 mill toll war unquote held out against Fascism with the support of North Americans (Canadians followed somewhat later by others) plus many other countries including a RAF squadron of Argentine Ex Pats. Afterwards they had a democratic election and the majority voted for a Socialist Government and since then have kept the democracy thing going more or less on a social democrat consensus. No "natural law of paradox" there chummy!

Back to Venezuela (I hope)

Let's see if the promises Chavez made about social improvement through more new low cost housing gets to deal with matters. Cristina has picked up on that potential election theme already so should be watched with interest.

At least there is nothing like Torre de David in Buenos Aires (was Torre Confinanzas - ironic somehow)
Torre de David - Largest squatter building in the world
Torre de David – a 45-storey Caracas skyscraper squat built during the oil-rich country's boom years

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9nIJNAWB3g
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/20/worlds-tallest-squat-caracas-venezuela

 

[Iznogud]

...

That great thinker, social reformer and activist Ernesto Guavarra de la Serna y Llosa

Never heard of him.

 

[nicoenarg]

Never heard of him.

Hahaha. Cracked me up! Spot on too!

 

[jp]

As for whether monopolies should be broken up or not. Monopolies are created BECAUSE of government intervention, not inspite of government intervention. So think about it before you want the government to do even more for you.

Secondly, if there are monopolies, the most effective way to destroy a monopoly is to create competition. Why would government funding go to huge networks like PBS and NPR is beyond me.

Based on these two statements, I'm not sure you fully understand what a monopoly even is.

 

[PhilinBSAS]

Never heard of him.

That's cos you iz no gud?

where do you spend your time?

 

[Iznogud]

Let's see if the promises Chavez made about social improvement through more new low cost housing gets to deal with matters. Cristina has picked up on that potential election theme already so should be watched with interest.

Hilarious! Let me 'splain to you how it works. Had a close glimpse at a project at La Matanza.

Land is expropiated and given to a joint venture between a union and some big tortilla or straw man that comes up with the funds.
Construction Union designs a neighborhood for their afiliates, only they do not employ them to build the site. They employ mostly paraguayans, reliable and hard working people.
They guesstimate the price of each unit and plan to build only half of the area (and cover the cost of the whole enchilada and a lot more) and sell the houses but keep sellected commercial hotspots for future private exploitation. The cow can be milked in more than one ways.

Funds invested are recovered at least three times over before the first unit is sold. Then the units are sold to the union members, with plans that are almost impossible to fulfill so the units will revert to the developpers in a couple of years. The other half of the land is developped into a more residential area. Union bosses get to split them.
And that, sir, is not even half of the story.

 

[nicoenarg]

Based on these two statements, I'm not sure you fully understand what a monopoly even is.

Wow. How do you do this? I am so impressed with your analysis. *Bow*

 

[PhilinBSAS]

Hahaha. Cracked me up! Spot on too!

care to elaborate? what exactly do you disagree with? are you just going to roll out more unsubstantiated assertions and in a superior voice tell us to reread our economics lectures?