Merlinova said:
What information, can you be a bit specific please? All I have done is pointed out several lies about Chavez. What is it you don't agree with me on?
Merlinova said:
The old classic argument: "If you don't like it, move to Cuba". There are several reasons why I don't want to move there. Also, I'd like to make it clear that I am not a supporter of the government of Cuba or Venezuela.
Merlinova said:
Wow, finally some valid critique. And no I don't agree with you that that would make him a hypocrite. He is under a lot of pressure from the United States as it is, remember the coup attempt of 2002? I think the U.S would consider it a major problem if he didn't sell oil to them. If he had the choice, I am sure he would sell it to anyone but the U.S.
And why not reverse your argument? If the U.S thinks that Chavez is such a dictator, why do they buy oil from him?
Merlinova said:
There is an energy crisis in Brazil as well. I don't hear you right wing fanatics complaining about that. And the Guri Dam isn't producing much electricity because of the water shortage, something you can hardly blame Chavez for. Although he should obviously have had a backup plan for that.
Merlinova said:
Provide me with some text and I will read it, I am not a big fan of private Venezuelan TV channels.
Merlinova said:
The Chávez government has greatly increased social spending, including spending on health care,
subsidized food, and education. The state oil company alone was responsible for $13.3 billion (7.3
percent of GDP) of social spending in 2006.
The most pronounced difference has been in the area of health care. In 1998 there were 1,628
primary care physicians for a population of 23.4 million. Today, there are 19,571 for a population of
27 million. In 1998 there were 417 emergency rooms, 74 rehab centers and 1,628 primary care
centers compared to 721 emergency rooms, 445 rehab centers and 8,621 primary care centers
(including the 6,500 “check-up points,” usually in poor neighborhoods, and that are in the process
of being expanded to more comprehensive primary care centers) today. Since 2004, 399,662 people
have had eye operations that restored their vision. In 1999, there were 335 HIV patients receiving
antiretroviral treatment from the government, compared to 18,538 in 2006.
The Venezuelan government has also provided widespread access to subsidized food. By 2006, there
were 15,726 stores throughout the country that offered mainly food items at subsidized prices (with
average savings of 27 percent and 39 percent compared to market prices in 2005 and 2006,
respectively). These plus expanded special programs for the extremely poor (e.g., soup kitchens
and food distribution) benefited an average of 67 percent and 43 percent of the population in 2005
and 2006 respectively. These do not include the 1.8 million children that were beneficiaries of a
school food program in 2006, compared with 252,000 children in 1999.
Access to education has also increased substantially. For example, the number of public schools in
the country has increased by 3,620 from 17,122 in the 1999/2000 school year to 20,873 in the
2004/2005 school year. By comparison, in the period between the 1994/1995 and 1998/1999
school years, the number of public schools increased by 915. School enrollment has also increased
at all educational levels. For example, in the period between the 1999/2000 and 2005/2006 school
years, gross enrollment rates for preschool have increased by 25 percent, for primary education by
8.3 percent, for secondary education by 45 percent and for higher education by 44 percent. Over
one million people also participated in adult literacy programs.
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...ocx4ug&sig=AHIEtbSIqzkxoHcavWP9ujFfx3iQ2I_caw
But maybe helping the poor of Venezuela is not an accomplishment in your eyes? Maybe you rather have them starving and use them for cheap labor?
Merlinova said:
And how many fatalities did they have prior to that? 3 doesn't sound very high. Also, I can't really comment on the productivity in a company you used to work for. I do know how the opposition totally ruined the whole country's economy to try to get rid of Chavez. For example well paid workers in the state owned oil company PDVSA went on strike and sabotaged the machinery. It wouldn't surprise me if the very same thing happened in your company as well.
Merlinova said:
Workers haven't been paid? Do you have a source for that? I can't find anything about it in google besides a strike in 98. And he fired the workers at PDVSA because they went on strike. Not because of them wanting higher salaries, but for them to ruin the economy by stopping the oil production and destabilizing the country to be able to get rid of Chavez. Are you seriously blaming him for that?
Merlinova said:
The social part is obviously what he has done for the poor. Please see my previous post.
Merlinova said:
That's because you speak English and have an Internet connection, which the majority of Venezuelans don't do or have. What about all the people who vote for him in every election? He keeps winning them by landslides. Don't kid yourself into thinking that you represent the people of Venezuela. The only thing you represent is the white middle class who have been enjoying the benefits of the oil production for yourselves. Those days are over now thanks to Chavez. And every time you come here complaining about it you will hear from me.
gouchobob said:
I have already debated you on that. What's new in that article that I haven't already replied to? All your doing is bringing up the same old arguments.
