Murder Rates Keep Rising in Venezuela (3 part series)

[Bacchus4.0]

[Peace Patriot]

1. Funny how Venezuelans keep ignoring this rightwing "talking point"

and voted for Chavez again, for a third term, by a 10% margin, and just threw out most of the rightwing governors as well!

Funny how they keep voting for the Chavez government despite all rightwing "talking points." They must know something we don't. Could it be that they know that the chavistas solve problems and the rightwing only creates them? Could it be vast improvements in wages, benefits, employment, education, health care, poverty reduction, nutrition, infant mortality rates, economic and social equality and public participation?

I'm sure it's quite a mystery to people who rely on the corpo-fascist press (regurgitation of rightwing "talking points" ad infinitum) WHY Venezuelans keep voting for an incompetent dictator in a country awash in blood and inflation.* And they keep doing so, furthermore, in an honest, transparent election system--an election system that Jimmy Carter recently said is "the best in the world."

Puzzling.

Well, aside from the purpose of stomping on an ill Chavez, with cancer, struggling for his life, this post no doubt has the purpose of campaigning against Chavez's VP, Nicholas Maduro, who will be running for president in a special election, in 30 days, if Chavez dies or is too ill to be inaugurated. Can't start with the rightwing "talking points" too soon, eh?

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*(The Chavez government has cut inflation iN HALF, and the Venezuelan economy is growing at a rate of 5%, fully and quickly recovered from the Bushwhack-instigated worldwide depression. So the rightwing and the CIA have NOTHING but this--the high crime rate. We're going to see A LOT about this from rightwingers here at DU and from all the usual suspects in the coming weeks, until the matter of Chavez's health is settled and there is or isn't a special election.)

[Bacchus4.0]

2. WARNING: there is no mention of the literacy rate in this series

I'd say 21,000 murders/year is a problem that needs to be solved. In fact, I'd say it should take precedence over any of the issues you brought up.

I'd definitely vote against Maduro. I don't get a vote though.

[joshcryer]

5. It is proof that Venezuela isn't really "socialist."

Especially as the boligarchs get rich from Chavez style "socialism."

This sort of stark inequality should not exist in a socialist country with 15 years and an oil price boon to get its shit together.

It's inconceivable.

[Peace Patriot]

7. How come you never mention the murder rate in Honduras (rightwing government) or

Colombia (rightwing government)?

You are obsessed with it ONLY as to Venezuela, and thus I see that you are merely campaigning in the hope that Venezuelans, who have repeatedly rejected this rightwing argument in election after election, might be convinced to reverse themselves and overturn their own "New Deal" because of one social problem that hasn't beens solved. Or is it we U.S. citizens whom you are trying to convince of something?

I think that's probably part of it. I think you are trying to obscure something--the obvious benefits of throwing Exxon Mobil out of the country and using the oil money for education, health care, housing, pensions and other social goods, and defying Wall Street's prescription for Wall Street's Depression--austerity for the poor--by government SPENDING for the benefit of the poor, rather than giving billions to the banksters and the war profiteers. SPENDING is how you stimulate growth in a depressed economy, NOT austerity. It always has been the solution to rich bastards creating depressions, as every Latin American country that has elected a leftist government is proving. They all have high economic growth rates and they are all sharing the wealth--and they have all been inspired by the Venezuelan pioneers.

You don't want US to think about this--only about the murder rate in Venezuela. I believe that Honduras just surpassed it. How come you are not obsessively posting about THAT?

[Bacchus4.0]

8. there was just a thread recently on Honduras violence I commented on

Namely, I noted that Honduras had over 3% growth last year. I wonder why that fact didn't get mentioned over Honduras' position as the country with the most violence worldwide. However, I personally believe that the violence epidemic in Venezuela and Honduras is an issue of more importance than the economic growth rate. You seem to differ. I have frequently commented and provided links on violence in Colombia. Medellin seems to be a hotspot of violence once again. Although, Colombia's violence is well below that of Venezuela. That in itself is worth noting considering where Colombia came from 10 years or so ago.

Few Venezuelans appear to comment on these boards, and interestingly, those Venezuelans that have posted are frequently attacked if they are not chavistas. So no, I am not trying to influence anyone. Just pointing out huge social problems under this corrupt administration. The magnitude is overwhelming. Over Christmas weekend over 90 people were killed in Caracas. Its unimaginable.

No-one is advocating austerity in Venezuela. If their oil revenues are sufficient to cover government expenditures there is no reason to impose austerity measures. I repeat, I've never heard anyone ever advocate for that in Venezuela. Ven will continue to have sufficient oil in the forseeable future no matter if they are ruled by a corrupt, lying, inept, authoritarian government like they have now, or a sane government. Note that Cuba is moving away from rigid state control of the economy to private enterprise, while Venezuela is moving in the opposite direction.

Personally, I think they need to diversify their economy to be able to provide more domestically for their own consumption. Failed government policies over the last 14 years or so have not benefitted their domestic agriculture and industry.

Latin America as a whole is moving up economically. I used to travel to Venezuela in the 90s. I'd like to get back there someday once they get an effective government in place.

[joshcryer]

3. I posted this earlier here (no responses):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11085920

Surprised that the forums favorite deflector decided to respond this time.

[Bacchus4.0]

4. sorry, didn't notice previously. all 3 parts are available in your post n/t

s

[joshcryer]

6. Around that time I did a Vice-watch.

They've gone to some really messed up places. Including places in the US that don't look too dissimilar to Caracas, to be fair. The most insane was Pakistan's arms city, it was massively crazy. I highly recommend their Vice Guides (one of the earliest ones I posted here was their North Korea trip).

Else, I would've bumped that thread a few times so others could see it. I posted it around the elections so it sank.