Donors replace fuel (from Citgo) villages refused

[harpboy_ak]

Donors replace fuel villages refused

GIFT: Venezuela's offer was rejected because of Chavez speech denouncing Bush.

By ALEX deMARBAN
Anchorage Daily News

http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/story/8261765p-8159070c.html

Businesses and people around the country are digging into their pockets to help four Alaska villages whose tribal leaders rejected a heating-fuel gift from the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, a critic of President George Bush.

Donations, including a huge one from several fishing companies, have been so numerous there might be enough to replace the gift -- and then some.

"The response has been overwhelming," said Dimitri Philemonof, president of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, a nonprofit representing villages in Southwest Alaska.

(snip)

[pnorman]

1. That's "heartwarming" all right.

But unless the business community is prepard to dig deep into their pockets for ALL such "depressed" comunities (or even a significant fraction) it really doesn't mean all that much.

Here's a "thought experiment": Imagine a depressed community (either in the Rust Belt, or in a Right To Work state), whose city council had voted to block a new Walmart mega-store until they change their predatory and employee-abusive practices. Will Corporate America rush in and offer to subsidize their principled stand? Hmmmmm?

pnorman

[roguevalley]

2. its crap that the villages refused. citgo used to be American. They

should take it because Chavez has the right to say what he wants. Free country, no? Oh right. No.

[Toots]

5. Isn't it only four villages that reject it while over a hundred accept it

The brainwashing that must go on up there in red land...

[roguevalley]

9. they offered it to 152 villages. these four worry me.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. Yes, we have free speech. We don't have article 147

[w4rma]

3. More leftover for places that will appreciate it. (nt)

[Gman]

4. Chavez' offer still has the intended effect

which is to give the poor some relief. Eventhough it wasn't Citgo, the Citgo offer still caused some relief so Chavez still wins.

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. Saudi Arabia is happy to step in

Pick your poison, buy your oil from someone who says mean things, or someone who supports radical Shiites.

[enigmacat]

8. They hate Chavez, but LOVE Bush.

I wonder if they still will when BushCO starts drilling in their backyards... And, they get NOTHING.

[Anakin Skywalker]

10. How Stupid Are These Village Yokels?

And no, they weren't going to vote against Repugs anyway, so I can diss them.