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I Cant Dance

(42 posts)

5. But I don't hate him. He is the democratically elected President of

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 01:23 AM

Mar 2013

Last edited Sun Mar 3, 2013, 01:54 AM - Edit history (1)

Venezuela who has presided over a time of economic prosperity for most of his people. Incomes are up, poverty is down, inequality is down, infant mortality rates have declined, unemployment is down, debt is down, and substantial educational gains have been made.
http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/venezuela-2009-02.pdf

I really don't understand why many Americans demonize him. (Actually I do understand why. Many Americans cannot live without boogeyman).

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Highlight:

If you hate Hugo Chavez, then FIGHT what created him-U.S. imperialism in the Americas. [View all] Ken Burch Mar 2013 OP

It wasn't just Chavez in Venezuela Tempest Mar 2013 #1

Morales and Vasquez(and also Correa of Ecuador) are hated by the same people who hate Chavez. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #2

Damn, I forgot Correa. Tempest Mar 2013 #4

Ding ding we have a winner malaise Mar 2013 #25

I greatly admire him HarveyDarkey Mar 2013 #3

This message was self-deleted by its author Ken Burch Mar 2013 #7

Glad to hear it. If you get that, you aren't the sort of person this thread is aimed at. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #10

But I don't hate him. He is the democratically elected President of I Cant Dance Mar 2013 #5

Good. This isn't aimed at you. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #8

The best thing anyone could do who feels deep rancor is to actually learn LatAm history. Judi Lynn Mar 2013 #6

And thank you, Judi, for fighting the good fight here for such a long time. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #9

So, our first step is...what now? nt Deep13 Mar 2013 #11

1) Learn the history if you don't know it. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #13

Sure, I accept all that. Deep13 Mar 2013 #23

No, but the action follows the thought. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #29

Those who hate Chavez probably think we should just get a bigger stick. reformist2 Mar 2013 #12

A lot of Americans just mindlessly repeat what they hear and see in the media Lydia Leftcoast Mar 2013 #14

And many Americans who only care about democracy inside the US truebluegreen Mar 2013 #26

For them "democracy" means "capitalism". Ken Burch Mar 2013 #27

I have no problem with Chavez, I have a Lot of problems with some U.S. warmongering shitbags. Whisp Mar 2013 #15

Exactly so. From the "Banana Wars" of the late 19th - early 20th centuries through our despicable Egalitarian Thug Mar 2013 #16

anyone who smells sulphur when speaking of Bush the Lesser is okay in my books. n/t Whisp Mar 2013 #17

You are a donkey, Mr Danger Brother Buzz Mar 2013 #18

He is even more disgusted with Bush than me upi402 Mar 2013 #31

If you hate Chavez and Morales, you have bought into the Cleita Mar 2013 #19

America's record in central and south America is dismal, for sure . . . But: MrModerate Mar 2013 #20

"he wanted to, eventually, do to his neighbors what Hitler did to his"? Ken Burch Mar 2013 #28

No, not the lampshade part . . . MrModerate Mar 2013 #32

I'm not sure I'd call it a "hegemony"-Chavez' idea was more like an anti-imperialist alliance. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #33

No wonder cartach Mar 2013 #21

This time of the year in New England, catnhatnh Mar 2013 #22

We can't fund the arts in schools, they are frivolous. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2013 #24

We murder their elected leaders upi402 Mar 2013 #30

Promote positive, stable institutions and defund the militaries. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #34

Good thoughts. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #36

It's about a lot more than Chavez--essentially a class struggle. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #40

You're right that it's about much, much more than him. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #41

True that. My worry isn't the USG getting involved so much as geek tragedy Mar 2013 #42

Both will, for both are deeply intertwined. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #43

I teach Latin American history for a living. a la izquierda Mar 2013 #35

Good for you. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #37

Thanks... a la izquierda Mar 2013 #38

We like to think that we are free from history. Ken Burch Mar 2013 #39