Champion Chavez

Published on December 6, 2005 By stevendedalus In Politics

That Chavez came forth as champion of the poor in our northeast by drastically cutting home fuel costs engendered a wave, naturally, of criticism, attributing the initiative to Machiavellian motives. However, in the wake of Katrina’s unprecedented costs, Congress and Bush still want tax cuts while turning their puppy eyes toward China to foot the bill of natural disasters. The Wal-Mart lobby saw to it that no similar questions of China’s motives transpired.

Comments

bakerstreet

on Dec 06, 2005

I think most people see it that way because American poverty is basically upper middle-class in Venezuala. He's got the same, sad PR perspective that Korea has. People, at least the ones not blinded by hatred, can easily see that he's living in a fantasy world where Venezuala is a model system feeling sorry for the poor Americans.

The reality is far different. He's holding together a poverty-ridden totalitarian regime on the pretense that everyone involved politically that opposes him hates the poor. This act is just extending that silliness to the International forum. Bush hates the poor, so SuperChavez will slosh a little oil their way.

The problem with the perspective I read in this and other statements on the subject is the assumption that cutting taxes and not dumping aid on the poor is somehow "wrong". In reality it is a fundamental difference in philosophy. Instead of reinstating the Democrat's serf class in New Orleans, perhaps it would be a good time to create an economy that draws in business, gets people employed, and then maybe they won't need handouts.

The problem wasn't the flood, the problem was that there was a whole class of people who were living from paycheck to paycheck with no resources to deal with disaster. Handing them money so they can go right back to living that way just invites the same thing to happen again next time.

stevendedalus

on Dec 14, 2005

perhaps it would be a good time to create an economy that draws in business

More Jazz? New Orleans needs to be more than the home of black music. I agree that a new economy requires more than just happy entertainment. How about a cement block industry to build substantial homes and levees?

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