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While supporters of regime change in Venezuela insist this blatantly undemocratic move is necessary to “defend democracy,” make no mistake, the upheaval is clearly not motivated by resistance to authoritarianism. Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves and has challenged the hegemony of the US dollar, has long been a target of US aggression.
In 2002, the United States supported a military coup that briefly ousted democratically elected President Hugo Chávez and replaced him with the right-wing oligarch Pedro Carmona. US intervention, including crippling economic sanctions, has only continued since then. Elements of Venezeula’s opposition have portrayed themselves to credulous foreign observers as “social democratic,” but their real intentions are very clear: The opposition-controlled legislature has demanded mass privatization of state assets and a return to a capitalist oligarch-controlled economic system built on “property rights and freedom of enterprise.”
In 2017, the Venezuelan government declared the creation of the Constituent Assembly, to rewrite the constitution. Venezuela’s opposition refused to recognize this body and boycotted the elections. The opposition instead remained in control of the National Assembly and decided to run it as a separate parallel legislature.
The opposition-controlled National Assembly drafted a “transition” law that openly outlines what policies the opposition, led by Juan Guaidó, would pursue in its illegitimate, US-recognized “government” in Venezuela. Analyst Jorge Martín, explained what this means in an article published by VenezuelaAnalysis:
The model of the opposition’s new coup regime in Venezuela — backed by the US, Canada, and Brazil — is the reimposition of neoliberal capitalism and the recolonization of Latin America. Any bluster about restoring democracy is a mere pretense at this point.
Professor Samuel is correct. But regulation is always going to be a second best solution. Both government-owned and private monopolies can play games with regulators and the end result will always fall short of vigorous competition between private businesses.
If competition is not possible, for example for monopoly electricity transmission lines, then privatisation and regulation is a compromise solution. But privatisation with competition is where society really wins. The current round of privatisations is predictable and regular. Businesses move into and out of government ownership over time. Government ownership is only needed when there are strong conflicts between profit-incentives and public welfare. But if privatisation occurs without competition, then, as a nation, we only get a fraction of the benefit. The government will make more money but do not be fooled. It is just a future hidden tax as consumers pay for today’s increased government revenue through tomorrow’s higher prices.
Here is some good reading as to how two knuckle-headed idiots have made a laughing stock of Venezuela's financial capability, Chavez and Maduro.
what basis do you have for saying half the citizens in Venezuela supports Maduro?? Seems like you just wanted an opportunity to interject your domestic gripes into Venezuela and bash on Trump.
Venezuela-Related Sanctions, Department of the Treasury
Remarks and Releases
01/23/19 White House Statement From President Donald J. Trump Recognizing Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela
01/12/19 Ensuring Venezuela's Constitutional Order and Safety of Elected Officials; Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino; Washington, DC
01/08/19 Treasury Targets Venezuela Currency Exchange Network Scheme Generating Billions of Dollars for Corrupt Regime Insiders
12/18/18 Venezuela Fact Sheet
11/02/18 Remarks by National Security Advisor Ambassador John R. Bolton on the Administration's Policies in Latin America
09/25/18 The United States Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan Individuals and Entities; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
09/25/18 Treasury Targets Venezuelan President Maduro's Inner Circle and Proceeds of Corruption in the United States
05/18/18 Treasury Targets Influential Former Venezuelan Official and His Corruption Network
03/19/18 Treasury Sanctions Four Current or Former Venezuelan Officials Associated with Economic Mismanagement and Corruption
01/05/18 Treasury Sanctions Four Venezuelan Government Officials Associated with Corruption and Oppression
11/09/17 Treasury Sanctions Ten Venezuelan Government Officials
08/09/17 Treasury Sanctions Eight Individuals Involved in Venezuela's Illegitimate Constituent Assembly
07/31/17 Treasury Sanctions the President of Venezuela
07/26/17 Treasury Sanctions 13 Current and Former Senior Officials of the Government of Venezuela
07/17/17 Statement from President Donald J. Trump
05/18/17 Treasury Sanctions Eight Members of Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice
03/09/15 Statement by the White House Press Secretary on Venezuela
03/09/15 White House Fact Sheet: Venezuela Executive Order
12/18/14 Statement by the White House Press Secretary: Bills Signed into Law
Executive Orders
Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018 "Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela"
Executive Order 13835 of May 21, 2018 “Prohibiting Certain Additional Transactions with Respect to Venezuela”
Executive Order 13827 of March 19, 2018 “Taking Additional Steps to Address the Situation in Venezuela”
Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017 “Imposing Additional Sanctions with Respect to the Situation in Venezuela”
Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015 “Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela”
originally posted by: Zimnydran
I dont like this whole thing... not one bit.
In a nutshell in my view, this is what I see..... I am not defending the slob in Venezuela in any way, I have never been there so I have no idea what is going on over there.
1/2 the country hates the guy, the other half likes him.... no not Trump, Maduro.
Media goes all out, non stop... Maduro is bad, he is oppressing his own people..... no not Trump, Maduro
Person who lost election proclaims himself rightful president...... No not CLinton
Men is Suits get on media and proclaim Maduro is not the legit president and say their country recognizes the new person.
Now.... how many people are unhappy they had to make new trade deal.... not happy that we support Israel.
This sets a precedent that if enough.... or the right countries do not like the results of your election...... they can get together and recognize the person they want as president.
I would hate to see Trump get re-elected..... then have the UN, the EU , China and Russia all say that Trump cheated, Hilary won the 2020.....
I think I would be more comfortable with a highly monitored re-election.
In a nutshell in my view, this is what I see
originally posted by: pheonix358
You only have to look at Norway to see the life these people should have with such oil reserves.
They could be parallel cultures but sadly they are not.
P