Hugo, Fucking Chavez

[Wij]

Dead.

But remember...

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/Gordon/

 

[rynnor]

He was a c*nt and now hes dead.

 

[Zarjazz]

[tin foil hat]The CIA did it.[/tin foil hat]

 

[Shagrat]

one less nutcase to worry about...

 

[Tom]

Ok, I have absolutely no idea about Hugo Chavez beyond having read the odd rumour of his locking up of various people and how Ken Livingstone loved him, so I'll just back slowly and gracefully out of the thread before the experts descend to impart their pearls of wisdom, much like the drips of inert fluid now oozing from DaGaffer's crusty cock.

 

[Gwadien]

VIVA LA REVOLUTIÓN

 

[megadave]

So what happens to Venezuela now?

 

[Raven]

If Ken Livingston liked him then he must have been a bellend.

 

[Wij]

If Ken Livingston liked him then he must have been a bellend.

or a terrorist apologist

 

[Roo Stercogburn]

Ok, I have absolutely no idea about Hugo Chavez beyond having read the odd rumour of his locking up of various people and how Ken Livingstone loved him, so I'll just back slowly and gracefully out of the thread before the experts descend to impart their pearls of wisdom, much like the drips of inert fluid now oozing from DaGaffer's crusty cock.

I feel dirty agreeing with Tom but this is pretty much where I'm at.

 

[Scouse]

Same as Obama, George Dubya and Tony, just different politics.

 

[DaGaffer]

Ok, I have absolutely no idea about Hugo Chavez beyond having read the odd rumour of his locking up of various people and how Ken Livingstone loved him, so I'll just back slowly and gracefully out of the thread before the experts descend to impart their pearls of wisdom, much like the drips of inert fluid now oozing from DaGaffer's crusty cock.

Er...

On topic. Didn't like him, won't miss him.

 

[Chilly]

He seemed to do quite well for his people. Whether he was corrupt, a cunt or anything else shouldnt really matter.

 

[old.Tohtori]

No knowledge of the fella at all, so RIP to him like i'd RIP towards my neighbour.

 

[Gumbo]

So what happens to Venezuela now?

The Vice President wins the election and things carry on as they were, for a bit.

Pretty soon though the Venezuelan people will realise that their country really should be a lot richer than it is, if it stopped selling all it's oil to Cuba, and Syria at bargain basement rates. If they stopped supporting Iran then the west might look on them a bit more favourably etc. Then there is likely to be some upheaval probably followed by a vaguely disguised military coup where a slightly right wing General will assume power, promising elections in the near future. The Western intelligence agencies may, or may not be involved.

There you go Tom, there's some pearly of wisdom.

Oh, and Maldonado will probably lose his drive next year.

 

[Scouse]

He seemed to do quite well for his people. Whether he was corrupt, a cunt or anything else shouldnt really matter.

I disagree about whether someone's corrupt shouldn't matter.

However, I've spoken to a (small) number of Venesuelans about him and his policies - and he certainly splits opinions.

Spoke to one working in a bar in Hannover and he hated him. Said that he left as soon as he won the election - so if I'm fair he's not actually got any first-hand experience of the changes in the country.

Spoke to a couple of others, one in a bar and another, extremely surreally, whilst on a banana break halfway up Snowdown. They both loved him and what he was doing.

It looks like industry is much less efficient, infrastructure is ropey but that poverty is falling massively and access to healthcare and education is rising - which is laudible.

His popularity was rising, not falling, so make of that what you will...

 

[Scouse]

Pretty soon though the Venezuelan people will realise that their country really should be a lot richer than it is

The "country" could be a lot richer - but it looks like the vast majority of people are doing better than they were.

I guess that cheap oil sales with the proceeds subsidising food for the poor, education and free access to healthcare for all might do a better job than when the proceeds of high-price oil sales go into the pockets of a few shareholders, eh?

 

[Chilly]

The "country" could be a lot richer - but it looks like the vast majority of people are doing better than they were.

I guess that cheap oil sales with the proceeds subsidising food for the poor, education and free access to healthcare for all might do a better job than when the proceeds of high-price oil sales go into the pockets of a few shareholders, eh?

Efficiency & social wellbeing do appear to be mutually exclusive, unfortunately.

 

[Scouse]

Efficiency & social wellbeing do appear to be mutually exclusive, unfortunately.

It does appear to be that way. Certainly in the socialist economic models that are in vogue.

Maybe the state of "permanent revolution" will eventually come up with a better solution.

I guess the question is, is it any worse than having a very monetarily-efficient model which provides unbelievable excess for a few, relative comfort for a sizeable chunk and woeful underfunding of many?


Personally, if there are benefits I think they'll be in the margins - stuff you don't measure.

 

[Chilly]

Depends what your goal is, really. If it's to increase the minimum happiness, education and health of your populace, then you probably can't go full bore capitalism. Unfortunately, that precludes a lot of high end scientific research, as it requires significant capital expenditure.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Pft, feck Chavez, Paul Bearer died.

 

[DaGaffer]

When I was there a few years back there was a massive exodus of middle class and skilled labour going on; the big winners under Chavez weren't the people (who's quality of life hasn't really changed much) but the massive numbers of Chinese contractors taking over from locals and formerly American contractors.

 

[Lamp]

He wore a beret. Anyone who wears a beret is at least 5% cool by definition.

 

[mr.Blacky]

It looks like industry is much less efficient, infrastructure is ropey but that poverty is falling massively and access to healthcare and education is rising - which is laudible.

Much higher crime, high inflation, a country split in two. Not good things I would think.
In the end he was a firebrand, we will have to wait to see what his true legacy is.
I for one am not certain if he sometimes just acted a clown or was a clown.
But he did do some good things.

 

[old.user4556]

Thought you may be interested in this:

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View: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=caf_1363651685

 

[Chilly]

Thought you may be interested in this:

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View: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=caf_1363651685

I didnt think they were allowed to film in the union...

 

[Aoami]

It does appear to be that way. Certainly in the socialist economic models that are in vogue

Works in Scandinavia.