Hugo Chavez: saint or sinner?

Question

I'd be interested to know if this televised debate changed anyones mind?

http://21stcenturysocialism.com/article/hugo_chavez_saint_or_sinner_01543.html

Looking at some of the answers, I am amazed at how some people seem to have fallen for the ridiculous propaganda of George Bush. One person even made up some of his own, when he said that if you oppose Chavez you will be killed!!

The facts are that Venezuela has completely free and fair elections, which have all been certified by the European Union and Jimmy Carter, the foremer president of the USA. After the opposition lost to Chavez in the 1998 election, they organised a military coup against him, which was backed by, yes you've guessed it, George Bush.

There are no political prisoners in Venezuela, and the media is totally free. One TV station didn't have its broadcast licence renewed, but that was because they participated in the military coup. The coup generals even thanked them for their support, live on TV!

Answer 1

Hugo Chavez is an intelligent person, but some times he tries to put his ideas in a special way, very quickly.

I think he is both saint and sinner.

Answer 2

He is worse than a sinner he is a dictator and terrorist. Anyone who disagrees with him is killed, how can that be a saint?

But he is also not stupid, so he talks a good talk, says what the small minded want to hear, so they support him and believe his lies. Yet they vilify Bush.

I am know fan of Bush, but the evils he has done can in no way compare to what Chavez has done or will be doing.

Answer 3

Hugo Chavez is loopy, in spite of the shown fact that it form of feels that the Venezuelans love him for all that he has promised the destructive. i come across it complicated to have faith that they nonetheless love him in spite of the shown fact that he has carried out not something that he promised. I additionally locate the reality that he has a weekly coach the place he will run beyond commonly used time yammering approximately Bush to be insane. i don't think of any American of any stripe might appreciate a president who had a coach the place he basically rambled on approximately in spite of became on his techniques. i come across it complicated to appreciate him as a international chief (even Castro has a definite dignity) and spot him extra as a comic strip.

Answer 4

Mr. Jason,

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt by assuming you are not a Venezuelan citizen.

Well, I am.

Let me lay down a few facts so you can make up your own mind:

1) He has a nickname for the 36.9% of the people that does not support him (according to the official results of the presidential election): "escuálidos" (meaning spineless, people without character or any moral fiber, lazy and worthless).

I invite you to exercise your imagination for a moment and try to picture Mr. Bush addressing the nation saying something like this: "To my fellow Americans who don't support my government, that march and protest against our glorious administration I say this: you are a bunch of delusional pussycats. I invite you to change our mind and stop trying to oppose the magnificent projects we have planned for my beloved country. The projects started by this administration are here to stay and there is nothing you can do to stop it, so you better join us in this effort to save our beloved country from our enemies abroad. I'm convinced that I'm the only one that can govern this country in this historic moment. Stop deluding yourselves by thinking I will be submitting my resignation anytime soon, just because you asked for it - he says with a mocking gesture. Also, keep in mind that this process ("revolution") is peaceful but armed!" ... at this point some people in the background with red shirts and signs supporting the president are shouting, glorifying him and asking for help to obtain new homes for their families. The president responds to the intrusion in the flow of his inspired words: "why do you interrupt me? The leader of this process ("revolution") is talking. If I were you I will be listening to what the leader has to say".

Wouldn't you feel insulted, upset? Will you support any self proclaimed leader that addresses his fellow citizens in such a pejorative way? Wouldn't you think that power has gone over his head and that he has become a megalomaniac? How long will it be before he is asked to step down by the U.S.A. congress? Well this is just the tip of the iceberg.

2) Hugo Chavez started his government in February 2-1999, nine years and almost 400 billion US dollars of income later (more than the Present Value of all the incomes of the democratic presidencies of the last 40 years), the value of our currency has gone from 577.32 VEB per USD to 2,144.6 VEB per USD in 2006. A 372% devaluation of our currency.

Furthermore, since Feb 2003 the government took control of the currency exchange market and now most of the private trade in foreign currency is illegal, punished by jail. The hunger for imported goods has created a parallel market for foreign currency (illegal but very real). So, the Fair Value of our currency: the Bolivar, is now in the neighborhood of 5,700 VEB per USD, meaning a real devaluation of almost a 1,000%.

On top of this, I would like to add that the external debt is now twice the amount contracted by the end of 1998. Meanwhile the internal debt has risen from 1.16 Billion USD to 15.7 Billion USD by the end of 2006, an increment of 1,348% (+13 times the original debt).

How would you qualify the economic performance (and viability) of a government with the highest income in the history of our country?

3) Political Discrimination. The oil industry generates more than 80% of our income and is now controlled by the state. If you joined the general strike of 2002 or if you signed against the president in the 2004 referendum you are publicly exposed as a pro-imperialist, non-democratic citizen, therefore you have no place in the main industry of our country. Moreover, if you flied below the government radar and somehow managed to keep your job in any of the estate-owned oil companies, you must manifest your affection to the president and his project openly, otherwise your coworkers have the mandate and the responsibility to "hit you until you are convinced". A figure of speech used by the president of PDVSA. The president applauded his actions and told him publicly that he should do the same within every level of the company. You can see the video in Youtube.

The list of FACTS goes on and on, this is just a glimpse of what he has done to my country. Now he is changing the constitution once more, so he can be reelected without limit, along with some additional presidential powers to create new states with a designed governor.

At best, Chavez can be considered a very capable communicator that plays with the hopes and dreams of the most needed people in my country, mixing half-truths with obscene lies to convince the people that he is not a sinner, but a saint, destined to deliver the country to the "sea of happiness" of the Cuban way of life.

Answer 5

Chavez, a man with a mission, as to weather he is
a saint, he does not have wings, and as if he is a
devil he has no horns, but I can say he is sneaky,
and that is why no-one can really tell who he is.

Answer 6

Liberal press has him as Saint BUT I see another Castro.
Hes a tyrant plain & simple.
Sure ill vacation in Venezula after some B-2 raids hit.
Otherwise No.
Another Castro.
Expand your news accounts.
Dble check sources.

Answer 7

He's a total SINNER! Chavez is dictator, he will never LEAVE unless he's taken out.

Answer 8

He takes away his people's rights so what do you think? He is evil and thinks like Iran and Cuba's leaders!

Answer 9

chavez - of the people, for the people

saint

bush - daddys little rich kid, doesnt give a sh*t about the people

sinner

Answer 10

saint.