Sean Penn American Hero
CH156378
Posts: 1,539
CH156378
Posts: 1,539
CH156378
Posts: 1,539
Comments
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Note on the hikers and if this was perhaps switched around a bit. Iranian hikers on the canadian/american boarder. Can you imagine the outcome? They would probably get sent to gitmo or some secret US base for some torture and whatever else happens.
:roll:
Why dont you ask someone who has tried and got caught? My guess is they will tell you that they were sent back home in the same condition that they arrived here if not better. Go ask any Latinos that our border police have to rescue on a daily basis. If it weren't for them thousands more would have died in the dessert trying to get here. and not to mention most are actually flown back all at the American tax payers expense. Im sure to some people like you that would still be considered some kind of civil rights violation.
k If you say so,
Do you have any evidence to support this statement?
Food for thought:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 66_pf.html
Well Byrnsie it seems like I haven't convinced you that I'm a living evidence of that
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
I'm aware that the U.S sponsored the failed coup attempt in 2002. I'm also aware of the desperation of the U.S government to find ways to criticize the Chavez government. But so far I've seen nothing concrete to convince me.
I'm pretty sure that if there really was anything particularly insidious occurring in Venezuela the U.S mainstream news would make sure that the whole World knew about it.
Are you kidding me? Venezuela is one of the 3 worst countries in the world to live and do business! You are silenced from the beginning if you arent indoctrinated! They control their populations from the beginning! ONly some smart people have been able to get out alive to write and tell stories! Hugo is evil! Period!
A man that stands for nothing....will fall for anything!
All people need to do more on every level!
Sorry, but I'm not buying this U.S mainstream media sensationalism.
I've asked many people on this forum over the past few years to provide me evidence of Chavez's oppression of his people and all I've gotten in return are some sketchy, word-of-mouth testimonies, with no concrete evidence to support any of it.
If Chavez is really so bad then why does he keep getting re-elected in fair and open elections year in, year out?
Nah, not really kinda like Saddam Hussein at all:
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/latin ... ising/1743
Venezuela: Democracy or Dictatorship?
by Michael Fox
posted May 11, 2007
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently said, “I believe there is an assault on democracy in Venezuela and I believe that there are significant human rights issues.” She did not, however, say what she meant by “democracy.” We've selected essential characteristics of democracy and supplied key facts about them from the Chávez era. Is Secretary Rice correct? You be the judge.
Participation
75% of registered voters participated in the December 2006 election. More than 15,000 Communal Councils formed in 2006 that give neighborhoods power to make local decisions. Massive community participation in government social missions.
Free and Fair Elections
Eleven internationally observed national elections in last eight years. Government promotes voter registration. Independent National Electoral Council oversees elections. Standardized voting machines nationwide produce paper trail. Opposition claims of fraud exhaustively investigated. Constitution provides for recall of any elected official.
Freedom of Press
Hundreds of new independent community media outlets. 2005 reform increased state control of airwaves. Media highly polarized. Private media strongly critical of Chávez, supported coup in 2002 and oil lockout in 2002-2003. Public media strongly supportive. Non-renewal of RCTV license widely criticized; decision is constitutional.
Varied Political Parties
77 parties participated in December 2006 election. Chávez wants to consolidate support in one “United Socialist Party,” says parties that don't join “can leave.”
Freedom of Assembly, Expression, Speech
No extralegal retaliation by Chávez after 2002 coup. Political repression much decreased. Freedom to demonstrate highly respected. PROVEA, Venezuelan NGO, reports 4.5% of 1300 demonstrations in 2006 were “repressed, blocked, or obstructed,” a 70% decrease from 1997–98.
Private Property
Constitutional requirement of payment for nationalization honored. Opposition fears of unpaid expropriation not borne out. 2001 Land Law calls for unused state land and large, unproductive latifundio holdings to be redistributed to campesinos. Government promises to compensate at market rate for land.
Equality
Constitution covers gender, rights for the poor, campesinos, and indigenous, but omits race. Tremendous improvements for poor. Society still machista, individualist, and discriminatory. Treatment of non-Chávez supporters questionable: some government institutions do not employ people who supported 2004 Recall Referendum.
Checks and Balances
Five independent, autonomous branches of government. Grant of temporary “rule by decree” power criticized by opposition and U.S., but is constitutional; used by at least three other presidents. Chávez criticized for reform of Supreme Court; critics claim court stacking.
Transparency
Chávez fairly transparent, but many government officials are not. Little progress curing government and police corruption inherited from past. One of highest crime rates in the world; no improvement under Chávez. Prison conditions still abusive.
Constitution
1999 Constitution written with massive popular participation; passed with 72% support in referendum. Protects human rights and democracy; promotes social justice. Chávez has explicitly followed the Constitution. Constitutional Reform can start in National Assembly or at request of 15% of registered voters.
Economic Human Rights
Poverty and unemployment down, minimum wage and social spending up. Venezuela declared itself free of illiteracy in October 2005. Free universal education, including university. Free universal health care and drug rehabilitation. More than 180,000 cooperatives registered since 1998.
Community and Workplace Democracy
Chávez requires communities to organize to receive government aid. Co-ops, community councils, and co-managed factories promoted with state incentives. Government encourages endogenous development based on democracy and collective production.
YES! Magazine Graphic showing Venezuelan satisfaction with democracy. Source: Latinobarometro 1995-2006.
Reminds me of the "peace and love" type kids who rock Che t-shirts. It makes no fucking sense.
"Yo man, I'm totally anti-American Republicans (and centrist Dems)! They're closed-minded and don't value art or nature! By the way, this mass murderer and rapist agrees with me! He's so rad! FUCK DA POLICE!!"
However, unlike all the hip college trust fund babies in Manhattan, I am ALSO opposed to oppressive dictators who are the catalysts for small genocides.
Guess I'm not totally cool. I just don't "GET IT."
You're just not "enlightened," Johnny.
How beautiful, any gullible foreigner would be thrilled to live is such a tropical paradise!
You think you know about the bottom of the sea because you can see the beach from far away...
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
It's easier to cut-and-paste something from the internet that supports your position than to actually seek out a conversation with someone who can give you a firsthand account. I work with a couple guys who grew up in Cuba and it's fascinating to hear what daily life was like there.
If by fascinating you meant f'ng horrible you're 100% right :thumbup:
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
No doubt. Fascinating for an outsider.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwVyHG9q ... ata_player
Vid clip of that part,
Did you skip this part of the article?
Equality
Tremendous improvements for poor. Society still machista, individualist, and discriminatory. Treatment of non-Chávez supporters questionable: some government institutions do not employ people who supported 2004 Recall Referendum.
Transparency
Chávez fairly transparent, but many government officials are not. Little progress curing government and police corruption inherited from past. One of highest crime rates in the world; no improvement under Chávez. Prison conditions still abusive.
Do you speak for every Venezuelan? Because as far as the polls, and the voting booths are concerned, the majority of Venezuelans are perfectly happy with the Chavez government.
I believe it is pretty clear that he is a dictator. He re-writes the rules to give himself a sole advantage. Sort of like turning the "cheats" on in a computer simulation of Sim-City. Arguing against that requires some pretty big horse-blinders.
But as for how his leadership affects the day-to-day life of Venezuelans, that would require a first-hand report from multiple people that actually live there.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/m ... ramos.html
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/12/world/ame ... index.html