"The UN Commission on Latin America and the
Caribbean (ECLAC) found that Venezuela had reduced inequality by more
than any other country in Latin America from 2002-2008, ending up with
the most equal income distribution in the region." ("The Venezuelan
Economy", Mark Weisbrot, counterpunch.org)
Washington hates Chavez because he's raised living standards for the poor and because he won't bow to the giant corporations. That's why he's pilloried in the media, because his socialist model of democracy doesn't jibe with America's smash-n-grab style of capitalism. Chavez has enacted land and oil industry reform, improved education and provided universal health care. He's introduced job training, subsidies to single mothers, drug prevention programs, and assistance for recovering addicts. Illiteracy has been wiped out.
Chavez's policies have reduced ignorance, poverty, and injustice. The list goes on and on. Venezuelans are more engaged in the political process than ever before. That scares Washington. US elites don't want well-informed people participating in the political process. They believe that task should be left to the venal politicians chosen by corporate bosses and top-hat banksters. That's why Chavez has to go. He's given people hope for a better life.
Chavez's social vision is at odds with the prevailing American/corporate view that allows Wall Street speculators to blow up the financial system without fear of reprisal, that permits big oil companies to despoil entire regions of the country and not be held accountable, and that allows lying politicians to drag the nation to a war with utter impunity. Chavez does not share that view nor does Ahmadinejad or Putin.
All three leaders would like nothing more than to
get a break from America's incessant meddling and belligerence. They
don't hate America and they are not our enemies. But they would like a
little breather from the coups, the financial contagion, the
kidnappings, the stolen elections, the propaganda, and the endless
killing. Can you blame 'em?
Washington hates Chavez because he's raised living standards for the poor and because he won't bow to the giant corporations. That's why he's pilloried in the media, because his socialist model of democracy doesn't jibe with America's smash-n-grab style of capitalism. Chavez has enacted land and oil industry reform, improved education and provided universal health care. He's introduced job training, subsidies to single mothers, drug prevention programs, and assistance for recovering addicts. Illiteracy has been wiped out.
Chavez's policies have reduced ignorance, poverty, and injustice. The list goes on and on. Venezuelans are more engaged in the political process than ever before. That scares Washington. US elites don't want well-informed people participating in the political process. They believe that task should be left to the venal politicians chosen by corporate bosses and top-hat banksters. That's why Chavez has to go. He's given people hope for a better life.
Chavez's social vision is at odds with the prevailing American/corporate view that allows Wall Street speculators to blow up the financial system without fear of reprisal, that permits big oil companies to despoil entire regions of the country and not be held accountable, and that allows lying politicians to drag the nation to a war with utter impunity. Chavez does not share that view nor does Ahmadinejad or Putin.
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