In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez hopes to be reelected at the upcoming referendum. If he wins this referendum, he will be allowed to rule for as long as he likes, if he can win the elections, and will be granted dictatorial powers. He will also have the power to cease oil production, giving the United States a major problem since we receive some oil from them.
CHavez wants to turn the state into a socialist state, much like Cuba. Because he is anti-U.S., it he would like to prove that capitalism does not work. And he has gained support. Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua already support him.
I think that we need to be careful with him before he gets out of hand. It may seem overly cautious, but considering past incidences with leaders gaining power, I think it is reasonable to be careful of possible dictators. What do you think? If he wins will we have a major problem on our hands?
If you want to find out more information, try this article or this opinion article.
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3 comments:
Note that this isn't actually an election-even if Chavez "loses", he's still president. It's more like a ballot measure here, except it's for a national constitutional amendment.
I think, Natalie, it will always be a major concern to us when someone significant in a country's government, who is anti-US, gains more power. However, I don't feel that we have the right no resources to interfere in Venezuelan policy. We are already entwined in a nasty mess with many other countries.
I read the article you saw, and I was definitely comforted by this
"But longtime political allies have broken with Chavez over the new reform proposals, amplifying charges from a nascent student movement, religious leaders, traditional opposition parties and rights groups that the package is authoritarian."
Many people are still against Chavez, making it more unlikely that he will get to run for president for an unlimited number of terms.
People can take a look at this http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html
(the amount of oil that comes in per day from America's top crude oil providers)
Farrah, your comment is a bit comforting, but if Chavez becomes president he will probably change the constitution so that he can run for unlimited terms. If he is made president, no matter what people say or do he will still get his way because he will be a dictator. Hopefully there will be enough resistance to prevent him from becoming president because if he does 'win' presidency it will be trouble for the Venezuelans and trouble for the US. I think it would be dangerous for the US to support an anti-Chavez group because it may turn into another Bay of Pigs fiasco, and given that the US is already getting a lot of bad publicity in the Middle East we don't need any more enemies than we already have.
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