Why did Pat Robertson, that icon of compassionate American Christianity, recently call for the assassination of Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela? Is it because Chavez is persecuting Christians and attempting to create a Godless nation? Is it because Chavez is a brutal dictator, a madman who is abusing his nation's people, imprisoning them and murdering them? Is it because Chavez grabbed power by means of violent military takeover and is threatening his neighbors? Why does Pat Robertson hate Hugo Chavez and want him out of power? What is Robertson's "Christian" motive?
Why has George W Bush become an enemy of Chavez and wants to see him taken down? What is it that is so threatening to the US concerning Chavez's presidency and brand of government? Is it because Chavez has a nuclear program and is attempting to develop weapons of mass destruction? Is it because Chavez is building an army and threatening his neighbors with war and annihilation? Is Chavez a threat to democracy and is he trying to establish a communistic government? Is it because 20% of US oil consumption is provided by Venezuela, our number one largest provider, and Chavez is attempting to cut off that supply? Is it because Chavez is robbing his nation and its people of Venezuela's oil wealth?
The amazing answer is that it is none of these things. Instead the reasons seem to be rooted in the fact that Chavez, instead of bending to the will of Bush and corporate interests both in Venezuela, in the US, and internationally, stands in their face and defies them. Also, Chavez refuses to condemn Castro and instead befriends him supplying Cuba cheap oil for their energy needs in trade for doctors. All the other reasons seem to be rooted in Chavez's refusal to be a lackey to Bush, big money and corporate powers. It could also be a profound fear that Chavez's populist, honestly democratic, truth telling, people powered, socialist-leaning philosophy could gain momentum in South America taking the power away from corrupt politicians, ruthless corporations and the wealthy elite and giving it to the people. This power grab might spread to Mexico and then - God forbid - the US!
Venezuela's legitimately elected and popular president, Hugo Chavez, was a former military colonel imprisoned in 1992 in a failed coup to take over Venezuela's corrupt government. He is enormously popular with the common working class but despised by the rich for interfering with their corrupt pursuit of obscene wealth and power. He apparently doesn't just talk the talk but walks the walk. Consider the following:
A full 60% of Venezuela's land is held by 2% of the nations wealthiest citizens while 75% of Venezuelans live in stark poverty. Chavez is enacting land reform that limits the amount of land that can be owned by individuals to 12,000 acres and is distributing idle land to peasant cooperatives. The military is buying fresh vegetables and meat in the countryside and trucking it to poor neighborhoods for sale at subsidized markets.
Chavez has set the stage for a fundamental shift in economic and educational opportunity by banning school entrance registration fees for students which previously served as a barrier to the majority of Venezuela's children. “Bolivarian” schools have opened in poor neighborhoods, often maintained and run by parents and volunteers, but supported by the government. The government now provides breakfast and lunch to children at school, which helped boost enrollment by one million over the last year. Literacy is increasing rapidly as millions of new students have entered school. An educational revolution is underway.
Chavez has established a health plan setting up clinics in the poorest communities, often staffed by respected Cuban doctors and nurses who are on loan to a society that in return provides cheap oil to Cuba. New state run pharmacies are selling medicine at a 30% discount. Some of the better new Venezuelan students, previously unable to even dream of college, have found themselves enrolled in Cuban medical schools.
Chavez is also trying to trim the fat of corruption and graft within the government by restructuring bodies ranging from the Judiciary to the Constituent Assembly. And Chavez initiated the recent rewriting of the Constitution which now includes such provisions as civil rights for Venezuela's indigenous population.
And he has openly defied Major oil companies by supporting OPEC production limits and not over-pumping as was previously done. This has allowed Venezuela to get a higher price for their oil from major producers and refiners to support the reforms in his country. At the same time, if you can imagine this, gasoline in Chavez's Venezuela sells for 24 cents per gallon!
Most Americans don't know it but Venezuela owns Citgo here in the US which consists of 13,500 gas stations and eight refineries all in the United States that produce almost 900,000 barrels a day in gasoline and other products. In the third quarter Citgo obtained profit of $94 million on sales of $12 billion. Not bad, but small change next to the $33 billion earned by top five oil firms over the same period. Politicians have been demanding that oil companies share their wealth more with citizens most affected by high energy prices but only Hugo Chavez has answered their call. He has previously offered to sell American gasoline at about half the present cost but was rebuked by our government which is controlled to a large degree by major oil. Now he has instructed CITGO to offer cheap heating oil to America's most neediest citizens to help them through the winter and a few of our political representatives are taking him up on this latest offer. See Miami Herald report link below.
Mildly stated, Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, dislikes George W Bush and the Bush administration - and with apparent good reason. Bush has positioned himself as an enemy of Chavez. In 2002 during the last open election, our CIA openly attempted to orchestrate a coup - an overthrow of Chavez and his government - although Chavez, a populist hero was fairly elected by a huge majority in South America's oldest democracy. That is astounding! Additionally, there is irrefutable evidence the CIA in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, major oil companies, corporations and the wealthy elite of his own country, are trying to have Chavez assassinated or at the very least driven from office. Even Coca Cola along with other brand industries have helped organize protests, some violent, against Chavez. What is their fear? It's simple, Chavez is looking out for the interests of his people, not the powerful corporatists who live off the sweat and blood of the poor working class. Chavez represents justice and fairness, the enemy of uncompassionate, corrupt and greedy corporate profiteers.
So what is the defense of Pat Robertson for calling for Chavez to be assassinated? In my mind, Pat Robertson is a corrupt whore and an evil hypocrite. George W Bush is not far behind. Furthermore, what is Bush's defense for attempting to overthrow a legitimate democracy?
Capitalism is not God and corporate officers are not his high priests. Although Chavez is not perfect and without sin, Hugo Chavez is apparently working on behalf of all the people of Venezuela not just the wealthy elite. He is a visionary - a modern day Simon Bolivar. If Jesus were here to give his blessings, which of the three men, Bush, Robertson, or Chavez would he most likely smile upon?
Gary
For more insight into Chavez and his populist movement and his offers to supply cheap oil to America's poor go here:
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1143 and http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/13386277.htm and http://bad.eserver.org/reviews/2001/2001-7-12-2.20PM.html or just go Google: Chavez Venezuela Citgo
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