Venezuelan Socialist Leader Chavez Resigns!

[Giancarlo]

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/04/12/venezuela/index.html

It is official, Populist Leader Hugo Chavez was forced from power, and the military has step in. I see why.... socialism has literally ruined the country and its economy. A ten men military junta is now in power.

My opinion is there is going to be a domino effect, and it will spread to Argentina.

[Akalon]

Sorry GC, but does anyone here care? :confused2

[conkermaniac]

Hmm...the South American countries all seem to have very poor economies and unstable governments.

[Giancarlo]

No offense Akalon, people should know what is happening in the world.


Originally posted by conkermaniac
Hmm...the South American countries all seem to have very poor economies and unstable governments.

Besides with Chile.

[TFA Network]

Originally posted by Giancarlo
No offense Akalon, people should know what is happening in the world.


Well set up a news forum, lets see how many people go there :) lol

[Mandrake]

Originally posted by Giancarlo
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/04/12/venezuela/index.html

It is official, Populist Leader Hugo Chavez was forced from power, and the military has step in. I see why.... socialism has literally ruined the country and its economy. A ten men military junta is now in power.

My opinion is there is going to be a domino effect, and it will spread to Argentina.

How is Brazil's economy? Aren't they still pretty well-off?

[conkermaniac]

Originally posted by Mandrake


How is Brazil's economy? Aren't they still pretty well-off?

Far from what many would call "well-off". Their country would collapse if rainforesting was forbidden and strictly enforced.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by conkermaniac


Far from what many would call "well-off". Their country would collapse if rainforesting was forbidden and strictly enforced.

That tells people how much you know about them.

That is not true. Brazil relies on the Automotive and Manufacturing industry, not the logging industry. Agriculture is also decreasing quite rapidly, as Brazil moves completely towards Manufacturing and services sectors.

[syd]

Originally posted by Giancarlo
No offense Akalon, people should know what is happening in the world.


Oh yeah, so then how come you never post about that softwood tax in BC?

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by syd


Oh yeah, so then how come you never post about that softwood tax in BC?

I don't post on such minor events.

Only on major coups and when populist crooks get toppled.

[Robert]

He was elected president. Some people (including I) think that the next leader will not be elected by the people, but by the military. They are afraid that the next leader elected may follow in his steps with the oil issues.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by Robert
He was elected president.

He also ordered his militia men to shoot 12 people dead and wound hundreds more. So that little excuse is crossed out.



Some people (including I) think that the next leader will not be elected by the people, but by the military.

There already is a civilian provisional government. I will post the picture of the interim President.


They are afraid that the next leader elected may follow in his steps with the oil issues.

No way! Do you know anything about Venezuela? If anybody even anybody tries to continue Chavez's legacy, there will be half of a million demostrators out in the streets like there was yesturday. They got a businessman now leading the country.

Interim President Estanga:

[syd]

Originally posted by Giancarlo


I don't post on such minor events.

I'm pretty sure the softwood tax is much more deeply felt on by people on this forum than some president. Read into the subject, and you'll learn why.

I didn't know hundreds or thousands of Canadian and American families being out of work was such a "minor" event... oh well, you got a rich daddy, I suppose you wouldn't really know what it's like to have zero income. And visiting poor villages doesn't count, try living in the actual poverty yourself ;)

[Blank Verse]

Right on Syd!

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by syd


I'm pretty sure the softwood tax is much more deeply felt on by people on this forum than some president. Read into the subject, and you'll learn why.

I didn't know hundreds or thousands of Canadian and American families being out of work was such a "minor" event... oh well, you got a rich daddy, I suppose you wouldn't really know what it's like to have zero income. And visiting poor villages doesn't count, try living in the actual poverty yourself ;)

No. You are wrong. As usual. I have lived in poverty, in a two bedroom apartment in a lower class area in Houston and with time my dad worked up through positions in the government and now has an excellant paying job.

There is also a fine distinction to a ----ing coup where a whole damn nation depends on it and something like Enron. I haven't posted on Enron either. And I haven't posted on this occurance in Canada. Because it is not big enough. I post on events that occur in different nations, like coups and popular overthrows like this one.

And shut up blank verse.

[syd]

Originally posted by Giancarlo


No. You are wrong. As usual. I have lived in poverty, in a two bedroom apartment in a lower class area in Houston and with time my dad worked up through positions in the government and now has an excellant paying job.

You call that poverty??? I'm laughing as I type! A two bedroom home in a metro area is POVERTY? What a joke...

[Giancarlo]

The house caught fire due to faulty wiring two years after we moved. We had one computer that wasn't functioning at the time. I only had a lousy boombox, I still have today.

Syd, poverty is defined as living below the $35,000 Per Capita Income Level in the United States.

Also, I donate to charity, and help build a school for people who had nothing. Have you done the same? :rolleyes:

[Giancarlo]

Back to topic:

Now that this new Petroleum Business mogul is in power in Venezuela, the US can get its oil, and the Venezuelan People will be happy because there will be food on their tables. Chavez was taking that away when doing deals with the FARC and Cuba.

Chavez was called a hero of the poor when he really served his own interests. Syd, Chavez is gone. And a new leader is in. He himself will probably run in the elections when they are called.

[syd]

Originally posted by Giancarlo
The house caught fire due to faulty wiring two years after we moved. We had one computer that wasn't functioning at the time. I only had a lousy boombox, I still have today.

Syd, poverty is defined as living below the $35,000 Per Capita Income Level in the United States.

Also, I donate to charity, and help build a school for people who had nothing. Have you done the same? :rolleyes:

Only one boombox? Only one computer but it didn't work? Oh yeah, how about having your family of 4 going a month without dinner? Only a box of macaroni or toast for lunch? Have you done that? Because many lumber families are in that position right now.

I'm not talking your, "Oh boo hoo, I couldn't afford a working computer".

As for building a school, actually yeah, I have been in those "build homes for charity", and offer meals to East Van hookers.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by syd


Only one boombox? Only one computer but it didn't work? Oh yeah, how about having your family of 4 going a month without dinner? Only a box of macaroni or toast for lunch? Have you done that? Because many lumber families are in that position right now.

Yes I have. We didn't even have enough money to put fuel in our car because my dad had piles of debt he is finally paying off.

And don't patronize me you smart ---. I like talking about issues when coups happen, not some economic issue occuring in Canada. If that was the case, and if I did there would be hundreds of new threads, from the Argentinian Crisis, to Chile's strong financial systems, to economic uncertainy in Russia, to the Japanese economic recession and so on. I don't want to post on all of those issues.

Chavez resigning makes the difference of a percentage GDP growth for the US because Chavez was causing the oil prices to skyrocket. Thousands would of been left without jobs if Chavez continued on with his campagin on error.



As for building a school, actually yeah, I have been in those "build homes for charity", and offer meals to East Van hookers.

At least I had a hand building a long term solution for illiteracy in that poor province of Chaco for quite a few families, the poorest in Argentina.

[syd]

Originally posted by Giancarlo

At least I provide a long term solution for illiteracy.

LOL... "Well, you certainly one-upped me!". And does calling me a smart --- promote this "solution for illiteracy"? The walking contradiction strikes again...:p

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by syd


LOL... "Well, you certainly one-upped me!". And does calling me a smart --- promote this "solution for illiteracy"? The walking contradiction strikes again...:p

The walking stupidity strikes again. Syd.

Calling you a smart --- was necessary because you were patronizing me and saying I knew nothing about world poverty... well listen up I do know!

[Giancarlo]

AND DON'T EVER CALL ME A CONTRADICTION. It is illogical.

I never made a contradiction in that post... so you screwed up in interpreting it. You are the walking contradiction.

[Giancarlo]

I must apologize for that behavior... I got into an argument with one of my friends... I am going to take a break from here, so I probably won't be back till monday.

[syd]

This guy is such a joke... oh, I'm even privileged enough to be in his signature now! Yay for me!

[NC_TOM]

Giancarlo, it's hilarious to see you define poverty as living on under $35,000/year. That's BS. That would mean that about 80% of my friends are all poverty stricken. Yet they are able to afford $60 pants, $30 shirts, $80 shoes, and $100 jackets.

My mom supported herself, my sister, and me on about $10,000 per year. Life was tough. We didn't get to go out and spend money on just anything. But we made things work and I wouldn't even call that poverty. Maybe you don't realize that there are people who have no money and they need to dig through the trash to find their next meal. When the government/economy of a nation is screwed up, this happens to a large percentage of the population. It's a major problem. These people would feel as if they're living like kings if their families had $35,000 per year to live on.

[syd]

Originally posted by NC_TOM
Giancarlo, it's hilarious to see you define poverty as living on under $35,000/year. That's BS. That would mean that about 80% of my friends are all poverty stricken. Yet they are able to afford $60 pants, $30 shirts, $80 shoes, and $100 jackets.


Yeah that's what I couldn't figure out either... my parents made about $40,000 Cdn per year combined (I guess that's about $30,000US) and we were pretty well off. Two cars, two computers, 5 people plus 5 pets under the same roof.

But we were in poverty?

LOL... yeah right!

[syd]

By the way, "boy who knows everything", here are some more realistic standards:

The Federal Standard of poverty for an Individual (in real cost): $8,501
The Federal Standard of poverty for family of four (in real cost): $17,029

From http://www.worldhungeryear.org/hun_pov/default.asp

[Giancarlo]

Those standards are incorrect according the CIA factbook, which defines the poverty line as everything below the GDP per capita income.

BTW, don't tell me what poverty is or even define it because I have seen it in its worse forms. I was in Bolivia on a trip, where there is 25% unemployment, 90% of the population survives on less than $500 a year, and lived in shoddily built houses. That is poverty. The illiteracy rate stands at 75%, and the health system is virtually nonexistent in most area.

[Giancarlo]

BTW, I have seen much worse than whatever is in the US. College Students are very well off compared to what kind of desperation I have seen. So don't tell me I am ignorant or haven't seen the world. I have visited countless indian towns throughout South America where the situation is even worse, and have helped many get there textiles (clothing, etc) exported to the United States with my Dad. Now that makes me feel like I have been doing my self-defined duty to help these people. And all I want to ask have you ever helped them this much? For some reason I doubt it.

And a populist crackpot like Chavez will not help the situation. Good old Capitalism will. Getting these people to sell their clothing to the US will help them earn more money and build a better future and that is exactly what I did.

[syd]

Originally posted by Giancarlo

I was in Bolivia on a trip, where there is 25% unemployment, 90% of the population survives on less than $500 a year, and lived in shoddily built houses. That is poverty.

So do you still claim that $35,000US/year is poverty??? Or do you want to put that statement back from where it came (somewhere where the sun don't shine) because I could have sworn that's where it's from...

I thought you left? Just couldn't keep away from me, I knew it :o I feel so loved :D

[syd]

Originally posted by Giancarlo
And all I want to ask have you ever helped them this much? For some reason I doubt it.


Well I'm sorry giving food to hookers or building homes for the poor isn't enough for you. Maybe I'll move to India and become the new Mother Theresa, then hopefully one day I can become a saint just like you.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by syd


So do you still claim that $35,000US/year is poverty??? Or do you want to put that statement back from where it came (somewhere where the sun don't shine) because I could have sworn that's where it's from...

Techinical poverty could be defined as everyone living below the GDP per capita mark. But as I hate talking like an economist, I will concede that I was wrong in real terms.



I thought you left? Just couldn't keep away from me, I knew it :o I feel so loved :D

What can I say... you are cool to talk to, sorry I ain't straight so we can't have an online relationship. :p

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by syd


Well I'm sorry giving food to hookers or building homes for the poor isn't enough for you. Maybe I'll move to India and become the new Mother Theresa, then hopefully one day I can become a saint just like you.

I am no saint. But I did help set up, along with my dad, export deals with some Native American Families to sell their textiles to the US.

[Blank Verse]

Just to clear things up, the actual benchmark for being in poverty is any household that has to spend more than half their income on food.