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So what's the deal with Venezuela?
by Ana Barton
November 13, 2006

We've all been hearing about President Chavez in the news lately. In his recent speech to the UN he described President Bush as "the devil" and "Mr. Danger." Quite dramatic. Well, he may not be as educated as some of Venezuela's elite but perhaps that is what makes him so powerful. Proud of his Indigenous and African roots, Chavez signed a "historic commitment" to govern on behalf of Venezuela's half-million Indigenous people in 1998 during his presidential campaign. This is a promise he has kept and earned him undying support.

His plan is called a Bolivarian Revolution, named after Simon Bolivar, the 19th century liberator of Venezuela, Columbia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. His ideas are that natural resources are for the benefit of all citizens, the state is guardian and promoter of civic and social human rights, and that the citizens are fundamental protagonists on political life.

The foundation of the Venezuelan government is its Constitution. It guarantees the rights of women as well as children. It guarantees full rights over land, culture and language to Indigenous peoples. It guarantees social human rights such as healthcare, education, work and food. It also recognizes the right of housewives to social benefits. This is the same Constitution that opposition leaders suspended in the 2002 coup attempt with the support of President Bush and the National Endowment for Democracy who donated $11 U.S. to overthrow President Chavez.

Since Chavez's election in 1998, however, Venezuela has been declared free of illiteracy (UNESCO). Seventy percent of previously marginalized citizens are now receiving free health services within their community. Poverty has dropped from 80% in 1998 to 37% in 2005. Furthermore, Venezuela's economy grew by 9.4% in 2005 with most of its growth in the non-oil sector (the highest in Latin America). In Venezuela there are no illegal political prisoners, no secret prisons, no displaced populations, no practice of torture, no illegal detentions, and Venezuela has invaded no country.

So why did US Director for National Intelligence, John Negroponte state that Venezuela is the main security challenge in this hemisphere? Why did Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tell a senate committee last February that Venezuela is "a particular danger to the region?" OIL. Venezuela is sitting on the largest oil reserves this hemisphere. Venezuela also supplies 1.2 million barrels a day to the U.S. This supply has never been in danger of stopping until George Bush. Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution also challenges globalization and the profit drive of multinational corporations.

It would seem that a nation as proud of their democratic ideals and value of freedom would praise the efforts of President Chavez. While President Bush has disapproval rate of 67% based on job performance, President Chavez has a 70% approval rating based on his job performance. This visionary leader at last had the courage to warn the world that Mr. Bush is indeed Mr. Danger.

We as free citizens value freedom of speech and freedom of information. We do not like to be manipulated by the media. Even if history is told by the winners. It is easy to condemn Chavez's dramatic flair at his UN speech last September. But it takes great courage to bear the weight of your people and lead them to a better future.

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