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[CubaSocialista]

I'm defending Chavez's policies on another thread at "Fark.com", but this one particular response kind of has me bogged down.


"Something about saying you are helping the poor but not really doing so, selling out your countries wealth to influence far leftist politics in other countries, letting your infrastructure crumble while you give away billions of your only source of revenue away."


I need a rebuttal, quick?
Thanks.

[FULL METAL JACKET]

Am no expert but say that Chavez has an obligation to other socialist/communist countries to help them out. Am sure the other countries are doing the same.

Read this article:CHAVEZ AID TO LATIN AMERICA (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/13826644.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_nation)


You don't have to be a genius to figure out why Washington is losing influence in Latin America: While Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is making headlines with vows to give about $3.7 billion a year to his neighbors, the Bush administration wants to cut back its estimated $1.2 billion in U.S. foreign aid to the region.

Obviously he's trying to win all the latinos over. In the long run this defintely helps socialism. That's why he's doing it.

And ask him for evidence on that "infrastructure crumble"

[Faceless]

The idea that poor Venezuelans have not seen an improvement in their quality of life inspite of Chavez's promises is nonsense. Possibly the most publicised effort by the Chavez government has been the missions which have included providing health care, education up to university level and cheap food to the poorest members of society, using money which was otherwise syphoned off from the oil industry (which, pre-Chavez, was state owned but run like a private business by corrupt managers). Simply googling will reveal what these missions have so far accomplished.

Basically the workers and poor now have free health care, have access to food at up to 50% its original price and have rights to the land on which they live, something they have not had under previous governments. Much is made of the high inflation rates in Venezuela; a fact which does not sit well with those with substantial savings. Inspite of this, the earnings of the 80% or so majority who live in poverty have increased dramatically. Even when inflation is taken into account, the poorest have seen (according to Datos) a 33% increase in their standard of living. As for influencing far-left politics, which is being done whilst improving the lives of the vast majority of Venezuela's poor, that can only be progressive. Add to this the explosion of grassroots politics, and the idea that Venezuela's poor are being neglected becomes laughable.

Tell these people that they are right in as much as Chavez has not gone far enough. If Venezuela is really to consolidate its gains then a further push along the lines of "cogestion" (worker's control) needs to be made to reel in the banks and large industries and create a real socialist future for Venezuela.