My Two Cents on Hugo Chavez

Hugo Chavez is not the most attractive foreign politician to Americans. He is a demagogue, a communist sympathizer, and most importantly, fervently anti-American.

However, he is remarkable. He has energized his entire country, for better or worse, and has brought attention to a vast constituency that was previously ignored in Venezuela: the poor. He has proven this by many symbolic (and practical) gestures that are not uncommon in U.S politics, especially in urban areas. He has opened health care centers, schools, and hospitals that show that his priorities are with the people of Venezuela; not the special interests.

However, as seen often in South American politics, Chavez is not all good. He recently announced a massive spending plan for the purchase of 50 Mig-29 fighter jets. The plan would cost $4 billion and would do nothing but antagonize the western hemisphere, which seems to be content with one super power. He is on extremely good terms with Fidel Castro, which is not unreasonable as they are neighbors, and has allegedly showed his solidarity by implementing communism classes in public schools, which is relatively threatening. Moreover, he has waged battles against private schools that do not follow his self-serving curriculum.

To address the most popular hit on the blogosphere, Pat Robertson does not know what he's talking about. Besides the obvious hypocrisy of a Christian leader advocating murder, Robertson seems to ignore the fact that Chavez is popular in his country, and has received support in the form of election victories, despite the cries of fraud from the opposition. Perhaps if Pat Robertson reviewed the history of U.S sponsored assassinations in South America, he'll understand why it's not a good route to democracy. The last time the U.S assasinated a "commie", the replacement, General Augusto Pinochet, helped install freedom by "disappearing" over 30,000 Chilean citizens.

Here are some quotes from the "Old" Pat Robertson.