VIDEO: Bolivia NATIONALIZES OIL & GAS COMPANIES (Channel 4 UK)

[redacted]

http://www.channel4.com/news/special-reports/special-reports-storypage.jsp?id=2285

The Bolivian President Evo Morales - the first indigenous American premier - has followed through on one of his key election pledges and begun to nationalise the country's Gas industry.

It's a popular move with the grass roots - but the scale of the appropriations are fomenting a major diplomatic row.

The EU warns the moves are not good for Bolivia's economic future - and Brazil's left wing leader Lula da Silva is to hold emergency energy talks with other South American leaders. Here's our Washington Correspondent Jonathan Rugman.

[grasswire]

1. this is a huge story

If it hasn't been in LBN, it should be.

[redacted]

2. Another huge story censored in the U.S. And why can't we do this?

As I mentioned in another thread, my Econ 101 prof said that we needed to nationalize oil companies on the grounds that in modern society oil production is a utility like water service, and nationalization was the only way to prevent situations from ours like happening. And he said that many years before the current mess we're in developed.

[laheina]

6. That's pretty liberal talk

for an economist. ;)

[redacted]

10. laheina, maybe I need more coffee, but I didn't get the joke

I'm a little slow this morning. Are you an economist?

[laheina]

5. SOmeone had mentioned it to me earlier in the day

and I went to LBN to check on it. I didn't see anything.

And I agree. It is huge.

[leftchick]

8. Here is the LBN thread

from monday...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2257526

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3. VIDEO: Crisis talks on Bolivia gas move

Bolivia is to hold talks with Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela to discuss its decision to nationalise the gas industry.

The move has alarmed Brazil and other key foreign investors in Bolivian gas. Steve Kingstone reports from Sao Paulo.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_4960000/newsid_4967500/nb_wm_4967514.stm

[sandnsea]

4. corrupt governments, corrupt corporations

It doesn't matter who has control of resources. If the process isn't transparent and the people aren't engaged, any system has the potential of being corrupted with the benefits ending up in the hands of a few. I'm not saying anything about Morales at all. I'm just saying people have got to stop thinking nationalizing everything is a panacea. It's not. Ultimately, many small companies that prevent consolidation and price control, price gouging, is likely to work best.

[Disturbed]

7. It seems that most of Latin America will be going Socialist.

Now that the RW Juntas are out of favor and the Neo Fascist Regime of the US is quite upset about this trend. The peopleto the South of the US, incl Mexico seem to be gaining ground and rejecting Predator Capitalism.

[sandnsea]

9. Must be ever vigilant

The socialism doesn't bother me so much, but any government can become corrupted. That's what I think some people don't want to consider.

And predator capitalism? How would you like to get a $300 a month check that only buys beans and rice and told you can't go work for more money? Some anti-capitalists don't quite grasp the negative consequences of other economic systems.