Excellent documentary on Chavez and Venezuela:

[Minstrel Boy]

Venezuela Bolivariana

Wonderful historical footage and context, including the failed coup against the corrupt Perez regime in the early 90s.

[Skink]

1. The misuse of public funds. I like that.

[flobee1]

2. Lots of stuff in there

that reminds me of Bush
crushing the poor
taking over the media
imperialism
ect

[Judi Lynn]

3. This is such a good film, I've taken notes. It detailed some important

information it will be good to know, as in: the Bolivarian Revolution didn't start with Hugo Chavez. It started on February 27, 1989, with "El Carracazo," when Venezuelan corrupt (later impeached for corruption) President Carlos Andres Perez ennacted a crushing set of controls on the people. From a several of the people interviewed:

"He gave away sovereignty of the country with a so-called "financial package" in which the nation subjected its tax revenues to the conditions of "the package... agreed to halt social programs... agreed to the privatization of different industries, etc., and especially agreed to "liberalize prices"..."

"Gas and public transportation had gone up and people couldn't afford it."

"It was a movement that wasn't organized by any union nor by a party nor a government. It was made by the people."

"Bus fares up 200%..."

One of the women who was interviewed during El Caracazo was murdered a few hours (one of the thousands mowed down by government forces called out by Carlos Andres Perez) after speaking with the filmmaker.

Very goddamned sad.

I haven't finished watching this film yet, as I wanted to make sure I got my comments posted before the thread disappeared!
I'm saving it to share with others, also.

Thank you, Minstrel Boy.

[1932]

6. I just read a book written by Manuel Noriega...this was the same

exact thing that happened in Panama in the 80s.

Panama elected a president -- a former U of Chicago student of George Schultz's -- who started off OK and then started selling everything off to Wall St so they dumped him. Next thing you knew, the US invaded their country.

[leftchick]

4. thank you MB!

:hi:

[Gabi Hayes]

5. thanks once again....can't wait for the usual suspects to start chiming

in:

Chavez the evil dictator surely financed this hagiography

Chavez will soon have all of South America under his evil communist thumb

after that, he'll be invading the Cuban American community in Miami; it's only a matter of time