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Posted on 01/04/2003 6:43:17 AM PST by chilepepper
What do their wages have to do with anything? They're a share the wealth society. Brain surgens and street sweepers will eventually be paid the same if left unchecked. They WILL become like China.
If they demand high wages like the U.S., there sales will be low due to cost increases. If they demand a wage equal to their labor, they'll profit.
Why pay for a dead horse? Unions are notorious for wanting more pay while wanting less labor.
Sorry I don't understand your logic. I'm a supporter of capitalism.
What a mess!
I've often thought that if 9/11 had happened on Clintons watch, elections would have become a thing of the past. Socialists even had a petition going demanding Clinton stay in office until the 2000 elections were straightened out, which would have taken years if America had agreed to it!
Scary thought!
LOL, yes that's it in a nutshell.
As part of his effort to break the strike, Mr. Chávez has had talks with officials from Algeria about the possibility of importing oil workers, and is reportedly exploring similar options with India and the Philippines.
He said today that he expected a team of Algerians to arrive soon. He described them as "tanker crews, some experts in energy matters, refining, production, and especially systems analysts."
He's fervently hoping for an excuse -- ANY excuse -- to do just that:
Venezuela's Chavez Considers Martial Law The Associated Press, Sat 4 Jan 2003
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)
President Hugo Chavez said he would consider imposing martial law to quell Venezuela's internal crisis after two people died and dozens more were wounded during a march aimed at ousting him.
Gunfire erupted Friday during an opposition march on the headquarters of the armed forces, Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno said. Two people died of gunshot wounds and at least 78 others were injured — five of them by gunshots.
It was unclear who fired on the demonstrators, who faced hundreds of Chavez supporters throwing rocks and bottles at security forces trying to keep the two sides apart.
``I am obligated to protect the people. I am obligated to protect public order,'' Chavez said. ``If they force me to (decree martial law), I'd have to do it.''
But, he added, ``So far, despite everything that has happened, there has been no need to apply any exceptional measures.''
Chavez made his comments after meeting with Cesar Gaviria, secretary general of the Organization of American States, who is trying to negotiate a settlement between the government and the opposition.
Daily street protests by Chavez opponents and supporters have been common since the opposition declared a general strike Dec. 2 in an attempt to oust the left-leaning Chavez.
Friday's anti-Chavez march deteriorated into a melee after the national guard fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a few hundred Chavez supporters, who were throwing rocks at security forces while waiting for marchers to arrive at a park near the military base entrance.
When marchers arrived and moved toward a security line, guardsmen fired more tear gas into the crowd. Shots then rang out.
The protest lasted several hours in the park, under a veil of tear gas, before marchers dispersed.
Opposition marcher Maria Arismendy crouched behind an ambulance, pouring water over the face of her small, howling dog.
``We're peaceful, but you see what they do,'' Arismendy said through her own tears. ``We just want our country back. Chavez has ruined everything.''
The injured included seven police officers, Police Chief Henry Vivas said. Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez said 11 people were hurt in a stampede.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel on Friday blamed ``irresponsible'' march leaders for trying to enter the park, which the government has declared a security zone — one of eight such zones in Caracas.
``They tried to break through a security barrier and that produced the clashes with security forces,'' Rangel told The Associated Press.
The last time people were killed during a political demonstration was Dec. 6, when three people were gunned down at an opposition rally. Dozens were killed in April rioting that sparked a coup. Chavez regained power after two days.
``The force of law is going to be imposed here,'' Chavez said Friday.
But opposition leader Hermann Escarra warned, in comments broadcast on Globovision television, that Venezuelans would hold Chavez responsible if martial law was declared and civil rights were violated.
The marchers demanded the release of Gen. Carlos Alfonso Martinez, one of about 100 officers who revolted last fall. Martinez was arrested Dec. 30 without a required court order and remains under house arrest even though a judge ordered his release.
The opposition accuses Chavez of causing a deep recession here : unemployment has reached 17 percent and inflation 30 percent under his rule. The opposition also charges Chavez with trying to impose a leftist, authoritarian government.
Chavez insists the opposition, which he calls the oligarchy, is trying to sabotage the economy to force him from power.
Chavez has agreed to a binding referendum on his presidency in August, halfway through his six-year term, which he says is the only way to test his support constitutionally.
The opposition wants a nonbinding referendum next month.
``We will resist until the end, until we achieve the objective of getting rid of Chavez and his authoritarian regime,'' said Carlos Ortega, president of the nation's largest trade union.
The strike has paralyzed oil production in Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter and a top supplier to the United States. The strike helped push international oil prices above $30 per barrel and oil workers have defied a back-to-work order by the Supreme Court.
Since the strike began, Chavez has been forced to import food and fuel.
Ali Rodriguez, president of the state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., told the state news agency Venpres the government has purchased 250,000 barrels of gasoline from a U.S. firm and 600,000 more barrels from Russia.
Venezuela also has received gasoline shipments from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago.
The government is trying to negotiate long-term import deals with those countries as well as Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico to meet domestic demand of 400,000 barrels a day.
"For the sake of the children."
They never get support for their policies directly. Most of the time they pose as populists, nationalists and what not, then, when in power, they arm themselves with friends and thugs they can control.
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At least, Chavez starts to show his true colors with this move. I think this will start losing him support with the any Union types who still might support him in Venezuela.
S O L I D A R N O S C!
S O L I D A R N O S C!
S O L I D A R N O S C!
I wonder how close we came to a civil war. I really am amazed that Clinton did not take advantage of the situation. It almost made me rethink all of those conspiracy theories that I believe about him and the Witch...but then I came to my senses and saw them as the communist infiltrators that they really are.
I'm amazed by the stand taken by the Brazilians-but I'm sure not nearly as amazed as Lula and Chavez were.
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