Venezuelan Leader Seizes Greater Economic Power (Red Shirt)

NYT ^ | NYT

[old-and-old]

CARACAS, Venezuela — Faced with shortages of foods, building materials and other staples, President Hugo Chávez is intensifying state control of the Venezuelan economy through a new wave of takeovers of private companies and the creation of government-controlled ventures with allies like Cuba and Iran.

The moves come just months after voters rejected a referendum to give the president sweeping constitutional power over the economy and public institutions, leading to new accusations that Mr. Chávez is more interested in consolidating power than in fixing Venezuela’s problems.

And while he has argued that aggressive action against the private sector is needed to correct social injustices and fight soaring inflation, his critics say his moves are instead compounding those troubles.

One significant measure is foreign investment, which has hit record levels in several other Latin American countries but has fallen in Venezuela.

[old-and-old]

"But Mr. Chávez is wagering that he can fill the gap, particularly in foreign investment [he's confiscating private companies], through new ventures with allies like Cuba and Iran."

Bwahahaha

[I still care]

Great to see how prescient FR is once again.

I remember clearly Freepers talking about how fast shortages would start to appear as the government interfered in the market.

[VeniVidiVici]

A recent surge in oil prices has also helped Mr. Chávez’s government mask declining production at the national oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela. His supporters in the National Assembly recently approved a windfall tax on oil producers, potentially giving the government more than $2 billion in extra revenue this year.

I see Chubby has taught his Marxist followers in the US Democrat Party well.

[DGHoodini]

Another nation being turned into a concentration camp, by a greedy, power hungry, thieving pig and his murderers.

[DGHoodini]

Hey Dubya?...Don’t you think it’s gettin about time to sign that executive order?

[Dahoser]

Faced with shortages of foods, building materials and other staples, President Hugo Chávez is intensifying state control of the Venezuelan economy through a new wave of takeovers of private companies and the creation of government-controlled ventures with allies like Cuba and Iran.

Meanwhile, we have at least half the country here wanting our next President to do the same.

[Hacklehead]

Once again we get to see the results of what Hillconomics would have in store for the U.S.

[Liberty Valance]

Time to nationalize Baseball ... yea, that's it!

[fella]

Hey Dubya?...Don’t you think it’s gettin about time to sign that executive order?What? Get our own oil and create thousands of high paying jobs and make our economy soar and at the same time fill the government coffers? That's simply out of the question

[JustTheTruth]

Hugo: "... has argued that aggressive action against the private sector is needed to correct social injustices ..."

And this differs HOW from the words and actions coming from the 'leadership' of the Democrap party in the US of A?

Democrats are doing to the Constitution what Chavez has done in his country. Very little difference, in reality.

[SkyDancer]

Chavez is taking advice from Mugabe .....

[uglybiker]

RED SHIRT?!!

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS TO RED SHIRTS!!

[supremedoctrine]

You beat me to it. I was going to call Chavez the Latin American Mugabe. But it’s so much more lamentable in Venezuela, because they are starting with so much more.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Like watching the Titanic backup and re-ram the iceburg over and over again.

[Enchante]

LOL, good one!! ........or the lookouts first spot the iceberg with lots of warning time, so the Captain steers the ship straight at the berg while bellowing socialist propaganda to all of the ship’s passengers and crew over the P.A. system. Then as the ship is singing all are required to sing the Internationale at the top of their lungs or else be thrown overboard first.

[Enchante]

oops, that should have read “as the ship is SINKING”

[sometimes I don’t look before I leap and post]

[Rocky]

Chavez is taking advice from Mugabe .....

Yes, Venezuela is the new Zimbabwe. One definition of insanity is: continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

He’s making it more communist. Seizing private property is job #1 for communists.

[Chode]

Atlas Puked...

[SkyDancer]

One definition of insanity is: continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results.

Happens to me every time I watch the same movie ...LOL