Posted on 12/29/2014 12:52:28 PM PST by nuconvert
My country, Venezuela, is on the verge of social and economic collapse. This slow-motion disaster, nearly 15 years in the making, was not initiated by falling oil prices or by mounting debts.
It was set in motion by the authoritarian government’s hostility toward human rights and the rule of law and the institutions that protect them.
-excerpt- I am writing from a military prison, where I have been held since February as a result of speaking out against the government’s actions. I am one of scores of political prisoners in my country ....
-excerpt-
... Venezuela’s road to ruin was paved years ago by a movement to dismantle basic human rights and freedoms in the name of an illusory vision of achieving greater good for the masses through the centralization of power.
When the current ruling party, the United Socialist Party, first took power in 1999, its supporters viewed human rights as a luxury, not a necessity. Large segments of the population were living in poverty, and in need of food, housing and security. Protecting free speech and the separation of powers seemed frivolous. In the name of expediency, these values were compromised and then dismantled entirely.
The legislature was neutered, allowing the executive to rule by decree without the checks and balances that prevent government from veering off track. The judiciary was made accountable to the ruling party, rendering the constitution and the law meaningless.
-excerpt-
Apologists, many from other countries, including the U.S., say these sacrifices were and are for the collective good of the country.
-excerpt-
... our constitution provides a way forward... Our proposal is simple but powerful: All rights for all people. Not some rights for some people. No regime should have the power to decide who gets access to which rights.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
If you would like to read the entire article, please FReepmail me
The only good socialist is a dead socialist. Plan accordingly.
Is he saying if a creep offers you ‘free’ candy if you get in the car with him that it might end badly?
This could be a letter from the US in 5 years.
And the GOPe thinks we are being hysterical when we warn them about Obama.
..........thanks for posting this............obviously he could have been describing Obama and his democrats 2014 USA as well........................
hmmmm............I agree with your first sentence totally.
Don’t quite understand your second sentence, sorry.
Thanks for responding though!
A good lesson is this:
Venezuelans voted for this overwhelmingly. While it is certainly true that Chavez eventually learned how to steal elections, the early series of elections were won overwhelmingly. The “opposition” parties folded like wet newspaper because, at bottom, they agreed with him and couldn’t offer any real philosophical argument.
He promised to throw out the constitution openly, and promised openly to fire the congress and the Supreme Court and they voted for him anyway. He kept his word, firing congress and the Court from the inauguration podium and the packed up their offices and went home; none of them stood and said, you are a mere president, you do not have the power to fire me. Because of course they knew the mobs would back it up.
After he destroyed the economy, the people continued to say that he had failed to fulfill his promises; they never understood that the mere fact that he promised the things he promised guaranteed he would be a dictator who would lead them to destruction. This was always going to end badly.
The problem was never Chavez alone, but a people who longed for a strong man to set things right by force. They trusted him because he was military; their memory of military rule was a fuzzy golden age when the streets were clean and everyone had enough to eat. That wasn’t Chavez.
Full letter here for those who do not wish to register with wsj
http://daniel-venezuela.blogspot.com/2014/12/leopoldo-lopez-versus-diosdado-cabello.html
“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money”.
Venezuela couldn’t sustain the gravy train after the oil revenues dried up.
Thanks
Greetings nuconvert:
Thank you for sharing. Too many 0bamaphiles feel Chavez should have been Pres_ _0bama’s role model.
Cheers,
OLA
If I were the American President, I’d send in the special forces to bust this guy out of prison.
Send Castro on an express train to hell first.
If I had anything to say about, Castro wouldn’t have lived to see 1960. Of course that was over 20 years before I was born.
He wouldn’t survive Jan 20th if I was elected President. Too bad I won’t be President, unless maybe I become a reality TV star first.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.