Democracy for Vancouver

According to Reuters, Rice spews out today, “I believe there is an assault on democracy in Venezuela and I believe that there are significant human rights issues in Venezuela,” Rice told lawmakers at a congressional hearing. “I do believe that the president of Venezuela is really, really destroying his own country, economically, politically.”

Rice is talking about an assault on democracy by a foreign leader. Say what? What would you call endless signing statements, the Military Detention Act, the Patriot Act, Guantanamo, Abu Graib, secret renditions, secret wiretapping, etc., etc. etc.? How does she square these atrocities and unconstitutional activities with Chavez’s undemocratic acts. Is it not obvious to everyone anywhere including herself that Chavez’s undemocratic acts are mild and benevolent compared to the person who authorizes her paycheck? If I were her, I’d keep quiet about any talk about “assaults on democracy”.

Ah, but the story goes on to explain obtusely what the real problem with Chavez is:

Venezuela has vowed to strip some of the world’s biggest oil companies of controlling stakes in oil projects of the country’s Orinoco Belt by May 1.

The pledge, which affects firms such as Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Conoco Phillips, Statoil and BP Plc, forms a vital part of the nationalizations at the heart of his revolution in Venezuela.

So the Bush administration gives tax breaks to the oil companies, occupies Iraq for no good reason that can be found besides control of their oil, weakens environmental standards, refuses to sign the Kyoto treaty, etc., etc., etc.

Chávez has successfully initiated a land transfer program and has introduced several reforms aimed at improving the social welfare of the population. These reforms entailed the lowering of infant mortality rates; the implementation of a free, government-funded healthcare system; and free education up to the university level. By December of 2001, inflation fell to 12.3% the lowest since 1986, while economic growth was steady at four percent. Chávez’s administration also reported an increase in primary school enrollment by one million students.

In 2005, President Chávez initiated a program to provide cheaper heating fuel for poor people in several areas of the United States. The program was expanded in September 2006 to include four of New York City’s five boroughs, earmarking 25 million gallons of fuel for low-income New York residents this year at 40% off the wholesale market price. That quantity provides sufficient fuel to heat 70,000 apartments, covering 200,000 New Yorkers, for the entire winter. From Wikipedia

etc., etc., etc.

So who again is assaulting democracy, Ms. Rice?

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