The original poster You didn't read my post. I said the U.S. has never invaded country for OIL. I'm no good at hypotheticals - particularly anti-American ones. Whatever makes you entertained.[/QUOTE]
We agree. If you do not want to support the oppressive government of a country, but want to help the people there is not really a good answer, but I believe sanctions are the best way. There have been to many examples where food and medical aid was sent to a country for the people, only to have that aid horded by the government and dispensed as it saw fit or seized by a regional dictator for the same reason......control. The next logical question then is......do you try and help the people and if so how? My answer will not be popular, but here it is. Yes you try and help the people without empowering the control of the oppressive government more, so I have come to understand the point of covert operations to support a people. I believe we have not always gone about the "help" in the right direction, but I see the need. I am open to your thoughts on how to help the people, without further empowering the government.
Did you read the link about VZ from 2007? VZ got stung by the collapse of high oil rices, just as Russia did.
Yes, and I agree that helped get them to the place they are, but how do we help the people of Venezuela now.....or do we, without further empowering the government that got them in this position.
Its owned by VZ. Citgo is owned by PDV America, Inc. and headquartered in Houston, Texas. However, PDV America, Inc. is a subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of Venezuela. PDV acquired a 50% holding in 1986 and the remaining 50% in 1990. continued http://www.answers.com/Q/Who_owns_Citgo
I would say that much of the problems in Venezuela have been caused by the US's interest in having the regime it wants there in order to make money for the US to the detriment of the people of Venezuela and in connection with that a lot of the violence. I left some links. I think the US should butt out of trying to control South America for its 'National Interests'. In a video Pilger did on the American attempted coup on Chavez, they also showed the US being a part of the mass shooting, that is murder of hundreds of civilians in one of these countries for going on strike. Pilger interviewed American's involved in this. They said it was in the American National Interest. That is it was in the American National Interest, re money, to murder hundreds of civilians for striking so that others would not and the US would make money off their deaths. I understand you are up to something similar in Nicaragua.
Hugo Chavez Gives Heating Aid to U.S. Poor Following Obama ... Far more welcome news came from Citgo Petroleum ... year-old program of providing heating oil to poor Americans ... displayed by the American and ... https://mic.com/articles/3357/hugo-...s-poor-following-obama-budget-cuts#.9cPiFbEgi Jan. 16, 2012 Many poor Americans in colder climes will doubtless be dismayed to hear that shortly after ringing in the New Year, Congress and the president have decided to cut 25% from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, (LIHEAP) showing once again their preference to default on the needy and vulnerable rather than asking the most powerful and wealthy to make even the smallest sacrifices. Far more welcome news came from Citgo Petroleum Corporation, a subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, which announced that it would be continuing its six-year-old program of providing heating oil to poor Americans free of charge. The contrast between the values displayed by the American and Venezuelan governments – the “good guys” and “bad guys,” respectively, of the American political consensus – could not be more striking. $1.2 billion will be cut from LIHEAP, reducing its budget to $3.47 billion. Thankfully the initial requests of the Obama administration to cut the program’s funding to $2.5 billion were not carried out. In 2011, 8.3 million people were helped by LIHEAP, although there were more people eligible than the program was able to assist. According to the National Energy Assistance Director’s Association (NEADA) 90% of families participating in the program contain at least one “vulnerable” member, defined as the elderly, children, and the disabled. The cuts come at a time when the cost of heating oil has reached $3.93 a gallon, up 57 cents from last year. This is a 22-year high, according to the Energy Information Administration. The escalating price of heat is especially threatening to people living on a fixed income, including the retired. https://mic.com/articles/3357/hugo-...s-poor-following-obama-budget-cuts#.9cPiFbEgi
It makes things worse for the people and the government. If the government stays in power the people will continue to be oppressed. I don't want people to suffer anymore than you do, but is a lot of suffering now better then little suffering over a long period of time? I'm not sure there is a right answer or to put it a better way......I don't think there is a answer that doesn't involve suffering of the Venezuelan people.
How about read this from 2012 and then comment? https://mic.com/articles/3357/hugo-...s-poor-following-obama-budget-cuts#.9cPiFbEgi
I think this was meant for Wildjoker5. I was not questioning when Citgo gave heating oil to Americans.
Ok. Interesting read. But according to filings with the U.S. Federal Election Commission, Citgo donated US$500,000 towards Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. So Trump probably doesn't want to look like he's colluding with Venezuela. IDK, not really sure what this has to do with the US not invading. Giving countries like these aide doesn't help either since it usually is gathered up by the government and held for the politicians. Its funny how in socialist countries, only the people are made to practice socialism and the socialist get to keep the riches.
Maduro was elected. Venezuelans are getting what they voted for - good and hard. The US should not invade Venezuela.
Chile's Capitalist Oppression Versus Venezuela's Socialist ... www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/10/30/... A little story popped up today which I have to admit had me howling with laughter. After, of course, I had considered very thoroughly the evil of capitalists conspiring to rip off the people. https://www.forbes.com/sites/timwor...competence-toilet-paper-edition/#6ca2e59017b9 Excerpt: Now as above it's obviously wrong for the capitalists to collude in fixing prices so as to increase their profits. But do consider the end result of the two systems of oppression. Under that capitalist oppression it might be necessary to economise a little on the amount used, given the expense. Under the socialist oppression there simply isn't anything to economise upon. The capitalist rogues might well overcharge you but you are still able to wipe your fundament, the socialists leave you desperately hunting for those newspapers they're also so keen on banning. Price fixing is a seriously bad idea, whoever is doing it. We should punish the capitalists when they collude to rip us off: and we should probably punish the socialists when their attempts leave us bereft. All rather brings to mind Deirdre McCloskey's point, that the only thing worse than being exploited by a capitalist is not being exploited by a capitalist.
VZ was better off back then though. Now "the people" starve to death eating rabbits and hunting rats while being killed by the government.
The socialist political class is rather like the corrupt American political class. “CARACAS, June 2 (Reuters) - One is shown blowing a kiss from a private jet. Another is seen posing in front of a store of luxury jeweler Cartier in China. Others grin as they tuck into a plate of lobster or a massive birthday cake.” "We knew there was corruption, but never at these levels, and especially flaunted like this on social media," said @VVperiodistas, which has around one million followers. At least three children of prominent Socialist Party officials have blocked their Facebook accounts in the last weeks. "Outing government officials and their relatives... has become a phenomenon," added @YoSoyJustin. (Additional reporting by Andreina Aponte; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Frances Kerry)” REUTERS, Shaming 'Chavistas': Venezuela activists decry officials' luxury lifestyles, By Alexandra Ulmer, Friday, 2 June 2017. http://news.trust.org/item/20170602151815-jmqr4
