Let's learn from Venezuela to Protect our Democracy

As a Venezuelan (and now US citizen) people keep telling me, "but we're not Venezuela" but let me remind you that we in Venezuela kept saying "but we're not Cuba." We never thought our Constitution would be changed so drastically for the worse - but it did slowly - and LEGALLY - over a period of time. It changed in favor of an ego-centric leader who became a dictator and turned our beautiful, rich, oil-producing country into a major humanitarian and economic crisis. We never thought that our flag would change! We never thought our history books could be re-written! I urge all Americans - we shouldn't worry about what our new President has done, but what he could potentially do. We need to understand, have empathy for WHY he was elected, work to fix those problems, and urge our leadership - republicans and democrats alike - to examine every proposed amendment to change the constitution very carefully through the lens of the long term impact it will have on our democracy. I may never see Venezuela recover in my lifetime, but we still have the chance to keep our great United States' democracy in tact.

Maduro Versus Polar

The incompetent Maduro regime has elevated its attack against Lorenzo Mendoza, the

President of The Empresas Polar, one of the few food producing companies in Venezuela

today.  Since taking power in 2013, Maduro has continued the legacy of Hugo Chavez; the man who destroyed the private sector of the country and pilfered trillions of dollars to maintain a failing socialists regime.

For over 70 years The Empresas Polar has produced many consumer products from soap to beers, non-alcoholic beverage, to wines, and more importantly the company produces close to 40% of the food consumed by the nation.

For many years Venezuelans have relied on the rice, oats, pre-cooked corn flour, oil and pretty much many of the basic products such as pasta, margarines, vinegars, mayonnaise, sauces, food for animals, soaps, detergents, fabric softeners and soft drinks, etc. from this  company which has factories in Venezuela, Colombia, the USA and Europe.

Maduro issued his latest threat against the company’s President Lorenzo Mendoza accusing him of committing an economic war against the Venezuelan. Maduro is refusing to address the real issues that are affecting the country: an inflation rate that will reach 700% this year caused by the years of failing “socialist policies” such as the appropriation of producing private companies by an incompetent and corrupted regime; all these plus the high levels of corruption that has dismantled Venezuela transforming this rich country into a miserable, hungry and sick nation.

The Maduro regime should be ashamed of the fact that the Venezuelan people have to depend primarily on ONE company to supply a great portion of food to the nation because the regime managed to cripple the private sector.  The people of Venezuela should not allow more government intervention to the private sector. So far the appropriation to privately own companies have been a economically catastrophic for the nation. Polar will end up destroyed by the incompetence of the Maduro regime and the damaging effect will be long lasting for Venezuela.

Pope Francis Smells Sulfur with Maduro's Presence

Nine years ago, Hugo Chavez stood at the UN General Assembly and made his famous statement against then president George Bush saying that "The devil came here yesterday, and it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of."

This very disrespectful comment from the Venezuelan President  was considered a daring act by many. Chavez repeatedly accused Bush of orchestrating a cup d’état against him in 2002.
Last Friday Pope Francis addressed the United Nation with his passion about “enviromental justice.” After the Pope's remarkable speech, and as he was leaving , Maduro attempted to move closer, to be acknowledged.  His attempt was in vain and instead it raised eyebrows at his desperation. 

It is difficult to understand why  the Pope is okay with shaking the bloody hands  of Fidel Castro, last week. Thousand have been killed under his watch and many others are still victims of his brother Raul's regime. What is even more baffling from this otherwise remarkable Pope is his indifference with the Cuban dissidents. Last week while in Cuba, he  ignored the Opposition leaders who wanted to meet with him.  This seems to be a contradiction.

But going back to Maduro, It is very possible that the Pope finally smelled Maduro's Sulfur from his human right violations, and the conviction of Leopoldo Lopez. 

The curse giving by the Venezuelan to the Regime

A Very interesting blog was written by Journalist Maibort Petit,  entitled “The Curse of the  Pantheon Bites and Spreads!

As she points out in the article, I am not sure if the curse of Bolivar or the curse of the Pantheon,  has caused the death of many individuals from the Chavez regime, including Hugo Chavez.

I do believe in the curse giving by the Venezuelan citizens  who are sick and tired of so much hate and destruction caused by this bunch of thieves, and the repressive and inept government. I am not sure if they will all from this curse but that the regime will fall very soon, I am pretty sure.  

Master of Distraction

While Venezuela deepens and deepens into an abysm of economic depression, and devastating lack of products and an out of control delinquency,  Nicolas Maduro came to the United Nations with a large entourage to discuss the disagreement with Guyana in an effort to distract the UN and the rest of the world. Under any circumstance we minimize the protecting of the Venezuelan land, but the situation in Venezuela is so critical and hungry is spreading like a wild fire that is prompting people through out the country to breaking into food storage places, an supermarkets desperate to find food. Maduro who lacks respect for the Venezuelan continues accusing the opposition of wedging an economic war to tumble the government.  Everyone knows that is Maduro’s government who has got a tied control of the dollar in Venezuelan, restringing the few private companies left continue producing. In the mean time the prices are out of control for the few goods available and the country has fallen into a hyperinflation.

It is very difficult to believe that Venezuela, a rich oil country has its citizen scrambling for food and is forcing people to break the law in this lawless country run by an inept government that has been keen in human right violations and the continues blaming game that Nicolas Maduro inherited from his predecessor Hugo Chavez.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan political prisoners like Leopoldo Lopez, Daniel Ceballo, Antonio Ledezma, as well as many Students are still the victims of this tyrant regime.  This, is in addition to the constant harassment and human right violations against former Assemblywoman, Maria Corina Machado, other opposition leaders and the average citizens. There is no solutions in sight. 

Venezuelans from around the Globe Stand with our Students in their Fight for Democracy

The frustration of Venezuelans living under democratic rules abroad runs high. Young brave students are getting abused, tortured and even killed by Nicolas Maduro oppressive regime   Since Maduro took office, his Bolivarian guards have murdered over 45 students, many others have disappeared, and hundreds are imprisoned and being tortured.  

Lying and deceiving the Venezuelan people about foreign plots against Venezuela was Chavez’s tactic to create fear and hold on to power. 15 years later Nicolas Maduro is using the same technique. Although this time, not even the Chavistas are buying it.

Maduro has taken the repression even further. He doesn't allow journalist to photograph the long lines and the empty store shelves. His inability to solve the Venezuelan economic crisis has left this rich oil producing country rapidly falling into an economic and social abyss.

The bravery of our young student protesters and their desire for a better nation have forced them to forfeit their dreams and confront the dictator with their only weapon: Protesting. The Maduro regime has decided to not only steal their futures with economic uncertainty, but also to take their lives for speaking out. In a perfect world, Nicolas Maduro should have been forced to resign by the international community, and be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.

Our Venezuelan students are fighting an unfair battle for wanting a better life. They want what other kids have abroad: freedom to express themselves, freedom to have a decent and productive life. We stand with our Venezuelan Students for their bravery, and we shame those neighboring countries that have aligned with Nicolas Maduro, for economic gain. History will remember this travesty and their disregard for human rights and dignity.

International Pressure Against Maduro to stop his Killing Machine

Violence has increased in Venezuela under the Nicolas Maduro's watch.  Maduro has demonstrated a blatant disregard for human rights, particularly against students and political leaders since he took office in 2014. Last week Antonio Ledezma, the Mayor of Caracas was arrested, and  Opposition leader Jorge Borges is “under investigation.”

This past Tuesday, a 14-year-old high school student from San Cristobal was shot in the head at point blank range when he was protesting. This style of murdering dissidents is becoming common in Venezuela. Last week we heard the senseless killing of three university students who were in police custody. They were found tortured to death.  The list of human right violations goes on and on with no end in sight.  The Maduro regime and his clan are very aware  that the Venezuelan problems of food shortage and lack of productivity are not going  away.  Protesters in Venezuela have emerged since last February against the regime’s inability to perform its duties.  Nicolas Maduro is again focusing his attention on oppression and human rights violations instead of solving the immediate economic crisis.

This past January, General Vladimir Padrino López, passed a resolution which gives  license to  police to murder students who protest.  This mandate supports the use of firearms and other weapons against “immediate aggressions” according with the Minister. 

International Pressure Against Maduro to stop his  Killing Machine 

The subsequent abuses of power in Venezuela has prompted international outrage. This past Wednesday the US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Maduro regime of  "egregious behavior" and promised  to expedite  the implementation of recent sanctions to those members of his cabinet that have committed human right violations. These sanctions are crucial, but in addition to the sanctions, international pressure must also  come from the UN, the OAE,  the European Communities, and all the democratic Latin American nations.

This is to stop  the Nicolas Maduro killing rampage and hopefully force him out of office through democratic means. 

It is interesting to note that the students today who are protesting this violent and oppressive regime only know Chavismo as a way of government. They have no other point of reference.

When Chavez came to power in 1999, most of the students where either toddlers or were just entering elementary school.  These young people only have known the Chavez Socialism of the XXI Century , a failing political ideology, hybrid from the collapsing  Cuban  political system under the Castro brothers, who are still holding  power after 56 years.
Maduro will not last that long. The protests will continue. Maduro will go,  but the question is,  how much more  damage will he cause on his way out.

LATIN AMERICA UNITED AGAINST DICTATORS?

The recent visit to Venezuela from three former Presidents, Colombian Andres Pastrana, Mexican Felipe Calderon, and Chilean Sebastian Piñeda brought a new glimpse of hope to Venezuela. During the past 14 years of the Chavez regime, Latin American countries were reluctant to criticize the abuses imposed by the late Hugo Chavez to the Venezuelan opposition, the private sector, and the media.

The decline of the Venezuelan economy, lack of food and other essential products, physical abuses, tortures and human right violations have turned the tide for the Maduro regime. Nicolas Maduro took office in 2014, less than a year ago after the passing of Hugo Chavez.

During the early years of the Chavez regime many Latin American countries, including Brazil, were initially turned off by the Chavez socialist rhetoric, but when Venezuelan oil bonanza kicked in, only a few countries stood against Chavez.  The majority of  Venezuela’s neighboring countries embarked on position of complacent silence. In the 15th year of  Chavismo power, and after  $250 billion of oil bonanza income, Venezuela has nothing to show. Those billions were pilfered or stolen - leaving the Country with a huge debt, poverty, hunger, and destruction behind.

Very different than what happened in Dubai, with their high oil revenues. They built large ports, a financial center, and a robust Tourist industry. Furthermore, Dubai, thinking about the future, plans to reduce their 55% oil revenue dependency to 33% by diversifying its economy.

Even during the United States’ Gold Rush that lasted a similar period of time, the Government helped towns grow by encouraging settlement and expanding the Country’s infrastructure, the Railroad.

It is our hope that more Latin American leaders make a bold move like Pastrana, Piñeda, and Calderon, and categorically denounce the abuses and human right violations taking pace in Venezuela.

Populism -

http://youtu.be/xkYEXS16dZA

A Dictatorship in Venezuela

Diosdado Cabello, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, threatens to take action against the Opposition if they protest. "If  they go out and protest they will regret it the rest of their life,” said Cabello. 

The question to Diosdado Cabello is: Why the threats, when the people of Venezuela just want to exercise their right to protest as stated in Article 68 of the Venezuelan Constitution?

In addition to Diosdado Cabello erratic threats, he also accuses the Opposition of trying to do an economic coup d'etat, masterminded by the United States.  Like Hugo Chavez did, Diosdado Cabello and Nicolas Maduro spent a lot of their time fantasizing with an attack from the United States instead of solving the basic food needs of the country.

The Chavez/Maduro/Diosdado Cabello clan ruined the economy of a rich oil producing country, destroyed its infrastructure, and changed its history.  Now they tell Venezuelan's to refrain from complaining, or they will pay with their lives. A real dictatorship.

The Rise of Hugo Chavez and the fall of Venezuela

It is hard to believe that Venezuela, until 1999, was considered a very stable democracy with a growing economy in Latin America. Venezuela never faced the levels of depression and human right violations, and the lack of food and goods that it is experiencing today.

The rise of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, with his demagogue talks about Socialism of the XXI century directed to the masses, and the elimination of multiple political parties in favor of the official party has been catastrophic.

Just like Hitler, Stalin or Mussolini did in their days, Hugo Chavez’s empty promises and handouts worked temporarily, but didn't solve the deep-seated problems of poverty and inequality in Venezuela.   Hugo Chavez demagogy, which emphasized in income redistribution, increasing wages by decree, and controlling prices artificially brought Venezuela's economy to its knees.
High oil income estimated to be about 250 billion dollars, during the last 14 years was pilfered or stolen by the government bureaucracy, military officers and bankers that do business with the government. In addition, the lack of accountability and transparency, which existed in the Chavez regime produced a level of corruption never seen before in Venezuela.

These problems compounded by Nicolas Maduro's incompetence, this past year in office, to solve the shortage of food, electricity and other problems inherited from the Chavez’s regime.

The Maduro administration has demonstrated to be incapable of solving the severe corruption, economic problems, and food shortage in the country. This past year the regimen resulted in oppressing dissidents while his government continues excluding significant portions of society from decision-making. The result is that Venezuela has become poorer and a more backward society.
February 2014 kicked off the most severe repression and human right violations that Venezuela has seen in 50 years which led to hundred of people being incarcerated, abused and tortured by the Maduro regime.

February 2015 may mark the end of the Socialism of the XXI and the return to democracy in Venezuela.

The oil plunges and Maduro’s future plunges with it

The falling of the oil prices combined with US green light to oil companies to export crude oil are going to create a further economic crisis for countries like Venezuela that primarily depends on oil production.

In 2013, Venezuela ranked as one of the countries with the highest misery, not only on the economic part but also on personal security matters.

The appropriation of businesses by the Chavez regime forced many companies to close down or stop production completely which has devastated the country’s economy, forcing his follower Nicolas Maduro to further devaluate the currency due to growing shortages of food and other basic goods in the country.

According with a BBC report the Venezuelan annual inflation roused  to 63%  in  2014 and 2015  brings even a bleaker picture, transforming Venezuela into the perfect backdrop for a booming black market.

The drop of the oil prices is in my view the last step needed for the collapsing of the authoritarian and inefficient Maduro regime, leaving a once rich and prosperous country like Venezuela into an economic devastation.

The Tragedy of DIctators and Revolutions in Latin America

Reynaldo Bignone is  convicted in Argentina again, but this time for 26 years in prison for “stealing children” and murdering their young parents that opposed the regime. Reynaldo Bignone was part of the military junta under the dictator Jorge Videla, sentenced to prison for 50 years in an early trial. Videla is accused as the master minded of the “dirty war” that killed 30,000 people from 1970 to 1982 and, devastated families, separated children, and terrorized an entire generation.

Around the same time, Chile suffered a similar tragedy under the dictatorship of General August Pinochet which lasted 18 years. Some 3,000 people killed, and about 30,000 in prison or tortured under the dictator.

Populists and revolutions have also claimed the life of thousands in countries like Cuba and Venezuela.  During the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro fought the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and took control of Cuba. Fidel then killed and tortured thousands who opposed him, and forced 1.5 million people to flee the country, establishing his dictatorship for over  half a century.

Venezuela is another tragic example. In 2014, 26,000 people were killed in violent crimes under the indifferent eyes of the Maduro regime.  According to an NBC report; a person is murdered in Venezuela every 21 minutes.  

Like Hugo Chavez did, Nicolas Maduro blames others for the devastated economy and the insecurity problem that the country faces today. Yet, Maduro offers no solution to these problems. My only guess is that Maduro feels it is easy to control people who are distracted by fearing for their lives.