Chavez and Big Oil Gear Up For Struggle

[Psychoblues]

Hugo tries for the American peoples. The American politicos (rEpublicans) reject the assistance.


“Forcing Big Oil to give up control of Venezuela's most promising oil fields this week will be relatively easy for President Hugo Chavez, but he will face a more delicate challenge in getting the world's top oil companies to stay and keep investing.

If Chavez can persuade companies to stick around despite tougher terms, Venezuela will be on track to develop the planet's largest known oil deposit, possibly to surpass Saudi Arabia as the nation with the most reserves.

If he scares them away, the Orinoco River region could end up starved of the investment and know-how needed to transform its vast tar deposits into marketable crude oil.

On Tuesday, BP PLC, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., France's Total SA and Norway's Statoil ASA will turn over their Orinoco operations to Venezuela's state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA. Chavez, who says he is reclaiming the oil industry after years of private exploitation, is expected to be accompanied by troops and workers clad in revolutionary red amid fly-bys by the military's new Russian-made fighter jets.”

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6596942,00.html

The secret word here is “force”. Who is forcing who?

[5stringJeff]

Chavez is Big Oil. He owns/controls all the oil companies in Venezuela. His plan is nothing more than communist policies designed to run out private industries, in the name of "the people."

[Hagbard Celine]

Chavez is Big Oil. He owns/controls all the oil companies in Venezuela. His plan is nothing more than communist policies designed to run out private industries, in the name of "the people."

If it's cheaper than what it is now I don't care what he does. I paid $43.00 yesterday for 14.5 gallons. I drive a little bimmer sedan, hardly a gas guzzler, I keep it at or under 70 to ensure 30 mpg and it's still bleeding me dry. It shouldn't be $43 to fill up an economy car. There's something very wrong with that.

[5stringJeff]

Chavez owns Conoco Oil, so if you're cool with giving money to a Commie dictator, then feel free to gas up there.

What he's doing is screwing up people's ability to drill oil by getting his dictatorship involved in the oil business.

[gabosaurus]

If the people of Venezuela do not like the Chavez government, they will push him out of office.

[Gaffer]

If the people of Venezuela do not like the Chavez government, they will push him out of office.

Sure they will, just as soon as he gives them the right to vote again. And as soon as he disbands the army. The same way castro was pushed out.

[MtnBiker]

If the people of Venezuela do not like the Chavez government, they will push him out of office.

Or try to leave the country


Afraid of Hugo Chávez, Venezuelans leave home
BY STEVEN DUDLEY


CARACAS -- There wasn't one particular event that made Arturo Araque decide to leave Venezuela with his wife and two kids. It was an accumulation of President Hugo Chávez's politics, increasing crime and growing economic insecurity.

''My sense is that we're trapped with this man in power,'' Araque told The Miami Herald. ``I doubt that Venezuela will have another government anytime soon.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/91936.html

[Psychoblues]

It's clear ro me that you folks don't know shit about Venesuela, Chavez, oil discounts to Americans, big oil whining and crying about it or the South American version of democracy. Hell, most of you demostrate most clearly that you don't know anything about American democracy.

[5stringJeff]

So straighten us out, if you think you know more than us.

[zefrendylia]

So straighten us out, if you think you know more than us.

First of all, Venezuela's national oil company owns Citgo, not Conoco. Second, what are we in the 1950's Red Scare era still? What's with all the commie talk? Russia is now a capitalist country but the government is receding back into its totalitarian past--the economic theory of communism has nothing to do with that--only Putin's need to control and consolidate power. Totalitarian governments can exist in capitalist as well as communist economies. The Cold War's over everyone.

Next, if you only listen to American mainstream media and right-wing pundits all you will hear is, "Chavez is a commie" and "Chavez is a dictator." Why? Because American corporations in Venezuela who have been exploiting the country's natural resources for decades no longer have the upper hand. Don't forget that the board members on these corporations are also interlocked with the members on the boards of CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc. Interestingly enough, go anwhere outside the U.S. and you will hear a completely different take (not to mention a lot more substantive news).

Indeed, if the people of Venezuela thought he was a repressive dictator they would be pushing him out. Instead they brought him back with overwhelming support despite U.S. efforts to institute a successful coup. What? Not possible? It has been done dozens of times throughout Central America, South America, Africa, the Mid-East and Asia. To deny it is to be ignorant of American history. Corporate profits ALWAYS trump the human rights and self-determination of indigenous people who are unlucky enough to live on our natural resources.

Do some Venezuelans dislike Chavez? Sure. But even the pro-business Venezuelans realize Chavez's efforts to raise up the whole society through mass education, medical care, and infrastructure will benefit everyone in the long run; Chavez is not infringing on their rights. Chavez isn't about kicking out foreign investment. He's about Venezuelans getting their fair share of the oil profits in their country. And he's about telling the U.S. to stop trying to control and suppress South American progress through unfair contracts with multi-national corporations, the IMF, and World Bank. South Americans remember America's devastating "proxy wars" all too well, we conveniently don't. This is why Chavez has the support of many other South and Central American governments.

Here's another article from Steven Dudley that shows a different point of view:

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Venezuela_page/Chavez_Gaining_Support.html

Remember, almost all oil reserves in the world are run by state-run oil companies. We can soon take Iraq off that list if the parliament passes a bill engineered by the White House. It will privatize the entire industry and give profits of 70% to foreign corporations for 3 decades and 30% indefinitely (20% higher than the industry norm). I suppose to the victor goes the spoils. :salute:

[Psychoblues]

Thank you, zefrendylia. You are a jewel amongst the coals!!!!!!




First of all, Venezuela's national oil company owns Citgo, not Conoco. Second, what are we in the 1950's Red Scare era still? What's with all the commie talk? Russia is now a capitalist country but the government is receding back into its totalitarian past--the economic theory of communism has nothing to do with that--only Putin's need to control and consolidate power. Totalitarian governments can exist in capitalist as well as communist economies. The Cold War's over everyone.

Next, if you only listen to American mainstream media and right-wing pundits all you will hear is, "Chavez is a commie" and "Chavez is a dictator." Why? Because American corporations in Venezuela who have been exploiting the country's natural resources for decades no longer have the upper hand. Don't forget that the board members on these corporations are also interlocked with the members on the boards of CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc. Interestingly enough, go anwhere outside the U.S. and you will hear a completely different take (not to mention a lot more substantive news).

Indeed, if the people of Venezuela thought he was a repressive dictator they would be pushing him out. Instead they brought him back with overwhelming support despite U.S. efforts to institute a successful coup. What? Not possible? It has been done dozens of times throughout Central America, South America, Africa, the Mid-East and Asia. To deny it is to be ignorant of American history. Corporate profits ALWAYS trump the human rights and self-determination of indigenous people who are unlucky enough to live on our natural resources.

Do some Venezuelans dislike Chavez? Sure. But even the pro-business Venezuelans realize Chavez's efforts to raise up the whole society through mass education, medical care, and infrastructure will benefit everyone in the long run; Chavez is not infringing on their rights. Chavez isn't about kicking out foreign investment. He's about Venezuelans getting their fair share of the oil profits in their country. And he's about telling the U.S. to stop trying to control and suppress South American progress through unfair contracts with multi-national corporations, the IMF, and World Bank. South Americans remember America's devastating "proxy wars" all too well, we conveniently don't. This is why Chavez has the support of many other South and Central American governments.

Here's another article from Steven Dudley that shows a different point of view:

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Venezuela_page/Chavez_Gaining_Support.html

Remember, almost all oil reserves in the world are run by state-run oil companies. We can soon take Iraq off that list if the parliament passes a bill engineered by the White House. It will privatize the entire industry and give profits of 70% to foreign corporations for 3 decades and 30% indefinitely (20% higher than the industry norm). I suppose to the victor goes the spoils. :salute:

And a big ol' WELCOME TO DEBATEPOLICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come by the Lounge and let me buy you a refreshment of your choice!!!!!!!!!