This is a very bad idea...we're going to end up with another Cuba

Quote :

"CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez is set to assume unbridled powers to remake Venezuelan society as the National Assembly prepares to grant him authority to enact sweeping measures by presidential decree. The assembly, which is completely controlled by Chavez supporters, is scheduled to meet Wednesday in a Caracas plaza to approve a so-called "enabling law" that will give Chavez special powers for 18 months to transform 11 broadly defined areas, including the economy, energy and defense. Chavez, who is beginning a fresh six-year term, says the legislation will be the start of a new era of "maximum revolution" during which he will consolidate Venezuela's transformation into a socialist society. His critics, however, are calling it a radical lurch toward authoritarianism by a leader with unchecked power. The former paratroop commander has already said he will use the law to decree nationalizations of Venezuela's largest telecommunications company and the electricity sector, slap new taxes on the rich and impose greater state control over the oil and natural gas industries. A final draft of the law shows Chavez will also be allowed to dictate unspecified measures to transform state institutions; reform banking, tax, insurance and financial regulations; decide on security and defense matters such as gun regulations and military organization; and "adapt" legislation to ensure "the equal distribution of wealth" as part of a new "social and economic model." Chavez also plans to reorganize regional territories and carry out reforms aimed at bringing "power to the people" through thousands of newly formed Communal Councils, in which Venezuelans will have a say on spending an increasing flow of state money on neighborhood projects from public housing to road repaving. Lawmakers were scheduled to formally approve the law Wednesday in an outdoor session in Caracas' Plaza Bolivar, next to the National Assembly. Chavez's supporters deny the law constitutes an abuse of power and argue radical steps are necessary to accelerate the creation of a more egalitarian society. National Assembly President Cilia Flores said the special powers will enable Chavez to enact new laws that "will benefit the people, those who were excluded their whole lives. They are laws for inclusion and social justice." Others say the enabling law is dangerously concentrating power in the hands of single man. Historian Ines Quintero said that with the new powers, Chavez will achieve a level of "hegemony" that is unprecedented in Venezuela's nearly five decades of democratic history. She said the effects will be "exponential" because Chavez will wield "extraordinary powers" in a context where state institutions are weakening and the division of powers is not being respected. Chavez has requested special powers twice before. In 1999, shortly after he was first elected, he was only able to push through two new taxes and a revision of the income tax law after facing fierce opposition in congress. In 2001, by invoking an "enabling law" for the second time, he decreed 49 laws including controversial agrarian reform measures and a law that sharply raised taxes on foreign oil companies operating in Venezuela. This time, the law will give Chavez a free hand to bring under state control some oil and natural gas projects that are still run by private companies — the latest in a series of nationalist energy policies in Venezuela, a top oil supplier to the United States and home to South America's largest gas reserves. Chavez has said oil companies upgrading heavy oil in the Orinoco River basin — British Petroleum PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips Co., Total SA and Statoil ASA — must submit to state-controlled joint ventures, as companies have already done elsewhere in the country. The law gives Chavez the authority to intervene and "regulate" the transition to joint ventures if companies do not adapt to the new framework within an unspecified "peremptory period." "

[Edited on January 31, 2007 at 9:37 AM. Reason : ]

1/31/2007 9:32:04 AM

he's their idiot, thankfully not ours, maybe some some our fellow citizens could move down there since they think his way is so much better

1/31/2007 9:35:01 AM

when discussing new presidential powers i really really hope you arent implying that democrats would find comfort there

1/31/2007 9:40:47 AM

no, I'm not

1/31/2007 9:46:05 AM

This'll be interesting.

1/31/2007 9:57:04 AM

Most people saw this coming. This should not be a surprise to anyone.

1/31/2007 9:58:56 AM

yeah, i moved all of my foreign investments not only out of that region, but out of south america altogether when the rumors started last year.

One Example- CanTV is the largest telecom in Venezuela and traded on the NYSE. Earlier this month, the stock sank 35 percent following the announcement by Chávez of impending nationalization.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/01/09/en_eco_art_09A822531.shtml

Venezuela is fucked.

1/31/2007 10:13:17 AM

sucks for the american companies who will have their interests nationalized

1/31/2007 10:18:35 AM

with our role as global police .... I'll take the under on 7 years before it's our problem/we make it our problem

1/31/2007 11:07:15 AM

yeah this seriously sucks. as long as he's in power he's going to mock whoever and whatever party or person is in control in the US. and we wont get anywhere.

he's just like an early Castro, and just as combative.

1/31/2007 11:12:53 AM

This isn't really new. I mean nationalizing the tv station is new, but the decree isn't.

1/31/2007 11:46:01 AM

hey Kris, you should move there... sounds like the type of government you'd love to have.

1/31/2007 11:52:02 AM

Quote :

"he's just like an early Castro, and just as combative."

Combative? Yes. But not nearly as smart as Castro.

Castro had legit leverage from the Soviets and was a bit more sly. Chavez is just an asshole.

1/31/2007 12:02:24 PM

Quote :

"sucks for the american companies who will have their interests nationalized"

Actually it sucks more for the Venezuelan people who expect competency in running a business.

1/31/2007 12:11:23 PM

Its amazing how that region does the same thing over and over.

This time, the US wasn't even involved.

1/31/2007 12:27:44 PM

i can't wait until their economy tanks. you know those who are better off (both individuals and corporations) are going to start moving out of the country if they haven't already

1/31/2007 12:32:04 PM

He'll be a good dictator and kill millions, awesome

1/31/2007 4:02:54 PM

Quote :

"Combative? Yes. But not nearly as smart as Castro. Castro had legit leverage from the Soviets and was a bit more sly. Chavez is just an asshole."

True. I guess I meant to say his political movements and rhetoric mimic early Castro in Cuba.

But definitly not nearly as sly and smart. Basicially as you said, just an asshole.

1/31/2007 4:38:28 PM

1/31/2007 4:44:13 PM

Quote :

"A final draft of the law shows Chavez will also be allowed to dictate unspecified measures to transform state institutions; reform banking, tax, insurance and financial regulations; decide on security and defense matters such as gun regulations and military organization; and "adapt" legislation to ensure "the equal distribution of wealth" as part of a new "social and economic model.""

Breaking News!

The wealthy (or what's left of them) are reported to be fleeing Venezuela in droves today, making the whole idea of wealth redistribution pointless. Sources say that shooting yourself in the foot as such is a clever way to drive your country towards economic recession and/or bankruptcy.

D:

1/31/2007 4:50:01 PM

ILF keeps going up...i bet they've long restructured their holdings.

I wonder if future Ms. Venezuelas will continue to be as hot.

1/31/2007 4:55:16 PM

I thought this said "Cheez gets power to make laws himself"

I was going to be behind it 100%

1/31/2007 5:17:44 PM

we discussed this a while ago, you people missed out.

1/31/2007 5:29:55 PM

chavez is a fucktard if there has ever been one

2/1/2007 2:16:48 PM

the biggest questions are these:

1) will he have authority to muck with the electoral system?
2) is there a way to short-sell venezuelan currency?

2/1/2007 2:26:44 PM

Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich

Der Reichstag hat das folgende Gesetz beschlossen, das mit Zustimmung des Reichsrats hiermit verkündet wird, nachdem festgestellt ist, daß die Erfordernisse verfassungsändernder Gesetzgebung erfüllt sind:

Artikel 1

Reichsgesetze können außer in dem in der Reichsverfassung vorgesehenen Verfahren auch durch die Reichsregierung beschlossen werden. Dies gilt auch für die in den Artikeln 85 Abs. 2 und 87 der Reichsverfassung bezeichneten Gesetze.

Artikel 2

Die von der Reichsregierung beschlossenen Reichsgesetze können von der Reichsverfassung abweichen, soweit sie nicht die Einrichtung des Reichstags und des Reichsrats als solche zum Gegenstand haben. Die Rechte des Reichspräsidenten bleiben unberührt.

Artikel 3

Die von der Reichsregierung beschlossenen Reichsgesetze werden vom Reichskanzler ausgefertigt und im Reichsgesetzblatt verkündet. Sie treten, soweit sie nichts anderes bestimmen, mit dem auf die Verkündung folgenden Tage in Kraft. Die Artikel 68 bis 77 der Reichsverfassung finden auf die von der Reichsregierung beschlossenen Gesetze keine Anwendung.

Artikel 4

Verträge des Reiches mit fremden Staaten, die sich auf Gegenstände der Reichsgesetzgebung beziehen, bedürfen für die Dauer der Geltung dieser Gesetze nicht der Zustimmung der an der Gesetzgebung beteiligten Körperschaften. Die Reichsregierung erläßt die zur Durchführung dieser Verträge erforderlichen Vorschriften.

Artikel 5

Dieses Gesetz tritt mit dem Tage seiner Verkündung in Kraft. Es tritt mit dem 1. April 1937 außer Kraft, es tritt ferner außer Kraft, wenn die gegenwärtige Reichsregierung durch eine andere abgelöst wird.

2/1/2007 2:43:33 PM

^ For what it's worth, a translation:

Law for the recovery of the emergency of people and realm The realm day decided the following law, which is hereby announced with agreement of the realm advice, after it is stated that the requirements of legislation containing a constitutional amendment are fulfilled:

Article 1
Realm laws can be decided except in the procedure planned in the realm condition also by the realm government. This applies also to in the articles 85 the Abs. 2 and 87 of the realm condition designated laws.

Article 2
The realm laws decided by the realm government can deviate from the realm condition, as far as they do not have the mechanism realm tags and the realm advice as such to the article. The rights of the realm president remain unaffected.

Article 3
The realm laws decided by the realm government are executed by the realm chancellor and announced in the realm law gazette. They enter into force, as far as they determine nothing different one, with on announcing the following day. The articles 68 to 77 of the realm condition do not apply to the laws decided by the realm government.

Article 4
Contracts of the realm with strange states, which refer to thes subject of the realm legislation, do not require the validity of these laws for the duration the agreement of the bodies taken part in the legislation. The realm government issues the regulations necessary for the execution of the present Treaties.

Article 5
This law enters into force with the day of its announcing. Furthermore it ceases to apply it with 1 April 1937 out of strength, steps, if the present realm government is replaced by another.

2/2/2007 11:52:48 AM

Quote :

"Chavez has said oil companies upgrading heavy oil in the Orinoco River basin — British Petroleum PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips Co., Total SA and Statoil ASA — must submit to state-controlled joint ventures, as companies have already done elsewhere in the country. "

BIG mistake...

2/2/2007 11:59:20 AM

Nationalization--a favorite of socialists and dictators.

2/2/2007 10:05:40 PM

Quote :

"He'll be a good dictator and kill millions, awesome"

I seriously doubt that.

2/3/2007 12:03:05 AM

Oh no, not another Cuba!! I'm so skurred.

Chavez is awesome at trolling the US. I still can't figure out why anyone cares. Venezuelans love him and elected him. He's not particularly brutal or interested in foreign adventures. He's not even that good at being dictatorial: the Venezuelan press criticizes him all the fucking time.

Oh yeah, oil. Let's not play games and pretend we give a shit about Venezuelan politics or Chavez's merits as an administrator. They can run their country into the ground just as long as they keep the tankers coming.

[Edited on February 3, 2007 at 12:38 AM. Reason : sds]

2/3/2007 12:25:12 AM

^ i believe its a mild case of NIMBY

2/3/2007 12:43:25 AM

here's an even better translation

it's the German enabling act of 1933

basically, it's the major act that gave Hitler dictatorial powers

Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Empire

The Reichstag has enacted the following law, which is hereby proclaimed with the assent of the Reichsrat, it having been established that the requirements for a constitutional amendment have been fulfilled:

Article 1

In addition to the procedure prescribed by the constitution, laws of the Reich may also be enacted by the government of the Reich. This includes the laws referred to by Articles 85 Paragraph 2 and Article 87 of the constitution.

Article 2

Laws enacted by the government of the Reich may deviate from the constitution as long as they do not affect the institutions of the Reichstag and the Reichsrat. The rights of the President remain undisturbed.

Article 3

Laws enacted by the Reich government shall be issued by the Chancellor and announced in the Reich Gazette. They shall take effect on the day following the announcement, unless they prescribe a different date. Articles 68 to 77 of the Constitution do not apply to laws enacted by the Reich government.

Article 4

Treaties of the Reich with foreign states which affect matters of Reich legislation shall not require the approval of the bodies of the legislature. The government of the Reich shall issue the regulations required for the execution of such treaties.

Article 5

This law takes effect with the day of its proclamation. It loses force on 1 April 1937 or if the present Reich government is replaced by another.

2/3/2007 1:04:31 AM

^^^ Yeah, maybe Chavez will kill and torture tens of thousands of people just as Castro has done.

http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y06/dec06/08e8.htm

2/3/2007 3:15:21 PM

Quote :

"basically, it's the major act that gave Hitler dictatorial powers"

Reductio ad Hitlerum, many other leaders have been given similar powers for breif periods of time, FDR had them too during WW2.

Quote :

"Yeah, maybe Chavez will kill and torture tens of thousands of people just as Castro has done."

I think Catro has the right to defend himself. Cuban exiles always try to paint themselves as innocent rather than being guilty for treason.

2/3/2007 4:31:02 PM

Quote :

"he's their idiot, thankfully not ours, maybe some some our fellow citizens could move down there since they think his way is so much better"

this has got to be one of the dumbest things i've ever read in soapbox...seriously...

2/3/2007 4:34:34 PM

IF YOU DONT LIKE IT YOU CAN GGGEEEEYYYYTTT OUT

2/3/2007 4:50:54 PM

Quote :

"many other leaders have been given similar powers for breif periods of time, FDR had them too during WW2."

The power to make laws? No, FDR nor any other American President has ever been able to make law by decree. Such an ability would be useless to any sensible leader as any sensible laws can survive the legislative process.

Quote :

"Cuban exiles always try to paint themselves as innocent rather than being guilty for treason."

Wait, are you trying to suggest that any individual attempting to flee a country for any reason is guilty of treason?!?! Or just people stupid enough to flee Cuba?

[Edited on February 3, 2007 at 10:43 PM. Reason : .,.]

2/3/2007 10:43:06 PM

^^^^ Does Fidel Castro have the right to do this type of thing?

Quote :

"My father, Howard F. Anderson, was only one of 20,000 people tortured and executed by Fidel Castro. Before my Dad's execution by firing squad, he had most of his blood drained from his body to be used for transfusions for the revolutionary troops. Despite my Anglo name, I was born in Cuba. My mother was born there. Her parents are buried there. My father was buried there until Castro was so ticked off by an article I wrote in 1978 as a Miami Herald reporter that he had my father's remains dug up and thrown out."

Veteran journalist Bonnie Anderson, The Miami Herald, December 03, 2006

By the way, a New York judge has ruled that the family of the murdered man should receive millions of dollars of the frozen Cuban assets held in the United States because of Castro’s horrific act.

You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.

[Edited on February 3, 2007 at 11:47 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on February 3, 2007 at 11:50 PM. Reason : .]

2/3/2007 11:42:52 PM

i think the point kris was trying to make was that many of the cuban "exiles" engaged in active rebellion against their nation's government.

but that assumes castros government was ever legit

2/4/2007 12:02:12 PM

Quote :

"Reductio ad Hitlerum, many other leaders have been given similar powers for breif periods of time, FDR had them too during WW2."

don't be a dick, i'm not just trying to make the "hitler" argument

i just think enabling acts, across the board, suck balls

they are the very definition of eroding democracy

they are the "legal" tools of despots

2/4/2007 2:12:48 PM