Venezuelan President Chavez announces plan to swap old cars for free natural gas models

[Nambe]

Source: Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) _ Give up your gas-guzzler and get a free car. That's President Hugo Chavez's offer to Venezuelans.

Chavez says he plans to start a program next year that will give away cars running on less-polluting natural gas to people who turn in old cars that consume "too much gasoline."

The socialist leader says he'll even throw in a year of free fuel — though that's a relatively minor bonus in oil-rich Venezuela, where gasoline goes for 12 cents a gallon.

Saturday's offer didn't say what sort of cars will be offered or how many will be given out.

Venezuela has signed accords with companies from more than a half-dozen countries to exploit its mostly untapped natural gas reserves —

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-lt-venezuela-free-cars,0,4568482.story

[valerief]

1. Wow. Venezuela sounds like a civilized country, unlike ours. nt

[Pavulon]

43. You can fly out of Miami

and see for yourself. Visiting Latin America helps you define what poverty really means.

[Billy Burnett]

44. Yes. Helps define just why Latin America needs more leaders like Chavez.

[Marrah_G]

88. You might want to spend some time there before making that judgment.

[ronnie624]

92. You might want to ask someone who lives in a country targeted by the U.S.

Iraq for instance, which has the highest murder rate in the world as a direct result of U.S. predation.

By GPI's criteria, scoring Venezuela high and America lowest should be no-brainers. The US hands down is the world's most violent nation and primary reason for Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel's bottom rankings. The same holds for Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan, Colombia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, the Philippines and a host of other nations.

By comparison, Venezuela is placid and tranquil but GPI's criteria don't show it. It certainly ranks above Rwanda, Albania, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Turkmenistan, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, China, Jordan, and other countries outscoring it. Why not is the question? Think politics for an answer in spite of America's low ranking and Israel near the bottom. It's not low enough. It should be last hands down.

The US alone endangers global stability, world peace and the planet's survival. It alone wages permanent war, targets peaceful nations, and claims a unilateral right to use first strike nuclear weapons preemptively. It also has over 800 military bases (perhaps 1000 or more with secret ones) in 130 or more countries, hundreds more at home, and still more troops deployed in other countries throughout the world. It further spends more on its military than all other nations combined. It uses it aggressively, supports Israeli repression against Palestinians, assassinates foreign leaders, installs more "friendly" ones, and backs despots like Colombia's Uribe, Egypt's Mubarak, the Saudi royal family, Mexico's Calderon, and various installed stooges like Afghanistan's Karzai and Iraq's al-Maliki.

America ranks lowest on peace. It keeps sinking lower. It alone threatens planetary survival. Failure to register that in a "peace index" is unimaginable. It makes the entire project suspect.

<http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3501>

[midnight]

2. This is such a

helpful answer to those of us who can't afford the current state of affairs. Why is this man not receiving better press?

[suzie]

23. Because he's an anti-democracy creep in the tradition of numerous other Latin American dictators?

Because it's no new thing to use natural gas to power vehicles in Venezuela--it was done in the oilfields 50 years ago. And Chavez could have initiated this any time since he's been in office, which now is 10 years.

[ForeignSpectator]

25. Well, good thing there are no "anti-democracy creeps" in the US right now, or even in the

White House... what a relief!

[pattmarty]

27. And you obviously are full of shit. This opposed to Bush.......

......who has been in office for 8 yrs and look at the bang up job our free marketeer has done.

[fascisthunter]

39. lol.... Your So-Called Free Market and Democracy Have Nothing to Do with Each Other

nice try

[bitchkitty]

41. The attacks made on Chavez in this forum

are always devoid of facts and substance, and inevitably end in ad hominem attacks like "creep". Why is that?

I wish that just one of you people would explain yourselves.

[suzie]

50. Gee, everyone jumped on me to defend poor Hugo,

but no one questioned why he should be applauded for his natural gas fueled cars initiative when that technology has been used in Venezuela since 50 years ago.

Just because Bush and Company have made stupid mistakes in their opposition to Chavez doesn't mean he's a good guy.

Other Latin American left-leaning presidents have become wary of Chavez, who is increasingly acting like a traditional Latin American dictator for life. Chavez has been cited by groups like Human Rights Watch for his heavy-handedness.

I don't understand why progressives in America should support anti-democracy activities in Latin America that we criticize George Bush and Dick Cheney for.

Since I'm a progressive Democrat, I'm not quite sure why my criticism of Hugo Chavez provokes such angry responses.

[EFerrari]

62. What progressive Latin American leaders are wary of Chavez?

None of them.

And, HRW has been busted for political interference with Venezuela. Maybe you need to get up to speed. The author of that report started out his career apologizing for Pinochet.

Maybe as a progressive Democrat, you should inform yourself before posting rightwing smears like "dictator for life".

[bitchkitty]

82. If you're a progressive Democrat,

then your post is indicative of what passes for "progressive" in America, and it makes me sad.

Your criticism provokes angry responses because it has no basis whatsoever in fact, and in fact reads like a Fox News commentary. Is that clear enough for you?

[EFerrari]

63. They can't because it's irrational. There is no explaning that.

I can understand criticizing policy. But, if you look at the attacks, it's never that rational. Or, rarely, and that's too bad.

[suzie]

85. I asked why Chavez was just getting around to using natural gas technology

for fueling vehicles in Venezuela when fleets in the oilfields of that country were powered by natural gas 50 years ago.

No one responded to that. Can anyone here tell me whether Chavez has invested in new infrastructure in Venezuela's oil industry?

Or, whether he's done a good job at managing the nationalized petroleum companies? Whether production has declined since he took over?

Because if Chavez isn't managing the oil sector well, his promises to the poor won't be fulfilled.

[ronnie624]

86. Your question is ridiculous.

No one here could possibly answer it.

Your subject line refers to Chavez as a "creep" and a "dictator". Can you explain how any of your 'points' relate to your attempt at character assassination?

[suzie]

87. Chavez wanted constitutional revisions that would enable him to be president for life.

I'm sorry, but given a region where reformers have often turned into dictators, that doesn't seem like a wonderful trend, no matter how people on DU rationalize it.

Chavez's promises are to be paid for with petroleum profits. And yet, production has declined some 25% since he's been in office. His contribution to his own petroleum industry seems to be instability.

Doing serious harm to your country's major industry seems like fairly creepy behavior to me.

[ronnie624]

89. Chavez wanted constitutional amendments

that would have enabled the Venezuelan people to vote for him multiple times. The amendments had to first be voted on by the National Assembly and then ratified by a referendum (a laughable notion in the U.S.). The term "president for life" is a right-wing meme that is designed to lead the ignorant to believing things that are not true; that Chavez is a dictator for instance, which is demonstrated to be false by elections that have been monitored by thousands of observers from all over the world.

As for your claims about Chavez causing "harm" and "instability" in the oil industry, you have failed to provide anything other than the claims themselves, which are unacceptable without any sort of information to support them.

Your gibberish seems to be nothing more than a framework for posting ad hominem attacks such as "creep" and "dictator", a tactic that will be regarded favorably by a mere handful here.

[suzie]

93. So, I'll assume that you'll find the CS Monitor a right-wing publication.

Which will give you the opportunity to ignore anything it says. But, here's a link that gives some of the same explanations as other publications/links.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0531/p04s01-woam.html

And pardon me for my 'gibberish', but I'm simply more skeptical about news about anything Latin American, which always seems to always be filtered through either a left or right viewpoint.

Declining oil production can be a huge problem for Venezuela if economic conditions continue to deteriorate around the world and oil markets return to pre-inflated prices.

[ronnie624]

94. The opinions of U.S. industry representatives

and former employees of PDVSA do not support your claims that Chavez is a "creep" and a "dictator", or that the oil industry in Venezuela is mismanaged, and I don't trust the veracity of their opinions anyway. In fact, most of the claims made in the op-ed you posted seem to be unverifiable.

As for the decrease in production, you would have to ask the Venezuelan policy makers about that. Perhaps this helps explain it:

OPEC's decision to cut oil production, announced early in the morning on Sept. 10, took most analysts by surprise. The move, which could take about 520,000 barrels a day of oil off the market, is a sop to price hawks, such as Iran and Venezuela, as well as Chakib Khelil, the energy minister of Algeria and current president of OPEC. It was also a mild loss for Saudi Arabia, which has worked to lower prices in recent months. Following the news, oil prices rose about $1 per barrel in trading in Asia, to $103.75, according to Reuters.

<http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2008/gb20080910_930165.htm>

[suzie]

95. I believe that the decline in Venezuelan oil production predated 2007.

And I think there are plenty of articles that indicate Chavez's desire to centralize power around himself and suppress political opposition.

We've seen in our own country how difficult it is to change the direction of empowering the executive at the expense of all other branches and levels of government. And that's in a country that's had a pretty stable government for the past couple hundred of years.

Venezuela doesn't quite have that record of stability.

But, you obviously have all the answers, so I'll certainly leave you to them.

[EFerrari]

98. You have no facts at all and are spreading right wing talking points.

Why is that? Is rumor and innuendo something you prefer to fact?

[suzie]

99. So, Venezuela didn't have a government overthrown in the 1950s?

And the U.S. had a change of government by violence--when?

Is that rumor and innuendo?

[EFerrari]

103. You do know that we've had several presidents assassinated here, right?

Good grief.

American exceptionalism on parade.

[Sharkfin]

90. Hugo and leadership

No, he wanted to change the constitution so that it allowed one to run for election as long as they wanted to, as long as the people voted them in. Like Canada where a Prime Minister can run for office for life if they choose.

America has the dumbest system where a President is limited to eight years (two terms). If the man is doing a great job and the people want to re-elect him, why should he not be able to run any longer.

Eight years limits crooks time to steal so they must steal big in order to make as much as they can. Long term can mean they steal more slowly, unseen. Bush has been a huge boon to his business friends because his time in office is limited.

Hugo is actually trying to pull Venizuala up out of the gutter where America has kept it for the past hundred years.

[EFerrari]

97. Dictators in Latin America are typically rightwing and US supported.

Chavez is neither. And, the economy has grown every quarter since 2002.

[suzie]

100. I believe that the longest remaining dictatorship in Latin America

started out as leftist.

[EFerrari]

102. Then you might want to take the time to reconcile your belief with objective reality.

[Sharkfin]

105. Chavez wanted constitutional revisions that would enable him to be president for life.

With oil prices down it is a wise idea to lower production until the price goes up again. I imagine he has billions of $s in reserve right now from previous high priced oil sales and can afford to wait for a while to see if prices do go up again.

How much money has Bush put into education? Oh, that's right, he has cut most home spending. Chavez has increased education funding, healthcare funding, housing startups, opened land to farming,Nationalised oil and some other essential services.

In America essential services are private leaving everyone at the mercy of profiteers.

[EFerrari]

96. Do you have a broken arm? Is there something stopping you

from finding out on your own?

[Gillian]

3. They don´t pollute at all. Complete combustion.

We have had many vehicles converted over the years and it is really a feel good way to go if you care about pollution. The motor runs cool, so don´t expect the radiator to keep you warm in the winter. The oil companies forced the feds to deregulate propane in the 70´s or propane cars would be everywhere. All of the taxis in Sydney and Melbourne run on LPG. The price is regulated at half the price of petrol as an incentive. The vehicles can also run on petrol if you go touring.

[wuushew]

4. This makes good policy as well

since natural gas is harder to export, using it in lue of gasoline is win win.

[silverojo]

5. You know why he's doing this, don't you?

His country will use less oil, making it available to sell to other countries at a profit.

I guess sometimes greed CAN benefit the environment!

[Nambe]

9. Fact check: Natural gas profits soar while oil remains flat.

http://www.ogj.com/display_article/338400/7/ARTCL/Display/Trans/1/Natural-gas-pipeline-profits-surge;-oil-flat?dcmp=rss

Mexico has three major power plant complexes now converted to Venezuelan gas. They were fueled by crude oil and the pollution was literally sickening. The conversions were part of the Kyoto treaty. Property values nearly doubled in Manzanillo after the conversion.

[bitchkitty]

11. Yes, that seems awfully greedy!

Giving people cars and free fuel, the bastard! :sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

16. So hilarious.

lol

[WriteDown]

45. Has he actually given away any cars yet?

Of course not. Details are always "pending." I'm giving away free hovercrafts at my house next year that will run on tap water. Details are pending of course. :eyes:

[Judi Lynn]

53. Why not take time to read the original article posted first, before asking a question

already answered?

No time like the present.

By the way, this would be a good place for you to cite examples of your claim "details are always "pending" and any connection to Hugo Chavez.

[WriteDown]

60. Sure...

wasn't the evidence of the recent coup plot going to be released.....later. I am still waiting.

[EFerrari]

64. Why are you waiting instead of reading and listening? n/t

[WriteDown]

66. Hugo has not called me yet to give me the inside track. n/t

[EFerrari]

67. And apparently you've missed the multiple threads

and are unable to use The Google?

[WriteDown]

68. Oh yeah...

The unconfirmed tapes. The ones where they asked the Americans for help and they said no.

[EFerrari]

75. Wrong. The ones where they said they were in discussion with the US.

Nice try.

You are a complete waste of time. WTI.

[WriteDown]

79. I'd review those tapes again....

The Americans clearly said no, that's why they supposedly formed their unlikely assassination plan involving some sort of artillery gun.

[Zorro]

6. Talk is cheap

It will be interesting to see if he follows through.

An intriguing proposition for Chavez to offer prior to Venezuelan elections. Sounds a lot like "a chicken in every pot".

[David__77]

7. He's always followed through before on making people's lives better.

And what, pray tell, is wrong with that?

[Zorro]

10. Again, talk is cheap

He's a politician that's offered up a proposal with no details prior to elections.

Let's see whether this materializes or not.

[StClone]

15. He's a dangerous SOCIALIST

He has made things unbearably livable in Venezuela! The people want it back the way it was with Mega-Oil and Huge Multi-national Corporations having control. We got too many chickens in our pots! We hate that! We want our abject poverty and rife political rot back. :sarcasm:

[bitchkitty]

35. Talk is cheap, as you remind us every day.

But since Chavez walks the walk as well as talking the talk, what is your point, Z-boy?

[Zorro]

55. Incapable of grasping simple concepts, eh?

I suggest finding someone to read and explain my posts to you, since you apparently lack reading comprehension skills.

[happydreams]

72. ...and you have exemplified that cliche like few others.

Well done gay blade

[Sharkfin]

91. Unkept promise

Hugo took complete blame publicly for not fulfilling his promis to build a few hundred thousand homes . He only managed about seventy thousand. He promised to try doing better and struck a deal to import prefab homes.

How many leaders in this world actually stand behind their promises and when they fail speak publicly and take full blame.

Hugo is one of the most honest leaders on the planet today.A truely honest leader does not exist because the job requires lying at times, and kissing up to certain groups, but Hugo has shown that he cares more for his country and its people then any other leader anywhere has.

If that makes Hugo a bad man in some views then I truly feel sorry for those holding those views.

[pnorman]

13. Here's a relevant documentary:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5832390545689805144

n/t

pnorman

[edwardian]

37. Scepticism, cheaper still.

[wuushew]

56. This seems to be a follow of through of plans going back at least a year

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/2607

This is a ten part plan coming online in stages as the natural gas infrastructure is built.

[Judi Lynn]

71. Seems logical, like a well constructed, reality based plan. n/t

[spag68]

8. CNG

Have you people been asleep? Here on Long Island most of our busses run on nat. gas. It could be done everywhere if enough people pressured the local and state government. If all fleet vehicles were required to do this the whole dynamic of the fuel industry would change. Don't start crying that T Boone will make money, so what? In fact using a process that was successfully demonstrated in 1975, coal could be make into nat gas with little to no pollution and cheaper then regular gas. Sure here is still the problem of mining the coal itself. but Western Pa. has successfully recovered thousands of acres of strip mines. It could be done, not easily but done none the less. I for one am sick and tired of the all talk and no action crowd, many here even, that let us be misled. I have done hundreds of letters and e-mails on this, as I was a worker on the plant that did it 33 years ago. Even building these plants would be really good jobs. Screw this crap about what Palin did wrong or what lies she tells, I don't care, get off your collective asses and do SOMETHING, complain, ltte, It's our kids and grandkids that will suffer. If you are young, you will suffer much longer then me so get with it. I'm sorry if some don't want to hear it, but after posting along these lines many times and not getting anywhere, I'm about to throw in the towel and just retire to somewhere to fish away from the stress. Advocate for unions take a stand, anything, but don't just cry about it.

[Nambe]

12. Natural gas should be much cheaper. There is no refinement.

There is treatment but at a fraction of the cost of refinement. The oil companies and Detroit buried gas with the electric cars. The benefits for the vehicle engine are significant. A cool running engine seldom needs tuning and there is no petrol washing the oil off of the cylinder walls. Abused taxi engines go 400,000 miles running on LPG.

[4lbs]

14. Here in San Diego, CA, nearly all of the mass transit buses have been converted...

to CNG. You can see the storage tanks on top of the buses, thus, in the event of a collision with another vehicle, the likelihood of a gas tank rupture is extremely low.

In addition, where before they were diesel and following one of these buses in your car would cause you to choke on diesel exhaust and smell, there is nothing like that with buses running on CNG.

[Doctor Cynic]

17. CNG buses are complete lemons over here. I hope they will bring back electric trolley buses.

[LeftyMom]

81. Then your area bought bad ones.

We've had them here for twenty years, maybe a hair longer. I think that they finally phased out all of the gas buses for day-to-day use (there are historical ones for parades, free rides on days celebrating mass transit and such.)

Now the hybrid bus system one of the suburbs bought, that's another story...

[biglefthander]

18. Seems that...

...Every Latin American leader who is successful in spite of US efforts to destroy him, is immediately demonized and categorized as a dangerous SOCIALIST TERRORIST. Remember Allende in Chile? The difference between him and Chavez is that Venezuela defeated our Republican government's attempts to oust him. Had they succeeded, some General like Musharraf or Pinochet would be running the show in Caracas and our oil companies would be getting the sweetheart deals they are so accustomed to getting from right-wing juntas.

I would take Chavez as my President any day over the likes of Pat Robertson, that wonderful paragon of Christian virtue who said on national TV that the US should "take Chavez out." What would Jesus do, indeed?

Viva la Revolucion!

[EFerrari]

19. I noticed that, too. Welcome to DU.

Que viva.

:)

[newfie11]

26. I totally agree with you.

I have wondered why people don't like Chavez. I don't have an answer except he is a dictator and I would trade bush/chaney for him in a heartbeat.

[edwardian]

40. I suspect that such reactions are a mixture

of jealousy and ignorance. Willful ignorance in the service of nationalism. Jealousy in that such attempts to help Venezuelans are never likely to materialize in the service of Americans. If you consider the racist undertones of American foreign policy , it can be experienced as a slight against American dominance. How could a bunch of brown skinned peons possibly know about self-governance? How dare they claim to know better than "The Masters of the Universe"? Any sensible citizen of any country would likely appreciate the progressive attitude shown by many of the current sitting Latin American heads-of-state. Americans are fed a steady diet of cultural racism, dismissive of all that they fail to understand, they fall back on deeply ingrained prejudices. It is a species of xenophobia that is propagated at our football games, in business and in churches and bars. We see it in the cinema, on TV, it is blared at us from the stations of hate-radio and it slowly robs you of the ability to think for yourself...my opinion.

[harmonicon]

20. umm.... the... umm... tv ... told me that Chavez is... like... umm... bad, mkay?

and... *drool*... he um... bad... ...evil dictator... my oil, my oil, my oil!!!!!.... and... like... Bush... and.... UN.... um.... Chavez is bad, mkay?

[Gregorian]

21. I've been thinking of doing the same thing. Bright move.

I was even discussing this with a college tonight. I did it during the seventies.

Eight years. We've fallen so far. What we could have had. Even something this simple isn't even on the radar screen. United States of Dick Cheney.

[Politicalboi]

22. Natural Gas is good but

I wish they would use compressed air instead out here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztFDqcu8oJ4

[dipsydoodle]

24. Blimey !

I guess the cars will be cheap and cheerful imports maybe even fom India but then so what.

I notice there's none of the usual flack on this post which occurs as soon as Hugo's name get mentioned. K & R.

[StClone]

28. USA could be making those cars but NOOoooooooOOH!

Xenophobia by cultural, part by design, from the Corporate Masters above won't let us work with Venezuela. Venezuela *GASP* wants a slightly more Democratic/Socialistic Capitalism. And when the power hungry greed Merchants are deflected they will vent with war, coups, infiltration and subversion of sovereign Nations. Chavez is on guard. But hopefully, we will mend fences instead of building them when Obama is in charge.

[dipsydoodle]

31. With the best will in the world

neither the USA not Europe come to that couldn't make and sell a car for just over $2000 like the Indian Tata. It may for all I know be an unmitigate heap of crap but it is a set of wheels designed to keep the masses happy.

[StClone]

83. That was more of a metaphor

It seems there is little we produce that goes to Venezuela as we purchase their oil. Not just because there is little money but because we do not culture a friendly working relationship with Chavez.

[WriteDown]

46. Is that you T. Boone? :n/t

[ohio2007]

29. " Saturday's offer didn't say what sort of cars will be offered or how many will be given out. "

article didn't say what will happen to the old guzzlers either ? Make their way to Cuba as spare parts or even,auto upgrades out of the vintage 1950's they still drive.


Maybe that Indian company that is relocating their factory will supply the cars ?

Tata to move car plant to different Indian state

snip
http://www.pr-inside.com/tata-to-move-car-plant-to-r843163.htm

wow, outsourcing jobs from one Indian state to another to manufacture the wolrds cheapest car



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/04/international/i063205D02.DTL

[geminifemini]

30. You go Hugo!

This much maligned leader tops them all.  I have often
promoted a clean car act whereas our citizens can get car
loans like student loans for greener cars.  The auto industry
would earn their bailout producing them and with a guaranteed
market forego corporate welfare.
The main reason why Chavez is maligned here is that he kicked
the bushes and cheneys et al out of power.  Chavez is making
many friends and powerful allies.  We should work to make
ourselves one of them.

[MasonJar]

32. WOW! I love Chavez. That is getting down and dirty for the environment!

[Danger Mouse]

33. Sounds like a good idea...IF he follows through with it.

[ohio2007]

36. With gasoline at 12 cents a gallon, nobody will be outraged if it doesn't happen

[HopeHoops]

34. I'm waiting for Bush to 'splain why this is a bad idea ;}

[fascisthunter]

38. wow.... that is very cool

[WriteDown]

47. I'm even cooler...

I'm giving away free hovercrafts at my house next year that will run on tap water. Details are pending of course. :eyes:

Of course these plans are always for next year. I wonder if anyone will even remember he said this in October 2009.

[EFerrari]

49. He has no history of broken promises. But you know that

as your expert posts to this thread demonstrate.

[WriteDown]

51. Did he promise chicken feet in the markets or.....

was that just the natural consequence of price controls and currency manipulation. We will know for sure by next year if this has any chance of actually happening.

[EFerrari]

52. You need new material. n/t

[WriteDown]

54. And the people need actual chicken meat....

We'll talk about it more in 11/2009.

[EFerrari]

58. It would be too much to ask for you to post a single fact.

Venezuela Loosens Food Price Regulations To Improve Supply
August 13th 2008, by Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com


Mérida, August 13, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- The Ministry of People’s Power for Agriculture and Lands and the Ministry of People’s Power for Light Industries and Trade of Venezuela eliminated price controls on some products and increased the regulated prices of others with the aim of promoting national production, reaching a full food supply, and guaranteeing fair prices.

Working groups were held with different productive sectors of the country to evaluate the different variables that affect the production chain and the cost of food and to arrive at a fair price that wouldn’t harm consumers but which would also be within the price range of production.

The new measurements came into affect on Tuesday.

Fifteen regulated products increased in price by 3-110%, with most at around 50% increases, such as first-class beef from US$5.50 to US$8.10/kg, mayonnaise from US$1.20 to US$1.80, and margarine from US$0.95 to US$1.20.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3715

[WriteDown]

59. The food shortages are well known....

This sounds like a good idea though. They made a mistake and are making corrections. Nothing wrong with that.

[EFerrari]

61. Transportation and parts of production where firmly in the hands of

the opposition at the outset. It's going to take a while to get this sorted out.

If Chavez really were the thug of some of these threads, he could just shoot those people and grab their assets. He hasn't done that.

So, there is a problem and it does need to be resolved and it looks like there is progress being made. If things were getting worse, I'd expect twenty five news stories about shortages. I couldn't find any recent ones today.

[WriteDown]

65. Price controls have the SAME effect every time....

Whether it is Tricky Dick or St. Hugo. Shortages and a black market. Same thing happens with ticket prices for concerts and sporting events. Same thing happens with rent control. I do hope they make progress though. The people in Caracas deserve it.

[EFerrari]

69. There is a global food crisis, not only in Caracas.

But I'm certain our government's good relations with and support of democracy in Venezuela will go a long way to ease the shortages there.

[happydreams]

73. Talking to the Right-Downers is like having to reinvent the wheel

whenever you want to drive your car.

[EFerrari]

74. 85% of McCain supporters agree with them.

:crazy:

[Pavulon]

42. People on the hills

around caracas dont have old cars. Maybe he will swap their houses for ones with windows and roofs that dont leak.

[WriteDown]

48. Ugh Caracas...

I feel a deep pain just thinking about that place. Should be so much more visible in our news media.

[happydreams]

78. Like you give a fuck about poor people.

:eyes: :puke:

[AlphaCentauri]

84. People on the hills need a 40 years mortgage to be happy, like we are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h32cIcgM64

"Vamos Compañeros, Trabajo y Tierra"
Trabajo y Tierra
Trabajo y Tierra
Trabajo y Tierra
Trabajo y Tierra!

[kittykitty]

57. So where does one find a natural gas station? T Boon Pickens hasen't opened any? many? yet. Of

course he wouldn't be the one selling Venezuelan gas.

[happydreams]

77. T.Boone is a total hypocrite. He is heavily invested in Canadian oil sands. nt

[devilgrrl]

70. What a sick fuck.

:sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

76. You called it months ago!

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

80. It would be a good idea to monitor these threads for right wing bs.

You can't find a fact to save your life from the Chavez haters that post here. Whether they hate him for being a little brown man or for talking back to Bushie or because they can't tell the difference between criticizing Bush and being anti-American, I really don't care.

Chavez and his government has never been anti-American. And they have rarely held back in criticizing BushCo.

There are plenty of reasons to criticize Chavez. But what gets posted here is mostly spam. And DU is targeted for this spam. In the run up to the referendum, people registered here just to diss Chavez. It was unreal. fyi.

[goforit]

101. Green is on his mind....Viva los arboles!!!

[Sharkfin]

104. Venezuelan President Chavez announces plan to swap old cars for free natural gas models

A good move on his part. That way he can sell the oil and gas,
thus enriching the country more.

You'd never catch leaders in North America making an offer
like that.

[fascisthunter]

106. Boy Could the USA Use a Chavez... we need a leader like this

to stomp on the fascist piss ants who presently call themselves Americans. There's only one way to deal with criminally corrupt assholes who place greed over life itself....

[Judi Lynn]

107. Venezuela Aims to Convert 969 Vehicles to Natural Gas This Year

Venezuela Aims to Convert 969 Vehicles to Natural Gas This Year

By Daniel Cancel

Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the country's state-oil company, aims to convert 969 gasoline- burning vehicles to run on natural gas by the end of the year helped by a new conversion center.

The company opened its first conversion facility in the central state of Lara today as part of a plan to install dual fuel tanks in new cars, Venezuela's Information Ministry said today.

Carmakers including General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. are expected to convert 30 percent of their new models to use natural gas by next April, according to a government resolution published in July. Last year, the government said it will require car companies to install dual fuel tanks in new cars sold in Venezuela to cut down on domestic gasoline use and reduce pollution.

Under the government mandate, automakers will increase the percentage in coming years.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aPtT9b1BDXU0