Venezuela- Serious threat to freedom of speech

[Nash Colundalur]

Venezuela has descended into a deadly totalitarian state, rapidly eroding basic human rights,threatening to throttle the sane existence of its own people, while the
rest of the world watches in inertia. http://bit.ly/c13FVS

 

[GOP]

This is sad. Of course it's not surprising for me to see this, it's socialist leaders do - shut people up.

 

[deanhills]

Wonder whether another revolution is in the coming? Can't be good for the country's economy.

 

[Dirk]

Wonder whether another revolution is in the coming? Can't be good for the country's economy.

Chavez is extremely popular. Venezuelans love him, they won't get rid of him. Besides, there's always election time, if they do.

 

[David]

Chavez is extremely popular. Venezuelans love him, they won't get rid of him. Besides, there's always election time, if they do.

I love how people call him a dictator for getting rid of term limits. :giggle: Was FDR a dictator?

 

[GOP]

Chavez is extremely popular. Venezuelans love him, they won't get rid of him. Besides, there's always election time, if they do.

So you don't think Chavez will find a way to win the elections even though he didn't really win? I think he'd cheat to get to power when it's election day.

 

[deanhills]

Chavez is extremely popular. Venezuelans love him, they won't get rid of him. Besides, there's always election time, if they do.

So then I assume you do not agree with the opening posting that Venezuela is a totalitarian State, where people aren't allowed to speak up?

 

[dave]

Chavez is extremely popular. Venezuelans love him, they won't get rid of him. Besides, there's always election time, if they do.

Odd how those extremely popular leaders always seem to get 100% of the vote, I wonder how they manage to do that?

 

[David]

Odd how those extremely popular leaders always seem to get 100% of the vote, I wonder how they manage to do that?

Chavez has yet to get 100% of the vote. Also, President Washington proved it was possible to be sufficiently popular to legally win an election with 100% of the vote.

 

[Dirk]

So then I assume you do not agree with the opening posting that Venezuela is a totalitarian State, where people aren't allowed to speak up?

Well, I don't know. At what point does it become a totalitarian state? The People still get some say at election time. And actually, the system outside of election time is reasonably inclusive too, i'm told - but don't personally know. Is it still totalitarian if it's with the consent of its citizens?

 

[deanhills]

Well, I don't know. At what point does it become a totalitarian state? The People still get some say at election time. And actually, the system outside of election time is reasonably inclusive too, i'm told - but don't personally know. Is it still totalitarian if it's with the consent of its citizens?

Perhaps one can then say it is a dictatorship?

 

[David]

Perhaps one can then say it is a dictatorship?

Democratic dictatorships aren't a bad thing. It's the oppressive ones that need to be avoided.

 

[GOP]

Well, I don't know. At what point does it become a totalitarian state? The People still get some say at election time. And actually, the system outside of election time is reasonably inclusive too, i'm told - but don't personally know. Is it still totalitarian if it's with the consent of its citizens?

The problem concerning Venezuela is that the people are getting less to say in different society matters everyday, more and more of the control is being transferred to the government. This is the definition of totalitarianism when the government are taking over control, exactly what happens in socialist countries. So as a conclusion it's okay to say that most socialist countries are totalitarian.

 

[Dirk]

This is the definition of totalitarianism when the government are taking over control, exactly what happens in socialist countries. So as a conclusion it's okay to say that most socialist countries are totalitarian.

Please shut up or educate yourself.

 

[Kyuubi]

I'm one of those guys who calls socialism a bad thing... But the socialism I've come to know as far as Europe and our current president is concerned, I wouldn't put the two on the same page yet. Venezuela has gone a hell of a lot farther to quelch opposition, to the point that comparing what I consider run-of-the mill socialism to Venuela's current political atmosphere wouldn't do any justice. So far the most worrisome (if you want to call it that) thing I've seen here is bickering about whether stations are legit or not. That's pretty mundane compared to forcing stations off the air.

 

[David]

I'm one of those guys who calls socialism a bad thing... But the socialism I've come to know as far as Europe and our current president is concerned, I wouldn't put the two on the same page yet. Venezuela has gone a hell of a lot farther to quelch opposition, to the point that comparing what I consider run-of-the mill socialism to Venuela's current political atmosphere wouldn't do any justice. So far the most worrisome (if you want to call it that) thing I've seen here is bickering about whether stations are legit or not. That's pretty mundane compared to forcing stations off the air.

A station's operating license expiring isn't the same thing as stopping free speech.

 

[Kyuubi]

A station's operating license expiring isn't the same thing as stopping free speech.

Of course, the expiration results from the refusal to renew the licenses. Chavez and his administration isn't shy about resorting to financial, legal, and extralegal means to weaken any media outlet it sees as a threat. Interestingly enough, most of the stations whose licenses were revoked were critical of Chavez's policies, mmmhmmm...

 

[David]

Of course, the expiration results from the refusal to renew the licenses. Chavez and his administration isn't shy about resorting to financial, legal, and extralegal means to weaken any media outlet it sees as a threat. Interestingly enough, most of the stations whose licenses were revoked were critical of Chavez's policies, mmmhmmm...

Would you renew the license of a station that supported a coup against you? I personally draw the freedom of speech line at high treason myself.

 

[GOP]

Please shut up or educate yourself.

"absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution."

"a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole."

I feel I am fairly educated to see the similarities between the two.

 

[David]

"absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution."

"a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole."

I feel I am fairly educated to see the similarities between the two.

The community isn't the gov't.