On Venezuela, I just want to recommend an excellent book, 'Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela', written by William Neuman.
I would love to hear a podcast episode debating the situation in Venezuela and the degrees to which varying levels of US intervention would/would not be positive.
Venezuela has acrimonious relations with most of its neighbours, including territorial claims on the Guyana and the Dutch islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Some more US power mongering in the region isn't unwelcome (in particular kitting out a US air force base on Puerto Rico, that's useful for the Dutch as well) but outright war might spin things out of control. The Venezuelan refugee problem is bad enough but could get a lot worse.
Right my dudes, has it wrong. And emotional appeals are only so helpful in determining wise policy:
The idea that NOT having assisted murder (ahem I mean suicide) is also barbaric is a false dichotomy. Doesn't the use of palliative care fall somewhere in between both barbarities? What aid in dying does is excuse responsibility of the individual by passing it onto the state where it can be misconstrued and abused. I'd expect anyone from NM to know what a gun is, and how to use. it. But don't drag me as a citizen into yet another death cabal. I'm already funding a standing army I don't agree with!
Glad there's so much sensible, informed comment opposing illegal (yet again) US military intervention. Two points of information:
1) Many commenters mention Venezuela's suffering. None mention the substantial US contribution to it, viz: "Effect of US sanctions on Venezuela
The impact of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela has been multifaceted, affecting the economy, democracy, and human rights. Here are some key points regarding the effects of these sanctions:
Economic Impact: Sanctions have significantly restricted Venezuela's access to the U.S. financial system, freezing its assets and blocking oil imports from the state oil and gas company, PDVSA. This has led to a severe economic crisis, with a 35% contraction in GDP in 2019 and ongoing fuel shortages due to failing refineries.
Human Rights Violations: The sanctions have been criticized for increasing Venezuela's disease and mortality rates, worsening hunger, and accelerating the migration crisis. Critics argue that sanctions are not the primary cause of Venezuela's economic decline, which has long preceded sanctions.
Political Pressures: The sanctions have been used as a means of pressuring the Venezuelan government to conduct free and fair elections. The U.S. has imposed various measures, including economic sanctions, to pressure Maduro to comply with international standards.
Sanctions Relief: The Biden administration has offered limited sanctions relief through licenses to incentivize the Maduro government to convene free and fair presidential elections. However, this relief has been met with resistance, as Maduro claims victory in elections that international observers conclude did not meet international standards.
2) Some commentators seem to believe that the US is concerned about the undemocratic nature of Venezuela's regime. A brief glance at the historical record suggests that is ridiculous. The US has welcomed, and often instigated, undemocratic regime change in Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, and countless other countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Whatever motives you may want to ascribe to (illegal) US military intervention, in Venezuela or elsewhere, promoting democracy is almost certainly not one of them.
There was indeed widespread extreme poverty in Venezuela ten years ago. What would a sane and humane superpower have done:
1) offer aid and trade, coordinated with other regional governments; or
2) institute illegal sanctions, now elevated into a total embargo, attempt to organize a coup, and finally threaten invasion? And then (maybe) offer aid and trade, having made the point that disobedient governments can expect no help -- in fact, the reverse -- from the country with a larger GDP and military budget than all its neighbors combined?
1. You found a way to not mention that Machado specifically praised Trump in her acceptance of the Nobel peace prize. I cannot presume that was oversight on your part. More like a deliberate omission, I suspect.
2. As usual, you leave out the "illegal" in "Illegal immigration." You may fool the usual crowd, but LEGAL Hispanic immigrants cringe every time you do that. None of Trump's actions have been about legal immigrants, only illegal immigrants. That you choose to bury that distinction says more about you than it says about Trump. You might want to contemplate why Trump is picking up all those black and Hispanic voters, instead of glossing over it.
They certainly aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, one goes with the other. Why not mention them both? My assertion was that you were deliberately working at downplaying anything good about Trump, and I'll stand by that.
On Venezuela, I just want to recommend an excellent book, 'Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela', written by William Neuman.
I would love to hear a podcast episode debating the situation in Venezuela and the degrees to which varying levels of US intervention would/would not be positive.
Venezuela has acrimonious relations with most of its neighbours, including territorial claims on the Guyana and the Dutch islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Some more US power mongering in the region isn't unwelcome (in particular kitting out a US air force base on Puerto Rico, that's useful for the Dutch as well) but outright war might spin things out of control. The Venezuelan refugee problem is bad enough but could get a lot worse.
Right my dudes, has it wrong. And emotional appeals are only so helpful in determining wise policy:
The idea that NOT having assisted murder (ahem I mean suicide) is also barbaric is a false dichotomy. Doesn't the use of palliative care fall somewhere in between both barbarities? What aid in dying does is excuse responsibility of the individual by passing it onto the state where it can be misconstrued and abused. I'd expect anyone from NM to know what a gun is, and how to use. it. But don't drag me as a citizen into yet another death cabal. I'm already funding a standing army I don't agree with!
Glad there's so much sensible, informed comment opposing illegal (yet again) US military intervention. Two points of information:
1) Many commenters mention Venezuela's suffering. None mention the substantial US contribution to it, viz: "Effect of US sanctions on Venezuela
The impact of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela has been multifaceted, affecting the economy, democracy, and human rights. Here are some key points regarding the effects of these sanctions:
Economic Impact: Sanctions have significantly restricted Venezuela's access to the U.S. financial system, freezing its assets and blocking oil imports from the state oil and gas company, PDVSA. This has led to a severe economic crisis, with a 35% contraction in GDP in 2019 and ongoing fuel shortages due to failing refineries.
Human Rights Violations: The sanctions have been criticized for increasing Venezuela's disease and mortality rates, worsening hunger, and accelerating the migration crisis. Critics argue that sanctions are not the primary cause of Venezuela's economic decline, which has long preceded sanctions.
Political Pressures: The sanctions have been used as a means of pressuring the Venezuelan government to conduct free and fair elections. The U.S. has imposed various measures, including economic sanctions, to pressure Maduro to comply with international standards.
Sanctions Relief: The Biden administration has offered limited sanctions relief through licenses to incentivize the Maduro government to convene free and fair presidential elections. However, this relief has been met with resistance, as Maduro claims victory in elections that international observers conclude did not meet international standards.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=effect+of+us+sanctions+venezuela&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=effect+of+us+sanctions+venezuela&sc=1-32&sk=&cvid=BD07CBC1534B42D9AA9A2EEF4AF6849B
2) Some commentators seem to believe that the US is concerned about the undemocratic nature of Venezuela's regime. A brief glance at the historical record suggests that is ridiculous. The US has welcomed, and often instigated, undemocratic regime change in Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, and countless other countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Whatever motives you may want to ascribe to (illegal) US military intervention, in Venezuela or elsewhere, promoting democracy is almost certainly not one of them.
Apropos the sanctions point, Carlos Egaña also wrote this:
https://thelatinonewsletter.org/p/opinion-sanctions-venezuela-migrant-crisis
There was indeed widespread extreme poverty in Venezuela ten years ago. What would a sane and humane superpower have done:
1) offer aid and trade, coordinated with other regional governments; or
2) institute illegal sanctions, now elevated into a total embargo, attempt to organize a coup, and finally threaten invasion? And then (maybe) offer aid and trade, having made the point that disobedient governments can expect no help -- in fact, the reverse -- from the country with a larger GDP and military budget than all its neighbors combined?
PS: https://americanprospect.bluelena.io/index.php?action=social&chash=7171e95248ff768e1ebee3edde01ea7a.3713&s=1ce1577d094f490953e326dbcfb1ece6
Two things I see wrong with this post:
1. You found a way to not mention that Machado specifically praised Trump in her acceptance of the Nobel peace prize. I cannot presume that was oversight on your part. More like a deliberate omission, I suspect.
2. As usual, you leave out the "illegal" in "Illegal immigration." You may fool the usual crowd, but LEGAL Hispanic immigrants cringe every time you do that. None of Trump's actions have been about legal immigrants, only illegal immigrants. That you choose to bury that distinction says more about you than it says about Trump. You might want to contemplate why Trump is picking up all those black and Hispanic voters, instead of glossing over it.
I noted that Machado supports American-led regime change. Isn’t that more crucial than her “praise” for Trump?
I am a legal immigrant and I do not cringe, btw
They certainly aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, one goes with the other. Why not mention them both? My assertion was that you were deliberately working at downplaying anything good about Trump, and I'll stand by that.
I cant think of a better idea than ousting the criminal Maduro regime by any means necessary.