Hugo Chavez shuts down all private radio and TV in Venezuela - New England Patriots Forums

Fogbuster · 08-01-2009, 01:11 PM

.

Whoever said the days of tin-pot dictators was over in Latin America??? They are certainly alive and well in Venezuela, as Hoooogo "Chavy" Chavez shuts down all radio and TV that has ever criticized his actions. Saying, "they are terrorists" (last paragraph of the report), Chavez has turned them all off.

No, this is not a report from Drudge, or the National Review, or Town Hall. This is from CNN:

Dozens of radio stations shut down in Venezuela

(CNN) -- At least 34 private radio stations in Venezuela were closed indefinitely Friday, and 206 more were at risk of being shut down, a government official said.

The stations were closed for various reasons, including expired permits and operation by unauthorized personnel, said Diosdado Cabello, minister of Public Works and Housing.

"Freedom of expression is not the most sacred freedom," Cabello was quoted as saying by CNN affiliate Globovision.

Dozens of radio stations shut down in Venezuela - CNN.com

Read it and weep, all you First Amendment lovers. A dark cloud has fallen even heavier in the Americas.

//

***PressCoverage*** · 08-01-2009, 01:18 PM

cool... maybe we can do to them what we did to Chile.

Fogbuster · 08-01-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PressCoverage

cool... maybe we can do to them what we did to Chile.

So, you *like* left-wing dictatorships then? Not cool.

//

***PressCoverage*** · 08-01-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogbuster

So, you *like* left-wing dictatorships then? Not cool.

//

Did I f'ing SAY that?

Regardless, just because I don't like dictators of any kind, or am frustrated that our corporations are stymied from raping another Latin American nation, I'm not prepared to support a RW overthrow and/or the violent deaths of left-leaning nationals.

People with similar thoughts on world trade as yourself did exactly that in Chile.

Fogbuster · 08-01-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PressCoverage

Did I f'ing SAY that?

Regardless, just because I don't like dictators of any kind, or am frustrated that our corporations are stymied from raping another Latin American nation, I'm not prepared to support a RW overthrow and/or the violent deaths of left-leaning nationals.

People with similar thoughts on world trade as yourself did exactly that in Chile.

Who's talking about Chile, Press f'ing Coverage??? The subject is Chavez and his Castro-inspired intent to model Venezuela after that utterly failed Cuban regime of dictatorship, no freedom of speech, no democracy, no industry, no nothing; oh, they have "free health care". Castro's Cuba still has 1950s Fords and Chevys as common modes of transport because Fidel wanted to "stick it" to the "evil Yanquis". Dumb ass. Murdered tens of thousands, too.

You get what you pay for. Always have, always will.

Dictatorship = Abject misery and poverty for all .... except the dictators

//

***PressCoverage*** · 08-01-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogbuster

Who's talking about Chile, Press f'ing Coverage??? The subject is Chavez and his Castro-inspired intent to model Venezuela after that utterly failed Cuban regime of dictatorship, no freedom of speech, no democracy, no industry, no nothing; oh, they have "free health care". Castro's Cuba still has 1950s Fords and Chevys as common modes of transport because Fidel wanted to "stick it" to the "evil Yanquis". Dumb ass. Murdered tens of thousands, too.

You get what you pay for. Always have, always will.

Dictatorship = Abject misery and poverty for all .... except the dictators

//

What kind of industry and modern technology should Cuba have obtained with the West blocking their trade ambitions?

Regardless, I'm talking about Chile. How is that situation much different from the parallel you're trying to draw between Cuba and Venezuela?

The U.S. meddles in South American and Central American business... Always have, even to the point of killing their leaders. ... People like you are quite OK with that form of foreign policy, just like you'd all be giddy over an invasion of Venezuela. And probably would have gotten it if McCain won.

Fogbuster · 08-01-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PressCoverage

What kind of industry and modern technology should Cuba have obtained with the West blocking their trade ambitions?

Regardless, I'm talking about Chile. How is that situation much different from the parallel you're trying to draw between Cuba and Venezuela?

The U.S. meddles in South American and Central American business... Always have, even to the point of killing their leaders. ... People like you are quite OK with that form of foreign policy, just like you'd all be giddy over an invasion of Venezuela. And probably would have gotten it if McCain won.

1. Yeah, the U.S. (and other wise Western nations) blocked trade with Cuba because Castro took over Cuba in a very bloody revolution, then installed himself as dictator for life!!! . Duh.

So Castro turned to his big brother, the Soviets, for life-support, which they gave him. Until they threw off their failed Marxist ideology. And still Cuba sinks like a stone, with no infrastructure, no economy, no nothing except 1955 Chevys held together with coat hangers.

2. Yup, Chile has nothing, nada, zilch to do with this thread.

3. But, since you bring it up, which is worse: killing off a few dictators or allowing those dictators to kill off millions -- literally -- while driving their countries into the ground, with no economies at all, nothing of value produced that anyone wants???? This is not a trick question. I'm serious. We all know how Castro has stayed in power, and Kim Ilsung/Kim Jongil, and how Chavez is now doing it: stifle/kill off all competing ideas, all competitors. "Democracy"??? Horse crap. Dictatorship. Pure and simple.

//

***PressCoverage*** · 08-01-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogbuster

1. Yeah, the U.S. (and other wise Western nations) blocked trade with Cuba because Castro took over Cuba in a very bloody revolution, then installed himself as dictator for life!!! . Duh.

So Castro turned to his big brother, the Soviets, for life-support, which they gave him. Until they threw off their failed Marxist ideology. And still Cuba sinks like a stone, with no infrastructure, no economy, no nothing except 1955 Chevys held together with coat hangers.

2. Yup, Chile has nothing, nada, zilch to do with this thread.

3. But, since you bring it up, which is worse: killing off a few dictators or allowing those dictators to kill off millions -- literally -- while driving their countries into the ground, with no economies at all, nothing of value produced that anyone wants???? This is not a trick question. I'm serious. We all know how Castro has stayed in power, and Kim Ilsung/Kim Jongil, and how Chavez is now doing it: stifle/kill off all competing ideas, all competitors. "Democracy"??? Horse crap. Dictatorship. Pure and simple.

//

It's interesting that you'll ignore Chile and pretend it has nothing to do with this thread, yet you'll punt to Kim Ilsung/Kim Jongil.

You recognize the scenarios that you choose to, and ignore the others. How convenient.

This isn't a "which is worse" argument. It's about the U.S. minding it's business with ALL nations, not just some of them that don't have natural resources for us to pilfer.

Wildo7 · 08-01-2009, 03:16 PM

As usual, corporate media is sticking up for other corporate media and espousing the anti-Chavez propaganda that's so popular among idiots like the OP. The same entities that orchestrate coups to violently overthrow democratically elected governments. And yet Fog (who ironically quotes Orwell from time to time) has the audacity to label Chavez a dictator for returning the media to the communities.

Community Media: The Thriving Voice of the Venezuelan People | venezuelanalysis.com

Quote:

Community Media: The Thriving Voice of the Venezuelan People
Printer-friendly versionSend to friend
July 31st 2009, by Liz Migliorelli and Caitlin McNulty

In Venezuela today a grass-roots movement of community and alternative media is challenging the domination of private commercial media. Community oriented, non profit, non commercial, citizen and volunteer run media outlets are a crucial part of the democratic transformation of society that is occurring throughout Venezuela. Part of this transformation is the understanding of freedom of speech as a positive and basic right. This right includes universal access to a meaningful space for communication in addition to freedom from censorship. Freedom of expression as a positive right provides universal access to the means of communication. Political Analyst Diana Raby reiterates; "the technology of modern communications has to be made accessible to all, not merely as consumers but as participants and creators."[1] Community media is beginning to fill this role in Venezuela.

The 1999 Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was written and ratified by the people themselves, setting a societal precedent of democratic participation. The constitution contains articles that grant new rights to Venezuelans such as indigenous rights, access to education, healthcare, housing, employment, political participation and many others that make the Venezuelan Constitution one of the most progressive in the world in the area of human rights. Article 58 specifically states, "Communication is free and plural and must adhere to the obligations and responsibilities under the law. Every person has the right to objective, true and impartial information, without censorship...." Article 108 of the Constitution ensures that all communication media, public and private, must contribute to the social development of citizens. The same article guarantees public access to radio, television, library networks and information networks in order to permit universal access to information. Public access channels and community-based media are rights that, for the first time, were ensured under the 1999 Constitution.[2]

The Organic Telecommunications Law, which was passed in June 2000, states that there are three types of broadcast media in Venezuela: private, state and community. The law gives legal recognition to community broadcasting, enabling it to receive special tax breaks. In order to be recognized as a community broadcaster, the programming has to meet the following criteria. Principally, the station must be non-profit and dedicated to the community, with the requirement that 70% of its programming must be produced within the community. Also, there must be a separation between the station and its programming, which means that the station itself may only produce 15%, leaving the remainder to be produced by community volunteers. In addition, the station must provide training to community members so the production of media is accessible to everyone. The law also states that the directors of the community media cannot be party officials, members of the military, or work for private mass media.[3]

Although the Constitution of Venezuela recognizes community media, prior to the April 2002 coup against the Chávez government, these small television, radio and newspaper resources did not receive much attention from the state. While the community media normally supported the Chávez government, active support was not provided. At first, the primary goals of community centers were the right to exist and operate openly in society. Before Chávez was elected president, participating in community media was a clandestine activity and a victimized form of freedom of speech; homes and offices that housed community radio stations were often raided and operators feared for their lives. Community media stations have since multiplied, amplifying the voices of individuals and communities, increasing community communication and cohesion, fostering cultural awareness and political participation, and increasingly meeting the positive freedom of speech rights of Venezuelans. A new form of participatory communication based on local experiential knowledge is gaining popularity and influence.[4]

Despite the strong foundation community media has in the Venezuelan Constitution and laws, community media is still a relatively new voice evolving into an active forum for the democratic and revolutionary process of the Venezuelan people. Community media has become a necessary alternative because it is made and controlled by the people. After the failed coup attempt, the government realized how crucial community media is to the people and to the State. It became apparent that the state media cannot be the only alternative to the private media because of its relatively low ratings and its consolidated nature that make it completely vulnerable in a coup situation. When Channel 8, the state run television channel, was taken off the air during the coup in April 2002, most Venezuelans were denied accurate coverage of the events. The coup was defeated with the help of community media stations and activists; they rallied their communities together to take to the streets and demand that their voices be heard.[5]

Fogbuster · 08-01-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PressCoverage

It's interesting that you'll ignore Chile and pretend it has nothing to do with this thread, yet you'll punt to Kim Ilsung/Kim Jongil.

You recognize the scenarios that you choose to, and ignore the others. How convenient.

This isn't a "which is worse" argument. It's about the U.S. minding it's business with ALL nations, not just some of them that don't have natural resources for us to pilfer.

Chile has *nothing* to do with this thread but if you insist on bringing it into the discussion then I will have to bring in North Korea, Zimbabwe, and Zelaya's failed attempt to hijack Honduras. Dictators suck. Those who impose their brand of rule, no matter how egalitarian or "enlightened" their ideology is (they say), are murderous thugs who need to be stopped. One way or the other. If they don't go peacefully, then they go as Che did. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

"Pilfer". What a crock. Cuba had a thriving economy, the highest standard of living in all of Latin America in the 1950s. Unfortunately they had a right-wing dictator in Batista who took a lot for himself, but he didn't oppress others who wanted to work and be productive; he encouraged that. So replacing a right-winger who at least wanted to be friendly with the U.S. with a left-winger who gets his rocks off by bashing the U.S. has produced exactly WHAT for Cuba in the past 50 years???? Nothing, nada, zilch. They still drive 1950s American cars, and cannot even set up a public transportation system because they live in an ideological vacuum. Talk about living "stupidly". That's Castroville. Now Chavy Chavez wants to emulate that. To hell with that. And Zelaya, too.

You're supposed to be a "press coverage" guy; does shutting down the press as Chavez has done give you a warm fuzzy???? It's horse crap. Communism is NOT going to win; forced "socialism" is NOT going to win; the only thing that's going to win is freedom of expression and constructive ideas and productivity with a reward for that productivity. Human nature cannot be changed. People want -- and deserve -- a reward for their efforts. And they will have it.

//