Chavez Inagurates Oil Program In Harlem

[bemildred]

NEW YORK -- After reports that he left the U.S. and one day after he called President George W. Bush the devil, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke about a heating oil initiative in Harlem.

Chavez was in Harlem to inaugurate the CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program.

During a visit to New York City in September 2005, Chavez made a pledge to help low-income Americans fight the increasing costs of home heating oil.

Over the past winter, the Venezuelan government, through its U.S.-based oil company CITGO, provided more than 40 million gallons of reduced price heating oil for low-income families in the United States.

WNBC

[Kittycat]

1. Does more for the US than the US does for it's poor/needy citizens

eom

[KurtNYC]

3. Well...

Having seen what low expectations can do, I will take exception to your accounting.

Chavez oil program: $40,000,000

US Medicare (annual): $294,000,000,000
US Soc Security: $516,000,000,000

I don't disagree with the emotional side of your post but those who say that "Social Security will not be there when we are old enough to collect it" are setting the groundwork to make that happen. We need to acknowledge and protect every social program we have left.

[ronnie624]

33. It was 40,000,000 gallons,

not dollars.

And in all fairness, the bulk of the figures you cited as expenditures on Medicare and Social Security were likely absorbed as profits by the hospital and pharmaceutical industries. Considering the cost of health-care in the U.S., those who received aid through the heating oil initiative probably got more for their money.

[Church of Dagon]

11. I agree

But he could pick a poor black area of the United States rather than a rich area like Harlem. I don't think a bunch of white stockbrokers paying 3 grand a month for a two bedroom deserve free oil. The program should be restricted to only people of color and only those who do not engage in capitalistic oppression of their others.

[Judi Lynn]

15. New York Congressman Serrano got in touch with Chavez AFTER he

had gone to American oil companies seeking relief for last winter's exorbitant oil prices for the poor people in his district. He secured a 40% discount for his constituents.

If you followed the story a little more carefully, you would see Chavez was in Harlem at a CITGO location. The CITGO location has been there a long, long time, well before Harlem's appearance started shifting.

Reach for information first.

[pinerow]

34. Rich...Harlem???...have you strolled down 110th St recently?...

some areas have been gentrified, but, the oil program, as far as i know, is targeted at the lower income residents...try not to let your prejudices color your argumen...:toast:

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lrsmith1]

4. When you control the oil companies in your country

you can sell the oil for whatever price you want it does not cost you anything. Chavez has already taken over several companies down there by government mandate. Why do you think he is selling his country's oil at below market price. Again, if we in the US could come up with affordable alternative energy Chavez would not be an issue.

[krispos42]

7. Crude prices are based on expected future prices vs. demand

The perception is that the supply of oil is in doubt, tied to double-digit consumption growth in China and India, so that drives up the prices. Bush is rattling the war sabre in the MidEast, and he's used it before, so the prices stay higher. If Bush hadn't taken Iraq out of the worldwide oil pool and scared all the MidEast oil producers (and by extension the crude futures market), crude would be a lot cheaper right now.

But then all the rich fucks with ties to the oil industry couldn't have bought low and sold super-high like they did. The prie of crude when Bush took office as less than $28/bbl, and it peaked at, what, $73+ a month or so ago?

[Tempest]

8. The MARKET sets the price, not the country

Venezuela is an OPEC nation and prices are set based upon the market, not by Chavez.

OPEC sets production levels to influence the market, but has no direct involvement in pricing.

Consider yourself educated.

[nick303]

22. Right, except

that doesn't matter if you are selling at a below market price, which was the post you are responding to was pointing out. You were awfully hard on someone for no reason.

[Minstrel Boy]

13. God forbid that energy should be a public utility

rather than a private commodity.

[Tempest]

21. Especially when the energy resources are in the hands of foreigners

Venezuela was raped for years by U.S. oil companies.

[VegasWolf]

5. How unAmeriKan, helping the poor! That big meanie! nt

[olddad56]

6. I like Chavez, at least he has the balls to stand up to Bushco.

[Vidar]

9. Puts him ahead of all the Republicans & most of the Democrats.

[The Stranger]

10. The leaders of several countries are now nearly the sole media focus.

And you can see propaganda's effects, even here on DU.

[NorthernSpy]

12. the anti-Chavez whiners don't give a fuck about people in Harlem...

I'll never forget how Chavez rushed to offer help to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He even appeared genuinely sympathetic, mirabile dictu! I'll also never forget that the endless barrage of slander, scorn, criticism, and frank declarations of indifference (and even glee at their tragedy) that the victims endured from so many of their fellow Americans, especially conservatives.

It's wonderful to see how threatened the Chavez-haters feel about things like this. They totally deserve every bit of the unease this causes them. Let THEM worry a little over the deepening divide between the social classes for a change -- instead of just celebrating the rising inequality and smugly pocketing the latest Bush tax-cut, as they usually do.

[Snivi Yllom]

14. let's see what the Congressman representing Harlem says to say about Hugo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX1lBOxoJeU

RANGEL: AN ATTACK ON BUSH IS AN ATTACK ON ALL AMERICANS... 'You do not come into my country, my congressional district, and you do not condemn my president. If there is any criticism of President Bush, it should be restricted to Americans, whether they voted for him or not. I just want to make it abundantly clear to Hugo Chavez or any other president, do not come to the United States and think because we have problems with our president that any foreigner can come to our country and not think that Americans do not feel offended when you offend our Chief of State'...

[Judi Lynn]

16. What's not to understand about an over 70 year old man trying to

protect himself from the firestorm from the filth in the White House?

No one's too feeble to grasp that.

[NorthernSpy]

17. you mean the congressman chronically FAILING to represent Harlem...

If Rangel were doing such a bang-up actually representing Harlem, Chavez' oil program likely wouldn't be needed there.

And just like I pointed out on the other thread, I've noticed that it's the Israel-right-or-wrong partisans who are yowling at Chavez the loudest. What's this REALLY about -- that joint drilling venture with Iran, perhaps?

[rinsd]

20. Neither does Chavez. This about thumbing Bush's eye.

These Chavez threads tell me why the Democratic Party should be in charge of this country but DU has no business near it.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Associated Press:Venezuela's Chavez more than doubles heating oil program

Venezuela's Chavez more than doubles heating oil program for U.S. poor
The Associated Press
Published: September 21, 2006

NEW YORK Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday promised to double the amount of discounted heating oil his country is shipping to needy Americans, while also using his appearance at a Harlem church as an opportunity to deride President George W. Bush as an "alcoholic and a sick man."

Chavez's latest barb came a day after he captured the spotlight at the U.N. General Assembly during his speech in which he dubbed Bush "the devil" and accused Washington of "domination, exploitation and pillage of peoples of the world."

"He's an alcoholic and a sick man," Chavez said of Bush, receiving a round of applause from people in the crowd, which included actor Danny Glover, activists and other supporters.

Chavez's pledge of more discounted heating oil was made during his visit to Harlem's Mount Olive Baptist Church where supporters chanted his name:
(snip)

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/21/america/NA_GEN_US_Venezuela_Chavez.php

[MasonJar]

19. Charlie Rangel needs to get his act together on Chavez. Bush is

the devil...the anti-Christ....or else an arrogant, simple-minded idiot.

[bitchkitty]

23. I love this guy!

¡Viva Chavez! He helps the needy while bitchslapping Chimpie!

[leesa]

24. What a THUG.

[Taoschick]

25. It's nothing more than a stunt

Chavez wanted OPEC to cut production to keep prices higher. He also asked OPEC to set a minimum price of $50.00 per barrel. I guess he figures he can buy off a few people by sticking it to the rest of the world.

[Zorra]

26. Yeah, what a cheap trick, giving that low cost heating fuel to poor folk.

He hates us for our freedom.

[Taoschick]

27. If he were concerned

About the poor, he could always boost production and not call for minimum per barrel prices. I guess he's just selective about how he "cares".

[NorthernSpy]

28. in other words, Chavez should give charity to the rich as well as the poor

:rofl:

About the poor, he could always boost production and not call for minimum per barrel prices. .

Oooorrrr he could get the best possible price for Venezuela's oil, and carefully target the charity efforts toward the people who actually need the help. You know, like what anyone with both a heart and a brain would do.

I guess he's just selective about how he "cares"

Nice try, but there's no good reason why the affluent shouldn't pay full price for the disproportionately large share of the planet's finite resources that they consume.

:nopity:

[Taoschick]

39. What is your definition

Of affluent? Someone who has two jobs and is managing (barely) to pay their own bills? Yeah, let's screw them a little harder through jacked up oil prices.

[peteatomic]

40. The CIA tried to screw Chavez, and now Chavez is going to manipulate

the American population. He is much smarter than Bush, with a better sense of humor.

[truthisfreedom]

29. i hope our poor have a chance to take advantage of hugo before he's gone.

seems like he's being set up as a "thug".

[napsi]

30. Perhaps Chavez should take care

of the poor in his country before he starts up his propaganda machine here in the US. Last figures I seem to remember show over 30% of the population of Venezuela is below the poverty line. "Thug" seems to fit with this mans' personality.

[bitchkitty]

32. In an ideal world, everyone would worry about their own

country. But that's hardly a smart line to take, when George Bush is the leader of the free world.

I love Hugo Chavez; and the poor in his country did something about it themselves - they elected him, and they took to the streets when his Presidency was threatened.

[Minstrel Boy]

31. Two photos:

Reuters: Venezuela's President Chavez and actor Danny Glover wave to a crowd in Harlem




Reuters: US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, reacts to a question about statements made earlier in New York by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

[yellowcanine]

37. The *itch looks pissed.

[yellowcanine]

35. This is hugh-o! Thug indeed. Being a thug is maybe a good thing?

We should be so lucky to have more thugs like this.

[bamacrat]

36. That son of a bitch better not help us, only we can help us.

Wish our president had half the decency and heart to do this.

[bemildred]

38. Chavez to Double Energy Subsidies to Needy in U.S.

NEW YORK — A day after he called President Bush "the devil" from the podium at the United Nations, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stood at the altar of a Harlem church and presented himself as an angel, offering 100 million gallons of subsidized heating oil to needy Americans.

"It makes us feel good to give," he said to a crowd of mostly Harlem residents and Latin American immigrants waving Venezuelan flags and chanting his name.

The move more than doubles the 40 million gallons of heating oil Chavez donated to eight northeastern states last year after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated refineries and caused the price of oil to soar. This winter, the program should reach about 1.2 million people in nine additional states, he said.

Chavez, speaking at the Mount Olivet Baptist Church, acknowledged that it might seem odd for a developing country to send charity to one of the world's wealthiest nations.

LA Times