Twisted Media
Hey Folks –
Here we have a great illustration of how the “mainstream” press, the “responsible press” (as opposed to bloggers ) spreads their irresponsible “mainstream” propaganda.
In the cartoon above Hugo Chavez is being sculpted from an oil-can-shaped stone, perhaps correctly suggesting that his country’s oil resources are responsible for his international importance or impact.
However, it is further indicated that the emergence of Chavez as someone to deal with comes as a result of the destruction and discarding of “FREEDOM,” “RIGHTS,” and “LIBERTIES.” Indeed, the title of the “sculpture” is inscribed: “TYRANNY.”
Well, freedom, rights, liberties, and tyranny – like love – are often in the eye of the beholder.
As I have said before, previous to Chavez 80% of Venezuelans lived below the poverty line. The 20% on top have long enjoyed the freedom and liberty - indeed the right – to tyrannize the rest of their countrymen, in part at least by playing footsie with foreign investors. Chavez is a threat to that.
In other words, working to improve freedom, rights, and liberties to the degraded 80% of Venezuelans is seen by some as “TYRANNY” !
Ramirez’ cartoons always reflect the right-wing-business-corporate-fascist line. Look at the fine print there by his name: “INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY.”
So much for responsible, mainstream media.
- Uke Man
Here we have a great illustration of how the “mainstream” press, the “responsible press” (as opposed to bloggers ) spreads their irresponsible “mainstream” propaganda.
In the cartoon above Hugo Chavez is being sculpted from an oil-can-shaped stone, perhaps correctly suggesting that his country’s oil resources are responsible for his international importance or impact.
However, it is further indicated that the emergence of Chavez as someone to deal with comes as a result of the destruction and discarding of “FREEDOM,” “RIGHTS,” and “LIBERTIES.” Indeed, the title of the “sculpture” is inscribed: “TYRANNY.”
Well, freedom, rights, liberties, and tyranny – like love – are often in the eye of the beholder.
As I have said before, previous to Chavez 80% of Venezuelans lived below the poverty line. The 20% on top have long enjoyed the freedom and liberty - indeed the right – to tyrannize the rest of their countrymen, in part at least by playing footsie with foreign investors. Chavez is a threat to that.
In other words, working to improve freedom, rights, and liberties to the degraded 80% of Venezuelans is seen by some as “TYRANNY” !
Ramirez’ cartoons always reflect the right-wing-business-corporate-fascist line. Look at the fine print there by his name: “INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY.”
So much for responsible, mainstream media.
- Uke Man
4 Comments:
There were a lot of poor people in Cuba under Batista. But there were a lot more under Castro. Likewise, the standard of living for rural Chinese fell even further under Mao, many even starving to death. And again, Russia's poor got even poorer after the Communist revolution.
Similar arguments were made to justify each of these situations.
So many people don't believe that Chavez, who embraces the same policies, will help the poor either: we believe he will make their lot even worse, just as the people he follows did.
So it doesn't look to us like Chavez is trading liberty for decreased poverty, but rather than he's bringing the Venezuelan people the worst of both worlds.
Folks - I was notified that Tim had commented, but it didn't show up on the blog; so, I'm trying this to put it up.
- Uke Man
Tim said...
There were a lot of poor people in Cuba under Batista. But there were a lot more under Castro. Likewise, the standard of living for rural Chinese fell even further under Mao, many even starving to death. And again, Russia's poor got even poorer after the Communist revolution.
Similar arguments were made to justify each of these situations.
So many people don't believe that Chavez, who embraces the same policies, will help the poor either: we believe he will make their lot even worse, just as the people he follows did.
So it doesn't look to us like Chavez is trading liberty for decreased poverty, but rather than he's bringing the Venezuelan people the worst of both worlds.
1:20 PM
That was very kind and honest of you, Uke man. Bless you.
Tim, I'm working on a longer response, but for the time being, think about this:
1.Neither Castro nor Chavez are communists; they are socialists (regardless of what they or others claim [e.g. China calls itself communist, but since Mao died it has been capitalist]).
2. 80% of the Venezuelans are UNDER the poverty level (and hungry) - and HAVE BEEN for years and years and years (and, by the way, racism has played a large part in that reality). Chavez's ideas might or might not work, but the pre-Chavez approach was designed NOT to improve things for the impoverished 80%. That's not "democracy"; that's not "Christian"; that's not acceptable.
- Uke Man
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