When President Obama campaigned in 2008 in Portland, Oregon over 70,000 people came to hear his speech. And although I missed the event, I was intrigued by the raw emotion that the candidate’s words inspired in my community. Obama re-visited Oregon during his 2012 campaign, but the inspiration had faded from his voice, and the audience had drastically changed.

A Nation Mourns (tags)

Chavez

Chavez: A Personal Tribute (tags)

Chavez

Media Scoundrels Pillory Chavez Before He's Buried (tags)

Chavez

Chavismo Lives! (tags)

Chavez

Targeting Chavismo (tags)

Chavez

FAIR v. Scoundrel Media Misreporting on Venezuela (tags)

media

Chavismo in Venezuela (tags)

Chavez

Bolivaranism in Venezuela (tags)

Chavez

Venezuela's Future (tags)

Chavez

Venezuelan Leadership Up for Grabs? (tags)

Chavez

Chavez Struggles to Recover (tags)

Chavez

Bolivarianism Wins Big (tags)

Venezuela

Complex Chavez Recovery (tags)

Chavez

Uncertainty about Chavez's Health (tags)

Chavez

Venezuelans Vote Again (tags)

elections

Chavez Win Strengthens Bolivarianism (tags)

elections

Expect Bolivarian Victory in Venezuela (tags)

elections

Chavez Opposition Disintegrating (tags)

Chavez

Destabilizing Venezuela Pre-Election (tags)

Venezuela

Targeting Chavez (tags)

Chavez

Chavez Riding High in Polls (tags)

Venezuela

Beating Up on Chavez (tags)

imperialism

Obama Is Preparing for War in South America (tags)

"The first and foremost important achievement during the Chávez administration is the 1999 Constitution, which, although not written nor decreed by Chávez himself, was created through his vision of change for Venezuela. The 1999 Constitution was, in fact, drafted - written - by the people of Venezuela in one of the most participatory examples of nation building, and then was ratified through popular national referendum by 75% of Venezuelans. The 1999 Constitution is one of the most advanced in the world in the area of human rights. It guarantees the rights to housing, education, healthcare, food, indigenous lands, languages, women's rights, worker's rights, living wages and a whole host of other rights that few other countries recognize on a national level. My favorite right in the Venezuelan Constitution is the right to a dignified life. That pretty much sums up all the others. Laws to implement these rights began to surface in 2001, with land reform, oil industry redistribution, tax laws and the creation of more than a dozen social programs - called missions - dedicated to addressing the basic needs of Venezuela's poor majority. In 2003, the first missions were directed at education and healthcare. Within two years, illiteracy was eradicated in the country and Venezuela was certified by UNESCO as a nation free of illiteracy. This was done with the help of a successful Cuban literacy program called "Yo si puedo" (Yes I can). Further educational missions were created to provide free universal education from primary to doctoral levels throughout the country. Today, Venezuela's population is much more educated than before, and adults who previously had no high school education now are encouraged to not only go through a secondary school program, but also university and graduate school.??The healthcare program, called "Barrio Adentro", has not only provided preventive healthcare to all Venezuelans - many who never had access to a doctor before - but also has guaranteed universal, free access to medical attention at the most advanced levels. MRIs, heart surgery, lab work, cancer treatments, are all provided free of cost to anyone (including foreigners) in need. Some of the most modern clinics, diagnostic treatment centers and hospitals have been built in the past five years under this program, placing Venezuela at the forefront of medical technology.??Other programs providing subsidized food and consumer products (Mercal, Pdval), job training (Mission Vuelvan Caras), subsidies to poor, single mothers (Madres del Barrio), attention to indigents and drug addicts (Mission Negra Hipolita) have reduced extreme poverty by 50% and raised Venezuelans standard of living and quality of life. While nothing is perfect, these changes are extraordinary and have transformed Venezuela into a nation far different from what it looked like 10 years ago. In fact, the most important achievement that Hugo Chávez himself is directly responsible for is the level of participation in the political process. Today, millions of Venezuelans previously invisible and excluded are visible and included. Those who were always marginalized and ignored in Venezuela by prior governments today have a voice, are seen and heard, and are actively participating in the building of a new economic, political and social model in their country.??2 MW---On Monday, President Chavez threw a Venezuelan judge in jail on charges of abuse of power for freeing a high-profile banker. Do you think he overstepped his authority as executive or violated the principle of separation of powers? What does this say about Chavez's resolve to fight corruption?"

Bolivarianism Triumphs in Referendum Vote (tags)

democracy in Venezuela

Bashing Venezuelan Democracy (tags)

The dominant media again on the rampage.

Media Response to Venezuelan elections (tags)

one-sided and inaccurate as usual

Wall Street Journal's Looking Glass World (tags)

Made in Washington street protests threaten Venezuela

ALVARO VARGAS LLOSA SENDS HUGO CHAVEZ TO DANTE'S INFERNO (tags)

CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK WRITER SAVAGES HUGO CHAVEZ

Otro Mundo Es Posible: Another World Is Possible (tags)

I had the wonderful opportunity to be one of the over 200 Global Exchange Delegates to the World Social Form which took place in Caracas, Venezuela from January 24, 2006 through January 29, 2006. The information I am presenting is based on what I learned from WSF presentations...as well as what I learned from...the Venezuelan people...

Report Back From the 16th World Festival of Students in Venezuela (part 1) (tags)

"[The U.S. ruling elites] have a lot to lose because Venezuela is setting an example. If the people of Venezuela are able to struggle and alleviate so much poverty and illiteracy and lack of healthcare in their country, then why can't we do it here as well?" -- Muna Coobtee, delegate, World Festival of Students, 2005

preliminary comments re Venezuela (tags)

included are some preliminary comments concerning Venezuela

Venezuela's Chavez Says UN Needs a Revolution (tags)

Bolivarian Revolution

Venezuela in the News: Fraud and the Totalitarian Bias (tags)

The Washington Times | January 22, 2003

ignored tags synonyms top tags bottom tags