Dec 15, 2005
Apropos of the Times story in my post of yesterday, my friend, Henry Foner, sends me a copy of a letter (unpublished) that he sent to them regarding their editorial on Hugo Chavez, the popular leader of Venezuela and one of Bush's (and, apparently, the Times' as well) new evildoers. It seems that Hugo has angered George II, the Oil President, because, as head of his country's nationalized oil industry, Chavez has been using profits to pay for programs to lift his people out of poverty. Sets a bad example, it seems, for the likes of Exxon and Sunoco.
Here's Henry's letter:
Your editorial, "Hugo Chavez and His Helpers" (Dec. 10) missed the opportunity to condemn Venezuela's president for other terrible misdeeds.
Not only has he, in your words, "been able to use high oil prices to increase funds for popular social programs for the poor, making him electorally unassailable" -- a flagrant misuse of power -- but he also has the unmitigated gall to provide oil at reasonable prices for the poor people of the Bronx.-- an unforgivable act of interference in the internal affairs of another nation, as well as an attempt to upset the preordained order of things.
If the oil companies want to charge skyrocketing prices, who is Chavez to interfere with that right?. Well, what do you expect from an elected president who refuses to yield power when the opposition -- with the covert support of our government -- tried to overthrow him through an ineptly planned and executed coup. On that occasion, your cries of outrage were strangely muted. Is that what is known as "selective outrage?" - Henry Foner
Popularly elected Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez.
Apropos of the Times story in my post of yesterday, my friend, Henry Foner, sends me a copy of a letter (unpublished) that he sent to them regarding their editorial on Hugo Chavez, the popular leader of Venezuela and one of Bush's (and, apparently, the Times' as well) new evildoers. It seems that Hugo has angered George II, the Oil President, because, as head of his country's nationalized oil industry, Chavez has been using profits to pay for programs to lift his people out of poverty. Sets a bad example, it seems, for the likes of Exxon and Sunoco.
Here's Henry's letter:
Your editorial, "Hugo Chavez and His Helpers" (Dec. 10) missed the opportunity to condemn Venezuela's president for other terrible misdeeds.
Not only has he, in your words, "been able to use high oil prices to increase funds for popular social programs for the poor, making him electorally unassailable" -- a flagrant misuse of power -- but he also has the unmitigated gall to provide oil at reasonable prices for the poor people of the Bronx.-- an unforgivable act of interference in the internal affairs of another nation, as well as an attempt to upset the preordained order of things.
If the oil companies want to charge skyrocketing prices, who is Chavez to interfere with that right?. Well, what do you expect from an elected president who refuses to yield power when the opposition -- with the covert support of our government -- tried to overthrow him through an ineptly planned and executed coup. On that occasion, your cries of outrage were strangely muted. Is that what is known as "selective outrage?" - Henry Foner
Popularly elected Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez.
3 comments:
Well said Henry.
Henry,
I just don't understand why the paper of record did not publish your letter. It was so well written. Erudite and gramatically correct. Don't let them get you down. The people are winning.
Bob Greenberg
It is not surprising to see the NY Times ignore Henry Foner's letter. The Times did hide behind the lies of Sue Miller on the WMDs to cover up for the illegal Bush Iraq invasion; now, they are shilling for the MTA's attacks against the courageous Transit Workers Union in NYC.
Jose Ristorucci, Brooklyn
Post a Comment