Monday, July 23, 2012

Chavez Plays Oprah in Venezuela

You get a home, you get a home, you get a home!

"Chavez housing program keeps Venezuelans hopeful, and loyal" by William Neuman  |  New York Times, July 14, 2012

EJIDO, Venezuela — Every Thursday, the state-run television channel here presents a live national broadcast of what might be called ‘‘Extreme Home Makeover: Socialist Edition.’’ It is part reality television, part game show, and full-throated campaign rally.

The programming features top aides to President Hugo Chavez handing over new apartments and houses to down-on-their-luck Venezuelans, who respond with telegenic tears and expressions of gratitude to Chavez, who is running for reelection....  

Gee, don't you wish you had a president like that, Amurkn, rather than one who gives them to banks?

For Americans weary of underwater mortgages and housing booms and busts, there is surely something novel in Venezuela’s approach to its own housing crisis. The government estimates that in a country of 29 million people, 2.7 million families need new homes, either because they are homeless, the homes they live in are inadequate, or multiple families are crowded under one roof.

The giveaways are a prime example of how Chavez has been able to maintain popular support for nearly 14 years, despite out-of-control crime, erratic basic services, and stubborn poverty.  

Do you know how tired I am of this shit-bag, agenda-pushing piece of pot-hollering-kettle corporate shit newspaper, readers?

By making a show of delivering new homes to some, he keeps alive hope among many others that they too might some day benefit from the same largesse.

Recovering from cancer treatments, Chavez has been far less visible in public than at any other time of his presidency. But his housing giveaways continue, whether he is there to personally hand over the keys to the dwellings himself or not. He finances the new homes with the country’s vast oil income and promotes the giveaways through the ‘‘Housing Thursday’’ broadcasts.

In a country where millions live in slums, the housing campaign generates fierce loyalty. It also wins converts....

I'll tell you who is losing one.

--more--"   

Yeah, that's them.

Also see: Rights group raps Venezuela policies

Sorry, folks, but I'm evicting Jewish front groups from my reports.