Comments on: Muting RCTV in Venezuela

By: Max Shields

Max Shields — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:56:14 +0000

Jeff, your arguments on this topic of Chavez (here and on the other thread) seems to come from: “He’s a non-democratic despot who is against free speech”.

There is just no evidence of any of that. And since you don’t bring any evidence to the contrary, your arguments sound like faux skepticism. I would suggest you bring some facts and evidence to support your criticism, rather than whatever seems to drive your agenda.

By: brian

brian — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:29:32 +0000

Jeff

Just because you have american republicans engaging in vote fraud,dont assume Chavez will do it….That just shows your frustration that the venezuelan people chose to elect him.

And Chavez doesnt own any voting computer company.

By: Deadbeat

Deadbeat — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 19:57:28 +0000

Unlike the U.S. the elections in Venezuela were internationally monitored. To suggest that they were stolen without any proof is grasping at straws.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:09:47 +0000

Max, how have I disregarded anything? If you support Chavez, do you support him without question?

Juan, why no criminal charges?

As for his wonderful democracy, if we can have two elections stolen here through computerized voting, why do you think Chavez can’t do it in Venezuela, especially since he owns a computerized voting company in California?

By: Juan Moment

Juan Moment — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 11:03:35 +0000

RCTV openly supported a coup attempt on a democratically elected leader. What would happen if a TV station in the US, Europe or Australia pulls a stunt like that? They’d be off-air in no time, it’s editors and managers dragged before court to answer allegations of treason. The fact that they were allowed to broadcast for another 5 years only shows how civil Chavez is in his approach.

By: Max Shields

Max Shields — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 03:25:01 +0000

Armando,

The word “rubbish” implies you have facts to support a cogent counter argument to the one presented – which is nothing if not cogent.

The article attempts to peel back the layers of what’s going on in South America. The air waves in the US belong to the people via licenses proffered to private stations. We know that these air waves are not made available for our elections – note the billion or so dollars which will go directly to network and their affiliates stations to elect a president. This is the kind of money that disconnects representation and collapses democracy.

As far as Venezuela, my understanding of Latin American history tells me that there is much to be said of a careful reading of what is going on with the Chavez government, a government which does not exist through military juntas or massive political arrests, or violence against the Venezuelan people. Chavez exists because there is an empowered grass-roots movement of people, people who have been outside of the political system who demand that he be in power as long as he continues to represent those people. These are the people who ensured that Chavez was not removed ala the elite coup attempt supported by said TV station.

To disregard the decades US’s gun boat diplomacy and the complicit elite in the South is to ignore everything! It is to ignore the phenomenon which is Hugo Chavez!

By: Armando A.

Armando A. — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:44:39 +0000

This article is absolute rubbish! So apparently the only way that the Venezuelan government can provide a television station for the “disenfranchised” people of the country is to close RCTV and steal their equipment and offices? Last I heard there were plenty of frequencies available and not being used! But of course, the problem is that NO ONE WANTS TO SEE WHAT’S ON THE NEW GOVERNMENT STATION (TVES). The majority of Venezuelans (even Chavez supporters) were opposed to closing RCTV. These “new” Venezuelans will get their birthright. Of that I am sure. This will be the same birthright that the current Cuban people have – the right to be poor and live in an orwellian hell!