And where is Venezuela's trade deficit? NON-EXCISTANT

They now produce more than they use.

northside is a Bolivian ,,,

I've been south of the border several times and have seriously thought about it, not Bolivia in peticular, but def. Costa Rica or Mexico

You need ticket money bro?

Nah, were already planning a honey-moon down there for January

Took the only station over that was critisizing him for financial reasons?

Wow. You got your finger on the pulse bro.

I thought you were already married Fuzz? A kept man. Mr. Mom. Grandma ownes a slumlord nursing center....

Northy,

Too many posts to choose just one, so I'll ask in general:
Are you being serious?

If you are (and that's honestly OK), then you truly should seek out a life in one of those "better" countries. Hell, if I saw another nation as superiour to ours, then I'd do everything possible to move there and improve the lot for my kids.

OK

But I did not say they were better. At this point in time they just might have a better way of doing some things.

Are we so close-minded that we cannot look at our politicians enemies and say "hey, there making progress and were not"

Are we so proud that it blinds us to the fact that we are not perfect and therefor someone might know a better way?

Our faults are glaring and have been for some time, but we just keep on trucking down the same road.

Published: March. 3, 2010 at 4:01 PM

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. UPI /Monika Graff | Enlarge CARACAS, Venezuela, March 3 (UPI) -- The Venezuelan economy contracted in 2009 under the weight of a political crisis triggered by power and water shortages and disenchantment with government policies against dissent, analysts said.

Tough government measures to punish businesses and individuals on charges of ignoring edicts on power and water rationing, consumer goods supplies and independently run media all contributed to a muted nationwide response that reflected disapproval and disenchantment in indirect ways.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has reacted angrily to any public criticism of his style of governance and its effects on the economy and general well-being of the his citizenry.

Frequent electricity power blackouts disrupted both urban and rural communities throughout 2009 and the problem continues this year. Chavez blames chronic drought for depleting water levels in reservoirs that, in turn, reduces the country's power generation capacity.

His critics say government mismanagement has also played a part in the resulting problems for the population.

Venezuela's economy gross domestic product fell 3.3 percent in 2009, including a contraction of 5.8 percent in the last quarter, the Central Bank of Venezuela said. The BVC report blamed the global downturn and falling prices for crude oil, the country's main export, for the sour figures.

BCV President Nelson Merentes said in his end-of-the-year message that Venezuela's economy had shrunk 2.9 percent in 2009, the first fall in Venezuelan GDP in five years.

The oil business declined 7.2 percent in 2009 over the previous year due to the "lower level of production." Analysts said that wholesale dismissals of experts and technicians from the oil industry after Chavez's "reforms" had played a part in the country's oil drop in productivity.

BCV said the drop in production was due to compliance with cuts adopted by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, of which Venezuela is a founding member. Venezuela says it agreed to reduce oil production by 364,000 barrels per day in 2009, leaving production at some 3 million bpd. Analysts said the reduced output was also the result of disruptions in the oil industry.

Venezuela's non-oil activity shrank 4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009. The largest declines occurred in the areas of transport services (16.9 percent), commerce (13.9 percent), manufacturing (6.9 percent), mining (4.8 percent), construction (3.5 percent) and real estate services (2.8 percent).


Wow ...

Facts don't lie..

I'm gonna move down there ASAP !!!


wheel,,

Brazil is the biggest country in Latin America. The poverty in Brazil is visible with the slums in the country’s metropolitan areas, and its remote upcountry regions suffering from economic underdevelopment and the substandard living conditions.

2.6 percent of Brazilians live below the poverty line.

Poverty levels in Brazil are unacceptably high. They relate to a lack of appropriate medical care as well as the availability of water and sanitation facilities. Access to education, health care and employment are a big problem for many of the poor.

The biggest social challenge for the Brazilian government and society is the lack of education, housing, health care and nutrition for the homeless children. Thousands live on the streets, abandoned by parents unable to afford to raise them. These children often abuse drugs, commit crimes and resort to prostitution to survive. The government has developed programs through the Ministry of Social Assistance to combat the poverty and starvation of these homeless children.





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In 2003 the Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva launched an ambitious program to eliminate poverty in Brazil. The program was called Zero Hunger.

“150 000 children under five die every year because of hunger” Frei Betto, adviser to Lula said. He felt the child mortality rates “a scandal”.

The program has had allegations of corruption aimed at it but does help many poor families as a report showed in 2007. Betto does however admit the aim for success was initially unrealistic time wise, but that the program is making a difference. Through the program money is given directly to mothers of children instead of the man of the house in the belief this is a more reliable was to ensure children do benefit, and are fed.

According to UNICEF about 42 percent of Brazilian children live in poverty. Also approximately one eighth of all Brazilian children live on the streets. The Brazilian government has kept a tight reign on social spending to meet its debt payments despite a firm commitment to end poverty and hunger. Only a fraction of the national budget is allocated to programs benefitting children.

Poverty pushes children into work and away from education and creates a breeding ground for malnutrition, sexual exploitation and violence against children. Due to the fact Brazil does not enforce child labor laws this industry thrives among the impoverished children. One factor is that schooling is so expensive.

Over 12 million children live in the semi – arid region which makes up Brazil’s most vulnerable states. Here literacy, infant mortality and water are below national average.

Despite Brazil being on its way to achieving primary education universally many schools do not teach basic skills.



Utopia ????


Lol,,

wheel,,

Brazil had a quarter trillion dollar surplus last year, 250 Billion dollar surplus.

Wheel, its common knowledge that the media is and has slandered Hugo Chavez, based on that one can assume that we are not getting the truth and ofter getting the opposite of reality reported to us.

As for Brazil's slums, yup their there, and there crime rate is historic as well....Can't believe your passing judgment when they have just begun to reform. Up until the mid-2000's the Brazilian government was largely influenced by the U.S

Most of South America's problems have been multiplied by U.S meddling, just in the last half decade or so have they actually begun to govern themselves.

Hell, Bolivia's last president hardly spoke Spanish and lived in the states!!! Just in the last 5 years has Bolivia had a Bolivian president!!! And all these shenanigans are a product of the U.S. imposing its political will. Isnt that what a dictatorship is? Politicians imposing their will on others? We've been doing that for a while!

Yeah Wheel open your eyes to his truth.......

Ignore reality.

The US imperialist pigs have ruined south America.

Just look at all the people risking their lives and illegally crossing their boarders.......

2 of those statements are true. Look what our politicians do to US, how well do you think their going to treat other countries?

I'm glad there coming here, their children will be citizens and run for office

I would imagine I would be very quiet

No 'it's all Bush's fault' ?

North,
I've read the posts, and I'm issueing a BS flag.

You can't possibly believe the stuff you're stating and/or insinuating.

Despite the efforts of Michael Moore, et al, the economy/healthcare is NOT stronger in these countries.
Surplus? Are you serious? They only have a surplus because their poor are ACTUALLY poor and they don't make any efforts to remedy it.

The quality of healthcare in the USA is far superior to that in South America.
Most "medical visits" south of the border are for two things:
1. illegal drugs
2. cheap plastic surgery.

That's a far cry from being a better system.


This country was built on capitalism.
It's insulting when the uninformed want to trash it in favor of weaker systems without knowing the facts.
Economies ebb and flow. You can't target a low point and surmise that therefore the sytem is broken. You have to look at the long term.
Our freedoms stem from our ability to separate the government from the economy.

But instead of debating general terms, please answer this:

Do you think the federal government has proven themselves to be the most trustworthy and efficient manager of your money?