Opinions/Editorials
See other Opinions/Editorials Articles
Title: Venezuela: None of Our Business
Source:
The William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy J
URL Source: http://thegarrisoncenter.org/archives/14189
Published: Jan 27, 2019
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
Post Date: 2019-01-29 08:56:48 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 1709
Comments: 15
On January 23, the President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Juan Guaido, was sworn in as “interim president.” In what was presumably a pre-coordinated move, Guaido’s administration was quickly recognized by the governments of the United States, Canada, and several countries in Latin America.
Guaido’s claim rests on a provision in Venezuela’s constitution which allows him to assume the office should it become vacant. The Assembly says that it is. Nicolas Maduro, elected to a second term as president in 2018, begs to differ. A number of countries, including Russia and China, continue to recognize his government.
All of which seems either remarkably simple or incredibly complicated, depending on who you ask and which side they’re on. From an American who’s on neither side, like me, it comes down to two simple facts:
First, Venezuela’s government does not and never has represented any kind of military threat to the United States. It has never invaded the United States. It has never attacked the United States. It has never threatened to do either, nor does it seem to be well-equipped to do so if it desired to.
Secondly, Venezuela is not and never has been either a state or territory of the United States. It achieved independence from Spain in 1821 as part of the Republic of Gran Colombia, and became a completely independent nation in 1830.
Taken together, these two facts lead inexorably to one conclusion:
How Venezuelans choose to conduct their political affairs never has been and is not now the business of the US government. One need support neither Maduro nor Guaido to reach this conclusion. It’s simply not up to Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Marco Rubio, or any other American politician to run Venezuela.
Unfortunately, US administrations since the 1950s seem to have lost or mis-filed the above memo. Usually in the name of anti-communism, though in reality mostly for the benefit of American oil companies, the US has continuously intervened to ensure “friendly” regimes in Caracas.
That began to backfire in 1998 with the election of Maduro’s predecessor and mentor, Hugo Chavez. Chavez cultivated closer relations with communist (Cuba and China) and former communist (Russia) countries, while implementing socialist economic programs.
Two decades later, Venezuela is an economic and humanitarian wreck. American politicians blame Chavez/Maduro and socialism for the country’s decline. Maduro and his supporters blame US sanctions and secret support for the opposition.
Both sides are right, but on only one of those claims is the US rightfully positioned to act. It should lift all economic sanctions on Venezuela, withdraw diplomatic recognition of any claimant, close its embassy, and leave a note on the door: “Work this out yourselves; when you have, let us know if you’d like to resume relations.”
Thomas L. Knapp (Twitter: @thomaslknapp) is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism (thegarrisoncenter.org). He lives and works in north central Florida.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
It's not of our business when a teenager shoots up heroin you say is unconstitutional to ban, and they die in the ally.
It is none of our business when our neighbors are being murdered and have to eat zoo animals.
You're an idiot Deckard.
Low morals. Low IQ. Sits around all day finding stuff to whine about.
#2. To: A K A Stone (#1)
...on only one of those claims is the US rightfully positioned to act. It should lift all economic sanctions on Venezuela, withdraw diplomatic recognition of any claimant, close its embassy, and leave a note on the door: “Work this out yourselves; when you have, let us know if you’d like to resume relations.”
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#3. To: Deckard (#2)
rightfully
Drug addicts who push harmful drugs to children need to shut up about right and wrong. In other words shut up you are immoral and don't decide what is right and wrong.
#4. To: A K A Stone (#3)
Drug addicts who push harmful drugs to children...
I'm not and I don't you lying POS.
In other words shut up...
No - I will continue to express my opinions here. You don't like my opinions, then debate like a man, not a petulant child, berating anyone who disagrees with your bizarre world view.
...you are immoral and don't decide what is right and wrong.
With your warped sense of morality, you have no business lecturing ANYONE on that topic.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#5. To: Deckard (#4)
Is it unconstitutional to ban heroin?
Is it unconstitutional to ban marijuana?
#6. To: Deckard, A K A Stone, Trumps asses (#0)
Making of Juan Guaidó: How the US Regime Change Laboratory Created Venezuela’s Coup Leader
While video of the protest is not available, many Venezuelans have identified Guaidó as one of its key participants. While the allegation is unconfirmed, it is certainly plausible; the bare-buttocks protesters were members of the Generation 2007 inner core that Guaidó belonged to, and were clad in their trademark Resistencia! Venezuela t-shirts, as seen below:
Is this the ass that Trump wants to install in Venezuela’s seat of power?
#7. To: A K A Stone (#5)
To: Deckard Is it unconstitutional to ban heroin?Is it unconstitutional to ban marijuana?
I’ll answer that, because Dicktard are too freakin stupid to answer that... NO, it’s not.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
#8. To: GrandIsland, A K A Stone (#7)
I’ll answer that, because ... NO, it’s not.
Please exercise your right to post your opinion but please ensure a sense of respect and decency for all others in exercising their respective opinions.
Since you "believe" a US governmental entity can strip Americans of their individual rights, please rationalize that same opinion with an attempt to control your inbred hostility.
Thank you.
#9. To: buckeroo (#8)
of their individual rights
You sound like the stupid asshole snowflakes that CLAIM it’s a “right” to healthcare. Well, you stupid dumb fuck, it ain’t... and it’s not a right to have heroin, either.
Just because Dicktard and you claim it’s a right, doesn’t make it so. It makes you a little people, with insignificant opinions. Answer Stones question... shitbird.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
#10. To: buckeroo (#8) (Edited)
hostility.
GFY... you don’t deserve civility. It was the Paultards that threw the first insults my may, from day one at LP. Goldi, in her secluded paranoia, allowed Paultards to be assholes just because they were shunned like her by the wheelchair RINO... and that’s fucking FACT.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
#11. To: GrandIsland (#10)
It was the Paultards that threw the first insults my may, from day one at LP.
And I want you kept in your own hole.
#12. To: buckeroo (#11)
It’s just too bad that on the net or face to face, you couldn’t get that job done.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
#13. To: GrandIsland (#12)
Its probable that you personally shut down Salley's goals.
#14. To: GrandIsland, buckeroo (#10)
GFY... you don’t deserve civility.
Honestly, you don't know the meaning of the word. In your warped mind, civility is WEAKNESS.
You must think that berating posters here makes you a big, tough macho man.
Keep thinking that.
What a sad, pathetic little man you are.
Your obnoxious posts do nothing to win anyone over to your side and in fact have driven away many good posters from this site. As it stands now, it's a contest between you and A K A to see who can be the most revolting, repulsive and execrable prick on the site.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#15. To: Deckard (#14)
lol... that’s the same disingenuous bullshit you Paultards claimed at LP... as only non Paultards were banned (because mentally ill Goldi, in her secluded paranoia, believed that bullshit)... and her site never gained ANY non Paultard posters... then it died like an old unliked lady, not to be found for a week. How smelly was that?
Why would anyone want to post here other than a Paultard or a liberal? You assholes will be calling them boot licking neo-cons from the git! Fuck you, asshole.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]