Manuel Rosales : The Alternative to Chavez in Venezuela

Fri13Oct2006

Manuel Rosales : The Alternative to Chavez in Venezuela

With Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez being one of the most, if not the most, controversial figure in Latin American politics today, what/who is the alternative in the upcoming elections in the Bolivarian republic? The answer comes in the form of Manuel Rosales, Governor of el estado de Zulia. According to an article up on today's AlterNet, Rosales is being portrayed in the media as:

...responsible, pro-American "free-market" technocrat. We'll hear things like: 'Rosales is campaigning on a platform of economic stability, increasing foreign investment and keeping inflation in check.'

But Rosales is also pushing some populist reforms to try and please the masses.

For example, a welfare plan called Mi Negra, complete with a black card and an Afro-Venezuelan viejita promoting it.

The plan aims to take a big chunk of Venezuela's oil revenues and hand them out directly to people as a stipend of between $250 and $450 per month depending on oil revenues. This would be along the lines of what is called an "entitlement" in the United States. There would be nothing that the individuals getting this money would need to do. They wouldn't have to work, go to school, make sure their kids go to school or anything else. All they would have to do is sit at home and wait for the money to show up.

Of course this "plan" does nothing in terms of actually trying to change conditions that create poverty but maybe I'm asking too much.

Check out the entire AlterNet article for a look at what the anti-Chavez is selling and decide if you are buying.

Via / AlterNet
Imaga Via / Venezuelan Analysis

Venezuela Does It's Part Against Ilegal Drug Trade (Monday, Mar 31 2008)
Paz Sin Fronteras Concert This Sunday on Colombian-Venezuelan Border (Friday, Mar 14 2008)

Maegan la Mala

Feedback (5) | Del.icio.us

Feedback (5) » Share your opinion

1. Erwin C. ~ Friday, Oct 13 2006 | 11:52H:

The other main opposition candidaate to Chavez- comedian Bejamin Rausseo- is also labeled as pro-business:

http://ourlatinamerica.blogspot.com/2006/10/venezuelan-opposition-in-david-vs.html

By the way, does anyone besides me find it disturbing that Rosales' welfare plan uses such strong racial iconogrpahy?

2. GWEH ~ Friday, Oct 13 2006 | 12:47H:

checkout www.venenews.net

3. Maegan la Mala ~ Friday, Oct 13 2006 | 16:31H:

I will. Gracias

4. KA ~ Friday, Oct 13 2006 | 18:20H:

The people with the "mi negra" card can only spend the money on certain things, food, school supplies, buying product to imporve their home and business. This plan is much better since the money currently is not reaching the poor the way it should due to corruption.

5. Yudith ~ Friday, Oct 13 2006 | 20:59H:

I just read the article in venenews.net. I strongly agree with Erwin; this racist iconography is disturbing. It looks like Rosales is another of those right -wing machos who think more about the World Bank than about the people. This "let's give the money to the people and have them sink or swim" politic is desastrous because it will not give more school, nor better health care to the people, just money to give for facilities which should be free for everyone. Look at the parental refund in Canada; money to give to parents so they can pay a part of the extravagant fees of a private daycare, when a public daycare system for the working class would cost about the same. On the other hand, give this money to the politician and they will buy themselves limousines with it. Nope, for me, the answer is not Rosales, Rausseo or Chavez, or any of those tweddlededum and tweddlededees, and changing the conditions that create poverty is not too much to ask, it's the bare minimum. Let's hope there is an Allende somewhere in the crew!

VivirLatino