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