Venezuelan peeps fight back

[Bronx33]

http://daniel-venezuela.blogspot.com/

[ant1999e]

This is ridiculous. Chavez is a saint. It must be bush's fault.;)

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

:laugh:

Just imagine what the pretender in the WH would do for these kind of approval ratings:

82.7% of Venezuelans look favorably upon the job done by President Chavez

Venezuelanalysis.com (Michael Fox): According to the latest survey conducted by the Venezuelan Institute for Data Analysis (IVAD), 82.7% of the Venezuelan population looks favorably upon the job done by President Hugo Chavez.

Of those interviewed; 22.9% said the President had done a regular to good job; 41.8% good; 18.4% excellent; 5.7% regular to bad; 5.5% bad and 4.6% terrible.

The opinion poll was conducted between March 14 and 17, among 1,200 individuals from Caracas, nine other state Capitals, and other smaller populations around the country.

The same poll declared that 61.6% of those surveyed did not know who should be the primary opposition candidate in the December 3 presidential elections. Nevertheless, Julio Borges, from the Primero Justicia (Justice First) party, received the most support among the potential opposition presidential candidates, at 8.9%, which is nowhere near the support President Chavez received at 61.4%. These latest numbers regarding Borges and Chavez have increased approximately 5% since similar IVAD polls where held in January.

Although 82.8% believed that political parties are important, only 17.6% of those surveyed said that they were members of, or backed any of the 5 major opposition parties. Primero Justicia, a conservative political party that was formed in the late 90s received the most support of the opposition, with 7.7%, followed by the former center-left governing party Accion Democratica with 3.2%; the conservative regional party Proyecto Venezuela with 3.1%; the Christian-Democratic party Copei with 1.9%; and the Zulia state-based party Un Nuevo Tiempo with 1.7%.

President Chavez’ own political party, the MVR, received 40.2% support, while 30.2% were not affiliated with or sympathizers of any party.

The results from this latest poll are similar, although slightly more favorable to the President than those made by IVAD 6 months ago. Interestingly, 72.6% of those recently surveyed also believed there to be a great deal of corruption in the country. Although President Chavez is not necessarily blamed for this corruption, 53.5% of those interviewed believed that the government is doing little or nothing to combat the problem.

In an IVAD survey from February, 58.8% also declared that they believe the country is better off today because of the Chavez administration and just over the majority held the opinion that if Chavez is reelected, the general situation in the country will also improve.

Luis Christiansen, president of Consultores 21, a 22-year-old Venezuelan polling company, verified the credible record of its competitor IVAD, but declared, “honestly, we have not encountered statistics with greater than 80% support for Hugo Chavez since just after his election in ’99.”

Results from the latest Consultores 21 poll, held January 27 to February 7, where 20,000 habitants from across the country were interviewed, are fairly modest in comparison with the latest IVAD results. Approximately 62% of those surveyed were favorable of the job done by the President, while approximately 38% where not. Additionally, 49.1% of those surveyed were in favor of the reelection of President Chavez against any other opposition candidate.

* According to Christiansen, the disparity between polling results can be attributed to the questions and indicators used by various polling agencies.

“In Venezuela, you have to be clear about which question you are asking. If the question is, who is in support of President Chavez, it’s about half [of the population]. But if the question is bipolar -- whether you support either Chavez or the Opposition -- Chavez is king, by 2 to 1.”

“Right now we hear a lot about how Chavez has the support of the great majority of the country,” said Christiansen. "It’s true that he has a lot of people behind him. It’s not absolute, but it is a lot more than anyone else."

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/print.php?newsno=1934

http://vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=52787

[Bronco_Beerslug]

<a href="http://tinyurl.com/moocg">New Poll Gives Venezuela’s Chavez 82.7% Approval Rating</a>

So much for people hating Chavez.

[Garcia Bronco]

This is great news...it sucks you guys are heading out, but we understand. Good luck in South America.

[ant1999e]

Don't worry, you won't be missed.

[Bronx33]

So much for people hating Chavez.

Ya like thats accurate.

[Rohirrim]

I once had a Venezuelan girl friend, so I know quite a bit about Venezuela. Well, all I need to know, anyway. ;D

[Bronco_Beerslug]

This is great news...it sucks you guys are heading out, but we understand. Good luck in South America.
:rofl:
Poor Garcia, he just can't stand it when someone posts something he can't handle.

Ya like thats accurate.
Who knows? Who knows if your blog is accurate?

Don't worry, you won't be missed.
Ah gee whiz, I was hoping you would come to the bon voyage party and burn Bush effigy's with us. Well, darn, maybe next year?

[W*GS]

Just how independent of the Chavez regime is IVAD?

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

:rofl:
Poor Garcia, he just can't stand it when someone posts something he can't handle.

He can't handle it when people burst his bubble of denial about the monkey in the WH.

He can't actually dispute their facts, so his only recourse is to act like a child and cry for these people to leave the country (despite the fact that only 34% of Americans approve of the monkey and even fewer approve of the GOP-controlled congress.)

Sad, really. :pity:

[Garcia Bronco]

Ya like thats accurate.


Sssssh...don't tell them that....they want to go around believing everything they read on the internet.

[Garcia Bronco]

He can't handle it when people burst his bubble of denial about the monkey in the WH.

He can't actually dispute their facts, so his only recourse is to act like a child and cry for these people to leave the country (despite the fact that only 34% of Americans approve of the monkey and even fewer approve of the GOP-controlled congress.)

Sad, really. :pity:


"These people"? Dude...I'm talking about you. But you go on believing your "pop" polls like they actually mean something.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

"These people"? Dude...I'm talking about you. But you go on believing your "pop" polls like they actually mean something.

What's inaccurate about the poll?


Luis Christiansen, President of Consultores 21, a 22 year-old Venezuelan polling company, verified the credible record of its competitor IVAD, but declared, “honestly, we have not encountered statistics with greater than 80% support for Hugo Chavez since just after his election in ’99.”

Results from the latest Consultores 21 poll, held January 27 to February 7, where 20,000 habitants from across the country were interviewed, are fairly modest in comparison with the latest IVAD results. Approximately 62% of those surveyed were favorable of the job done by the President, while approximately 38% where not. Additionally, 49.1% of those surveyed were in favor of the reelection of President Chavez against any other opposition candidate.

[RaiderH8r]

Since we're in the spirit of Communist leader greatness....Kim Jong Il nailed 11 holes in one...in one round...in his first attempt at golf.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/02/16/kim.birthday.reut/

North Korean publications describe Kim Jong Il as a renaissance man who has flown fighter aircraft, written operas and shot 11 holes-in-one in his first try at golf.

America should just give up. Greatness like the Communists of this world are not to be contended with. Offer up all your worldly posessions to the "Enlightened Ones" you simple peasants and reap the rewards of the Utopia.

[Bronx33]

Since we're in the spirit of Communist leader greatness....Kim Jong Il nailed 11 holes in one...in one round...in his first attempt at golf.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/02/16/kim.birthday.reut/

North Korean publications describe Kim Jong Il as a renaissance man who has flown fighter aircraft, written operas and shot 11 holes-in-one in his first try at golf.

America should just give up. Greatness like the Communists of this world are not to be contended with. Offer up all your worldly posessions to the "Enlightened Ones" you simple peasants and reap the rewards of the Utopia.



That is one creepy look dude and i also hear he collects disney stuff.

[Garcia Bronco]

What's inaccurate about the poll?



You have know idea who these people are and why they gave the answers to teh general queations they were asked. Nor do you know the inference of how the results were considered. It's not a medical journal...it's barely technical writing. Nor do you know the polling companies reputation over time.

[RaiderH8r]

That is one creepy look dude and i also hear he collects disney stuff.
Yes comrade, he is great.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Since we're in the spirit of Communist leader greatness....Kim Jong Il nailed 11 holes in one...in one round...in his first attempt at golf.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/02/16/kim.birthday.reut/

North Korean publications describe Kim Jong Il as a renaissance man who has flown fighter aircraft, written operas and shot 11 holes-in-one in his first try at golf.

America should just give up. Greatness like the Communists of this world are not to be contended with. Offer up all your worldly posessions to the "Enlightened Ones" you simple peasants and reap the rewards of the Utopia.


No comparison between those 2 countries but I guess it sounds good.

"Keep your sense of humor. There is a 50 - 50 chance that the world can be saved. You - yes you - might be the grain of sand that tips the scales the right way." - Pete Seeger

[Bronco_Beerslug]

You have know idea who these people are and why they gave the answers to teh general queations they were asked. Nor do you know the inference of how the results were considered. It's not a medical journal...it's barely technical writing. Nor do you know the polling companies reputation over time.

Once again, what's inaccurate about it? What do you know about how the poll was conducted, who conducted it, the parameters used, etc...? How can you say it isn't accurate? Show me the facts.

[Rascal]

Once again, what's inaccurate about it? What do you know about how the poll was conducted, who conducted it, the parameters used, etc...? How can you say it isn't accurate? Show me the facts.

Show the facts that it's accurate.

You are simply accepting it as accurate because it supports what you think and you believe things on the web.

According to a poll it was determined that 75% of all Oklahomans hate Bronco_Beerslug (margin of error is 5%).

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Show the facts that it's accurate.

You are simply accepting it as accurate because it supports what you think and you believe things on the web.

According to a poll it was determined that 75% of all Oklahomans hate Bronco_Beerslug (margin of error is 5%).
Ah, the scarecrow makes his AM appearnce, what's up?

Dorothy: How can you talk if you haven't got a brain? Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?

<a href="http://tinyurl.com/h499b">Australian Fashion Week</a>

[bendog]

I thought the deal with Chaves was that for years the country was run by the bankers (whom Jeb Bush worked for in his first "real" job). Chavez somehow muscled in an electorate victory. So, while people may not like Chavez all that much, in comparison to some of the other options, he may not look so bad.

* According to Christiansen, the disparity between polling results can be attributed to the questions and indicators used by various polling agencies.

“In Venezuela, you have to be clear about which question you are asking. If the question is, who is in support of President Chavez, it’s about half [of the population]. But if the question is bipolar -- whether you support either Chavez or the Opposition -- Chavez is king, by 2 to 1.”

[RaiderH8r]

No comparison between those 2 countries but I guess it sounds good.
Communism is communism comrade.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Communism is communism comrade.

Like I said, no comparison between those two countries.

[bendog]

Communism is communism comrade.
not necessarily. See, china.

[RaiderH8r]

Like I said, no comparison between those two countries.
Except for one tremendous commonality.

[RaiderH8r]

not necessarily. See, china.
I've seen China, communism is still communism. What good is all the money and affluence in the world if you don't get to choose how to live your life?

[bendog]

Comparing the socio economic situations in, for example, china and cuba shows a change. What China encourages in terms of individuals being motivated by and rewarded for is not tolerated in Cuba. Communism as an theory of economics has failed. What one sees in "communist" states is in reality totalitarianism.

China manipulates its currency, and uses low cost labor to become the world's leading exporter. Either it or India will achieve a gnp at least equal to ours.

Cuba attempts to remain true to the economics of Marx and Engels, but it's kept, barely, afloat by tourism dollars.

In terms of personal freedom, people in china can leave the countryside to try for something better in the cities. But, people in cuba prolly don't have that freedom of movement simply because the econ opportunities aren't there. What our leaders from Nixon through WJC depended upon was the notion that once people obtained the right to acquire property, they'd demand voting and expression rights. However, that doesn't appear to be happening in China. In China one can use the internet and one can believe anything they choose, but expressing beliefs is not a wise thing to do. There doesn't seem to be a great upheavel over it, either. Meanwhile in Cuba, the majority of people seem realitively proud that their revolution ended their country having an underclass. And that's directly opposite to China, where there seems to be little "comradship" between people.

And then there's NK, which is more of a national prison camp than political or economic ideology.

[RaiderH8r]

Comparing the socio economic situations in, for example, china and cuba shows a change. What China encourages in terms of individuals being motivated by and rewarded for is not tolerated in Cuba. Communism as an theory of economics has failed. What one sees in "communist" states is in reality totalitarianism.

China manipulates its currency, and uses low cost labor to become the world's leading exporter. Either it or India will achieve a gnp at least equal to ours.

Cuba attempts to remain true to the economics of Marx and Engels, but it's kept, barely, afloat by tourism dollars.

In terms of personal freedom, people in china can leave the countryside to try for something better in the cities. But, people in cuba prolly don't have that freedom of movement simply because the econ opportunities aren't there. What our leaders from Nixon through WJC depended upon was the notion that once people obtained the right to acquire property, they'd demand voting and expression rights. However, that doesn't appear to be happening in China. In China one can use the internet and one can believe anything they choose, but expressing beliefs is not a wise thing to do. There doesn't seem to be a great upheavel over it, either. Meanwhile in Cuba, the majority of people seem realitively proud that their revolution ended their country having an underclass. And that's directly opposite to China, where there seems to be little "comradship" between people.

And then there's NK, which is more of a national prison camp than political or economic ideology.
I was watching Frontline when they had an episode about China's current situation. One point they made is that the spike in protests has tripled over the past 10 years, and that's only what the Chinese gov't is reporting. So....take it for what it's worth.

Another issue they pointed out is that their current economic boom has benefited only those living in the cities. Rural China is suffering more than ever because the Chinese Gov't did away with universal health care and free education. So that contributes to the dismay and protests going up I would presume.

China undervaluing the yuan arguably has the single greatest impact on the US-China trade deficit, tied with their tariffs on US goods we're bound to take a beating. But it seems the state dept. and our trade reps are holding to the notion that brought US commerce to China in the first place. Taking a short term (relative to the overall picture) beating and betting on the come, so to speak, of democracy and a truly free market system.

[bendog]

I was watching Frontline when they had an episode about China's current situation. One point they made is that the spike in protests has tripled over the past 10 years, and that's only what the Chinese gov't is reporting. So....take it for what it's worth.

Another issue they pointed out is that their current economic boom has benefited only those living in the cities. Rural China is suffering more than ever because the Chinese Gov't did away with universal health care and free education. So that contributes to the dismay and protests going up I would presume.

China undervaluing the yuan arguably has the single greatest impact on the US-China trade deficit, tied with their tariffs on US goods we're bound to take a beating. But it seems the state dept. and our trade reps are holding to the notion that brought US commerce to China in the first place. Taking a short term (relative to the overall picture) beating and betting on the come, so to speak, of democracy and a truly free market system.

Yeah, I heard a piece on npr that chinese bloggers are increasingly frustrated with the limitations on personal liberty. Whether it'll turn out the internationalists (like Reagan and WJC) or the neocons who see a necessity to "enforce" democracy will be proved right, or both wrong, we'll have to see.

I also heard on npr Shumer and Lindsey Graham saying that China realizes it needs to devalue the yuan so the peasants can have cheaper goods.

I see a parallel in China to Elizebethan England. Torture peaked under Elizabeth, but the economy expanded and she claimed to not care what anyone believed in, but dissent and religious practice were curtailed .... by fire.

[W*GS]

China undervaluing the yuan arguably has the single greatest impact on the US-China trade deficit [...]

Very arguably:

China's exchange rate

Cock-a-doodle-doo
Feb 3rd 2005
From The Economist print edition

The cure for America's trade deficit lies with its economic policy, not China's exchange rate

ON FEBRUARY 9th the Chinese new year begins: the year of the rooster. Many western policy makers and businessmen hope that a new year will encourage new thinking in Beijing to revalue the Chinese yuan, which is pegged to the falling dollar. The yuan, it is widely argued, is grossly undervalued and represents the biggest obstacle to a reduction in America's huge current-account deficit. China has been invited to the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in London this weekend, where it is likely to come under pressure to adjust its exchange rate. But the G7 members should save their breath: not only would a revaluation of the yuan have little impact on America's deficit, but the more that foreigners pressure China to act, the harder it is for China do so.

To begin with, it is not obvious that the yuan is undervalued. The surge in China's foreign-exchange reserves suggests that the yuan is being held down, but this largely reflects short-term capital inflows from investors speculating on a revaluation; these flows could go into reverse. Moreover, if the yuan were set free and capital controls scrapped, the currency might fall as Chinese households and firms diversified into foreign assets. And while it is true that the yuan's trade-weighted value has recently fallen along with the dollar, this follows a period when the yuan was dragged up by a rising dollar: from 1994 to 2001 its real trade-weighted exchange rate gained 30%. Given the uncertainty about the yuan's correct level, it makes more sense to focus on how China can move to a flexible exchange-rate regime—to which its government is committed—than to insist on a specific yuan revaluation.

In any case, a revaluation is not, as commonly claimed, the vital element needed to shrink America's trade deficit. China accounts for only 10% of America's total trade, so a 10% revaluation would reduce the dollar's trade-weighted value by a mere 1%. More generally, although a fall in the dollar is necessary to reduce America's deficit, it is not sufficient. The real solution lies at home: the American government needs to borrow less and households must save more and spend less.

On the other hand, it is in China's own long-term interest to move to a more flexible exchange rate. This would give it more control over monetary policy. By fixing its currency to the dollar it is, in effect, being forced to adopt America's overly lax policy. Inflation is not currently a problem (it has fallen from 5% to 2.4% over the past six months), but ridiculously low real interest rates in a fast-growing economy are likely to cause a misallocation of credit and to fuel investment and property bubbles. A more flexible exchange rate would also help to buffer the economy against shocks. But the timing of any change is tricky. A modest currency adjustment at a time of strong speculation could attract yet bigger inflows of hot money, as investors bet on further appreciation. Last week, Li Ruogu, the deputy governor of the central bank, made clear that China would adopt a more flexible exchange rate, but in its own time, not under pressure.

A first step towards flexibility might be for China to peg the yuan to a basket of currencies rather than to the dollar. One result would be China reducing future purchases of American government bonds. Yields on these would rise. This would, indeed, help to reduce America's trade deficit, but in a much more painful way than those who call for a yuan revaluation have in mind. The year of the rooster may yet deliver a wake-up call, but to America rather than to China.

Copyright © 2006 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved.

[Rascal]

I said that a long time ago (about the Yuan being undervalued) and I've said numerous times how we must insist that they unpeg the yuan...yet everytime I do I get flack from some people (WIGS!!!!!). Care to explain that?