Why Can't Big Oil Match Hugo Chavez?, page 1

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Topic started on 8-1-2009 @ 07:07 PM by gnothiseauton

Why Can

www.time.com

Four years ago, Hugo Chávez scored one of the more impressive p.r. coups of the new century when he started delivering free heating oil to low-income Americans. Even if it was political opportunism, as conservative critics insisted, it got home-heating fuel to hundreds of thousands of yanquis during the past four winters, when the price was often skyrocketing. On Monday, however, with world oil prices plunging, the Venezuelan President decided to suspend his large-scale, multistate U.S. program in order to tend to financial concerns at home. Then on Wednesday, at the urging of U.S. politicians whose constituents had come to rely on the oil, Chávez reversed himself and said the heating oil would keep flowing this winter.

(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit to fix the title]

[edit on 8-1-2009 by gnothiseauton]

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 07:07 PM by gnothiseauton

I have to admit I was ignorant on the subject until today. I had no idea that Chavez was giving away free oil to the US. To me this shows that this man has done more for some Americans than their own government.

How come Americans can hate this guy so much, considering this?

ExxonMobil that makes billions of profits doesn't help Americans as much as the guy they love to hate. Irony?

www.time.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 07:44 PM by star in a jar

reply to post by gnothiseauton

I can't believe Pat Robertson, US mouth diarrhea preacher extraordinare, called for Hugo Chavez's head

Some people will never know who their real friends are

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 07:54 PM by FiatLux

Originally posted by gnothiseauton

I have to admit I was ignorant on the subject until today. I had no idea that Chavez was giving away free oil to the US. To me this shows that this man has done more for some Americans than their own government.

How come Americans can hate this guy so much, considering this?

ExxonMobil that makes billions of profits doesn't help Americans as much as the guy they love to hate. Irony?

www.time.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I don`t agree with a lot of the things Chavez does, but, with what he is doing as far as heating oil for us, I have to swallow my pride and say thanks to him for it, because there would be many people who would die without it. As far as why big oil can`t match Chavez, it`s the buck their after. If these people were to cut the amount of food they buy, and maybe sold some of their possessions just to come up with the money to buy the heating oil, then sure, big oil would sell to them in a heart beat. Giving it away is a no no. See where this is going? They could care less if these people had food or not, just as long as they get their money for the heating oil. And it`s not just the big oil that does this in our country.

[edit on 8-1-2009 by FiatLux]

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 08:05 PM by gnothiseauton

On one hand I have to agree that ExxonMobil is not forced to give anything for free. Besides they are a company, and companies have only one goal, profit.
On the other hand I think more people should be like you and cut Chavez some slack since he is trying to help.

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 08:12 PM by Anonymous ATS

Many in the US (especially members of outgoing administration) dislike Chavez for a variety of reasons, not the least of which having to do with inflammatory comments made by the Venezuelan President. I recommend checking out Chavez's 2006 address to the UN general assembly for a good example. Additionally, there have been accusations of Chavez taking actions to limit civil liberties of Venezuelans (like shutting down radio stations) as well as the forcible nationalizations of many industries. In 2007 (I think) he also tried passing a referendum that would have removed term limits, allowing him to continue running for president. Chavez has also been heavily criticized for using the profits from high oil prices to buy fancy military equipment (like submarines, radar systems, and various aircraft) from Russia instead of adequately addressing crippling food and housing shortages.

As far as I know, these are some of the arguments I've heard/read that people cite in their dislike for President Chavez, and I'm not suggesting anything about whether they are well founded or not - decide that for yourself.

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 08:17 PM by gotrox

He is NOT trying to help.
First off, he nationalized all the oil production----kicking out companies that invested billions in his country.
Second, his oil is not light sweet crude---it is heavy oil that needs a price above $120 US per BBL to even break even. Help the US my ***. It is a politically motivated move to garner support for his dictatorship, but now, as he is losing money on it, it's over.

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 08:19 PM by reticledc

I guess everyone forgets the 700 million barrels of oil the USA dished out to his country some years ago.

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 08:32 PM by gnothiseauton

gotrox: I am sure this is a political move, but I always welcome charity as a political move over a threat. Would it be better if he made a political statement the same way that Russia does with its oil, by cutting its supply?
Whatever the reasons behind his actions the result is the same, thousands of Americans have heat through the winter because of his politically motivated move. If all countries were using this tactic to make politically motivated moves the world would be a much better place.

reticledc: I have to admit that I wasnt aware of that. Thanks for the info though, I will check it out.

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 08:42 PM by FiatLux

Originally posted by gotrox
He is NOT trying to help.
First off, he nationalized all the oil production----kicking out companies that invested billions in his country.
Second, his oil is not light sweet crude---it is heavy oil that needs a price above $120 US per BBL to even break even. Help the US my ***. It is a politically motivated move to garner support for his dictatorship, but now, as he is losing money on it, it's over.

Just ask anyone who is getting the heating oil what they think of his motives. I`d bet they could care less about it. Their biggest concern is not freezing to death this winter.

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 08:53 PM by reticledc

reply to post by gnothiseauton

Some time ago when some hurricane blue through the oceans near his country. It was that time when all those hurricanes were ravaging everything. Katrina period if I'm not mistaken. Then MR. Chavez decides to talk sh!t3 about the US. A plan, undoubtedly hatched by the US itself to give him a reason to not to pay us back, and sever ties.
Given the relative ineptitude of the military of S.A. compared to that of the US why didn't we trample his country into the ground?
I mean after all we have this thing against dictators since 911.
All along we have been helping him secure the dictatorship of his own country.
And given the proximity of the Columbia, I can see why.

I rest my case.
www.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 8/1/2009 by reticledc]

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 09:52 PM by FewWorldOrder

reply to post by gnothiseauton

Originally posted by gnothiseauton

How come Americans can hate this guy so much, considering this?

Chavez seems to be loathed by Establishment Oil and has been demonized by the Western MSM with regularity, so many Americans are likely programmed to loathe him too.

I think it's because he hasn't let Big Oil completely dominate the terms of their mutual contracts. The Oil PTB are obviously still making a profit, or we wouldn't see any Citgo Stations in the U.S., it's just that they are used to negotiating a much better deal.

Hence, he gets the 'treatment' until he bows, is deposed or killed, whichever comes first.

$.02

reply posted on 8-1-2009 @ 10:45 PM by yellowcard

Originally posted by FewWorldOrder
reply to post by gnothiseauton

Originally posted by gnothiseauton

How come Americans can hate this guy so much, considering this?

Chavez seems to be loathed by Establishment Oil and has been demonized by the Western MSM with regularity, so many Americans are likely programmed to loathe him too.

I think it's because he hasn't let Big Oil completely dominate the terms of their mutual contracts. The Oil PTB are obviously still making a profit, or we wouldn't see any Citgo Stations in the U.S., it's just that they are used to negotiating a much better deal.

Hence, he gets the 'treatment' until he bows, is deposed or killed, whichever comes first.

$.02

Dominate the terms of their contracts? Uhm, he ceased all their assets, and halted their production and caused the oil companies to lose billions. Ever wonder why oil companies are so reluctant to search for oil in "rogue" nations? Look no further than the example set by Hugo, no company wants to take that risk. Were it not for people like Hugo we may have never seen $100+ oil this past year, because their production and search for oil would have been more wide spread.

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