The ugly wart ignored

Sent to the Guardian UK, May 15, 2006, destiny unknown

The left is frequently looking to reassess its relation with Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, in an effort something similar to when the right looks to reassess their relations with George W Bush.

Surprisingly enough, in most of their analysis, we see that in Chavez's case they always ignore the most concrete and convincing piece of evidence of why they should cut all relations with this dubious military ex coup-man, who quite unauthorized is taking cover behind their ideological mantle.

Currently in Venezuela, after soon eight years of a “socialist” government, petrol is sold at less than 4 cents of dollar per liter, compared to the 160 cents per liter paid, with taxes, by consumers in Europe, 40 times more, 4.000% more. By selling the petrol at 4 cents instead for the 64 cents he could get for it for anywhere exclusive of taxes, the “Socialist” Chávez transfers effectively 60 cents of dollar per liter to those “with cars” from the resources that could directly been used in favor of those “without cars” and, to make it worse, creates simultaneously horrendous incentives against the environment.

The previous is such an absolute aberration of public policies for most people, especially in Europe, especially for the left, so it is so hard to understand how they can ignore it. Perhaps it is because sometimes a wart it is so ugly that you just have to look away… but please, do not!