Job Discussion Forums

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:51 pm Post subject:

Website? I'm not criticizing your stat, I just was looking for a place to do a little follow up research. A lot has probably changed since 1998. Do you mean it's the Venezuelan government's stat when you say "the Venezuelan definition"? I usually wonder about statistics like that, because often a government will have its reasons for skewing the stats, to look good, whereas an independent organisation may skew the same stats in the other direction, to make the picture look bleak and therefore help with fundraising.

Justin

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

And to the man who seems to think we all post on here too much, a hearty congratulations on FIVE HUNDRED POSTS!!!

Now who has too much time on their hands...don't you ever do any real work JT? Razz

PT

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:24 pm Post subject:

As mentioned earlier on another thread, I have a big pile of work I'm trying to avoid.

Did you have something to say about CVA or Venezuela?

Regards,
Justin

PS YOu'll be overtaking me soon.

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

As much as I would like to comment on the situation in Venezuela a distinct absence of any clue as to what it is prevents me from doing so. Very Happy

Overtaking you is definitely within the realm of possibility as I still have eight whole months until I get a real job and actually have to do some...oh what did you call it?...ah that's right, work!
Razz

PT

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

Yes, for example the US poverty line for a single person household is like 8,000 a year and it doesn't matter where in the country they live its the same everywhere. I don't know about you but I think 8,000 is a big low for the poverty line. The 1990 defination in the US was ridicilious for poverty

Theres different values determined for different sized households and whatnot.

my source for the 1998 statistic on Venezuela is the CIA World Fact book and its up to each nation state to really both calculate(in some cases estimate) and write the defination so really it can be abused by those in power. I believe however the 1998 defination was stupid however I can't find it. And yes a lot of changed, but Venezuela is not socialist so the changes that happen need to work in with market forces. Chavez is a good man though he's an anti-imperialist government and is interested in the well-being of his people.

I think the easiest way to eliminate poverty is changing the defination, haha and there has been cases of this. You can skew fact by like "Under my regime poverty has went down by 10%" mainly its because your changed the defination.

When I was in Venezuela I read some of the papers there, it was quite retarded how pervasive and idiotic this anti-chavez rheotic was, a paper that was called "Moderate" politically, had half the issue devoted to how Chavez is stealing money and has a learning disorder, the political cartoon had chavez sitting on a pile of money with a crown on.

If you ever hear Chavez speak you will understand how this isn't true. The man is brilliant. He doesn't really have any formal political education which has its problems, but as long as his interests are for the people he will be a friend of mine.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:11 pm Post subject:

I have heard Chavez speak, and agree that he isn't learning disabled. Very Happy

While lacking in formal political education, he is some ways a remarkable political strategist. (COnsider how he's responded to attempted ousters.) And his "rough and ready" guy on the street persona is part of the secret of his appeal to most Venezuelans. He seems like a regular guy.

And while no system is perfect, there are more children in school today than ever before in the history of Venezuela. (You can see my bias as a teacher here...)

Justin

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

I know I'm starting a bit late on things, but Chavez is often on the news here, and what with my burgeoning interest in politics, the upcoming Colombian presidential elections and general regional stability, I was wondering if there was an "Idiot's guide to Chavez" that anyone could point me in the direction of. Doesn't matter if its in Spanish, or even English for that matter! Wink

Thanking you in advance,
Lozwich.

Alitas · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 187 Location: Maine

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

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

Alitas · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 187 Location: Maine

There are quite a few websites about the current situation. Vheadline is definitely pro-Chavez, and Daniel is def. anti-Chavez. Personally I do not care for Chavez, but if you like him, that is fine with me.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Alitas, are you still in Venezuela or have you moved on?

Alitas · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 187 Location: Maine

Guy, I ended up taking a Spanish language instructor position in Maine. Life sort of got in the way of my plans to move back to Venezuela. Grad school starts in January; for certification purposes I had to take some courses this fall but not in the TEFL field.

Last trip was in February 2005. Last time I lived there was 1992-1993.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Luder · Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 74

Okay, now that Moonraven has disappeared and the rest of you are threatening to turn this board into a mutual admiration festival, let me say that hearing that mantra about 16.8% growth, 16.8% growth, 16.8% growth every time Venezuela comes up makes me want to puke. Can't anybody think of anything better to say about the country and its leader? 16.8%, huh? So what? I mean, after the double-digit negative growth of the previous years and and with the sky-high price of oil, the Venezuelan economy couldn't, after all, go anywhere but way up. And what annoys me is that so many of you assume, ignorantly, as far as I can tell, that Ch�vez is the sole cause of this damn 16.8% growth.

I've complained about Moonraven's mediocre acolytes before, and it seems I have reason to do so again: her sinister politics have survived her, but her undeniable flair for the insult (she described Dave's, quite accurately, I suspect, as a "crackpot site") has, unfortunately, all but disappeared.

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

Reducing poverty, Turning colombus day into Indigneious Resistance Day, Fighting illiteracy, getting tens of people cataract eye surgury, Having medical doctors look after communities in the Barrios, building alliances, defeating the FTAA, improving education, making so the Profits of the state Oil companies no longer go to the pockets of its owners but to the government(before Chavez only 20% of the revenue when to the government now its more like 80-90%), increasing minimum wage, increasing employment, improving public transit(has the best subway system in the world in my opinion), decreasing homelessness and all while improving investment and growth in the country and having an anti-imperialist world stance.