Reaching Out or Lying Down?

Only time will tell the real meaning of this photo:

Strange Developments in Venezuela

Two strategic Russian long-range bombers have landed in Venezuela, along with a Russian navy flotilla. One has to wonder why? Perhaps this is Putin flexing his muscles, as a sign of retaliation for U.S. VP Dick Cheney going to Georgia last week? There's more detailed technical info here.

Wither Democracy

Venezuelan dictator-wannabe, Hugo Chavez, lost a narrow victory this past weekend, in a photo-finish vote with numbers very reminiscent to the last Quebec referendum. One fact that seems to have escaped every pundit was that only 56% of the population turned out!!! What on earth would an election have to be about to get 99%+ of the population out. Those who didn't vote should be ashamed.

Sadly, I'm not at all convinced that the turnout would have been much different here in Canada, especially Vancouver. For instance, we currently have one of the worst mayors in our history, crime and drug abuse and homelessness is completely out of control. Yet will more then 35% of voters show up in the next election? I very much doubt it. :-(

Democracy is only effective if the majority of people participate in it. Imagine a baseball game where only 1/3 of each team were to play. It would die a quick death.

Reality Wake-up Call

Yesterday was an interesting one, full of educational insights. I had the great pleasure to engage in extended discussions with a woman who had recently moved here from Venezuela and a man who is just visiting from Argentina. What I heard from them vividly reminded me of how incredibly fortunate all of us in Canada and the U.S. are and how our problems pale in comparison to those experienced by so many others around the world.

Both of these people are well educated. Both are middle class. Both work hard. But both have great obstacles placed in front of them in their respective countries that will likely forever prevent them from ever getting very far ahead, owning a home, not worrying that poverty and/or imprisonment could happen any day. Do you think these last two concerns occupy the mind of most middle-class North Americans? Not likely.

Let's look at each of these countries individually:

Venezuela: Located on the northern edge of South America, this nation is incredibly oil-rich, with great wealth abound. Since 1999 it has been ruled as a virtual dictatorship by Hugo Chavez. This fellow is the great hero of North American socialists, as he's promised to redistribute the country's wealth to the poor. A lovely concept in theory, but in practice it ain't much fun when the government takes your property to help with the redistribution. Disagree with them and you get put in jail ... or worse.

Argentina: I've often heard that 100 years ago this nation, which is "more European than Europe", was the 4th wealthiest country in the world. Things have deteriorated greatly since then. The worst period was 1999 - 2002, aptly known as the Argentine Economic Crisis. Many people lost everything. The father of the fellow I spoke with lost his factory and never recovered. The reasons for Argentina's problems are numerous, but some of the more prominent ones are: Corruption and over-entitlement.

I've long said that Canada doesn't have any real problems so we invent fake problems just so we have something to complain about! One thing is for sure: When you have great prosperity, you have the luxury of worrying about the most trivial issues. Poverty and hunger tend to focus one's attention on what's really important!