Comments on: and the horse you rode in on. http://checkswithchart.com/2008/09/12/and-the-horse-you-rode-in-on/ Bold, but not reckless Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:11:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Vicente Duque http://checkswithchart.com/2008/09/12/and-the-horse-you-rode-in-on/#comment-250 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:24:20 +0000 http://fastnav.wordpress.com/?p=315#comment-250 Fastnav :

Thanks for your interest and attention.

Let me add a note on Economy :

I have many Venzuelan friends and other people that come to visit me after being in Venezuela on Business trips.

They tell me a story of Gifts and Subsidies for Everything in Venezuela. People pay liliputean or tiny absurd bills for everything. Electricity, Gas, Gasoline, Telephones, Water, Transportation, education, health, almost everyting is free or almost gratis in Venezuela.

Venezuela is a Santa Claus Economy ( Like the Arab Oil Nations ). Loans are given to the laziest and most ignorant and they never pay back.

Contrast to Colombia, where you have to work like a slave in order to pay bills and everything has an international competitive price. Colombia operates as a NeoLiberal or Very Capitalistic Economy.

In fact Colombia has been seeking a trade agreement with the USA, but the economic relations with the USA are and will be very tight, even if the US Congress is slow ( because of the US Elections or other political factors ).

McCain promises this trade Agreement, and Obama will certainly concede to the “Best Ally of the USA in South America” ( according to the US State Department ).

I see a lot of Economic Troubles for Venezuela in the Future, because the Santa Claus Economy is absurd and unsustainable. And the Future of the Colombian Economy will be better because people develop the “calvinistic” virtues of Hard Work, Economy and Thriftiness. In fact Colombians are stingy and sparing and have to work to death.

Thanks again friend.

Vicente Duque

]]> By: fastnav http://checkswithchart.com/2008/09/12/and-the-horse-you-rode-in-on/#comment-245 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:16:35 +0000 http://fastnav.wordpress.com/?p=315#comment-245 Vicente,
Thanks for your great comments. I totally agree with your stance regarding relations between the US and Colombia.
I also concur that Chavez is highly unpredictable. Perhaps he is sick. Perhaps he is incredibly smart and it’s all part of one big plan (which I doubt).
Sorry if you find any of the comments in my entry offensive.

~ FN

]]> By: Vicente Duque http://checkswithchart.com/2008/09/12/and-the-horse-you-rode-in-on/#comment-244 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:31:08 +0000 http://fastnav.wordpress.com/?p=315#comment-244 I am a Colombian and I see the strong need of an alliance with the USA. I sincerely think that most Colombians have similar thoughts to mine in respect to the US. Our greatest need is to survive as a nation and to prosper economically, ergo enter the USA.

Chavez is impossible to understand or predict. He recently suddenly changed course 180 degrees when he talked negatively of the FARC Guerrillas of Colombia. Some days before he had spoken of FARC as “Bolivarian Fighters” and had highly praised these murderous guerrillas dedicated to COCA business and to kidnapping for money and political clout.

It is very difficult to deal or to have a policy to a guy that is so unpredictable and perhaps is mentally deranged. I would recommend to everybody ( USA and Colombia ) to treat Chavez as a sick man and not as a fool or a clown. Better to avoid offensive language.

Vicente Duque, Colombia

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