Why Some Countries Stay Poor

[trader/warrior]

American media just seem way to paranoid about Chavez and his flamboyantly socialist ways, I mean he is just one of many (and one more democratic than many others) dictatoresque leaders around the world.

 

[luiz]

Why some countries stay poor?

The title should read - Why some countries brainwash their people.

The real story behind this is that the Hilton in question violated several laws in the state of Nueva Esparta - Such as polluting their junk straight into the ocean. The government took action, and this wasn't Chavez' doing, this was the state of Nueva Esparta.

Go ahead American Media. Continue brainwashing your people into believing this place is some 3rd world african craphole, while the real story is how screwed up the American Economy is.

Any questions?

Dude if it was merely an environmental question then the hotel should be fined, at most shut down and then sold to the highest bidder.

It is quite clear that this was a political act of Chávez, who had already voiced his desire at nationalizing the hotel. The excuse used is irrelevant.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Do they have paved roads yet ?

Yes in all cities and major towns, aside from some Colonial areas, which have not been changed to asphalt, but rather concrete. So it is similar to Europe.

Dude if it was merely an environmental question then the hotel should be fined, at most shut down and then sold to the highest bidder.

It is quite clear that this was a political act of Chávez, who had already voiced his desire at nationalizing the hotel. The excuse used is irrelevant.

I never doubted that, As far as the state is concerned, getting rid of the problem is all that needs to be done. They don't care if Chavez wants to nationalize it.

Chavez merely jumped on the situation taking advantage of the chance to nationalize it. That is why it was shut down, rather than just simply fined.

I suppose it's possible Chavez could be different than all the other autocratic regimes that have fallen to the "natural resource curse" but the odds appear to be stacked against him. Norway has been the model to follow but rarely have we seen others follow their lead.

Overleveraged is fixable but autocratic self-interest has shown to be more elusive.

Actually, Chavez is one of the few leaders in the world that actually gives a ---- about the environment. He has banned logging and shut down ALOT of mines. That is the only and only thing I like about him.

In terms of the environment, it's to bad that Chavez is going out next election and the next pro-American leader will just resume stripping Venezuela of it's plentiful resources. WOO Capitalism!

 

[Kerozine]

Why some countries stay poor?

The title should read - Why some countries brainwash their people.

The real story behind this is that the Hilton in question violated several laws in the state of Nueva Esparta - Such as polluting their junk straight into the ocean. The government took action, and this wasn't Chavez' doing, this was the state of Nueva Esparta.

Go ahead American Media. Continue brainwashing your people into believing this place is some 3rd world african craphole, while the real story is how screwed up the American Economy is.

Any questions?

lol, the article isn't even American -- it's French.

 

[TheLastOne36]

soooo....?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

We're not talking about strip mining Venezuelan mountains - it's a hotel.

Strip mining an economy refers to a "take what you can while you can and damn the fallout" mentality towards other country's economies. I wasn't saying they were literally strip mining, it was a metaphor comparing the mentalities - and effects - of strip mining a mountain to the attitudes of First World corporations (and governments) towards third world countries and their economies.

em How is building a hotel (Probably using local workers - and having foreign company people staying in the city to oversee/run the construction) where foreigners will come to stay (and spend their money) draining money and material wealth from Venezuela?

It could be a Venezuelan-owned hotel instead. But again I'm not arguing against Hilton building there, my whole comment was directed towards the idea that first-world investment in third-world countries is a good thing. The implication was that taking actions which would halt or force a second-guessing of those investments or loans or whatever would be a bad thing.

I understand responding this way to Ama, given how unabashedly capitalist he is. But I think you're overreacting, in this case.

Nah I think you just misunderstood the direction of my post was all.

 

[Elrohir]

Strip mining an economy refers to a "take what you can while you can and damn the fallout" mentality towards other country's economies. I wasn't saying they were literally strip mining, it was a metaphor comparing the mentalities - and effects - of strip mining a mountain to the attitudes of First World corporations (and governments) towards third world countries and their economies.

Oh, I agree that First World corporations and governments can do bad things, especially if they're not held accountable. I'm just lost on how the Hilton was going to do anything especially bad. Good hotels would probably increase tourism, which would inject money into the Venezuelan economy.

It could be a Venezuelan-owned hotel instead. But again I'm not arguing against Hilton building there, my whole comment was directed towards the idea that first-world investment in third-world countries is a good thing. The implication was that taking actions which would halt or force a second-guessing of those investments or loans or whatever would be a bad thing.

But if not even foreign owned hotels are allowed....is there any sort of foreign investment that you think is OK? (That doesn't involve handing the property over to the locals, once it's built, or something along those lines?)

And OK, I get your general point. I guess I'm just not sure why you chose to make it here. Ah well.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

So the cause of the lack of development is simply government acquisition of private property? Someone give this man the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in perpetuity.

 

[gangleri2001]

I for one am with Chavez. Taking over Hilton hotels is the best way to avoid that Paris Hilton comes to your country.

 

[plarq]

So the cause of the lack of development is simply government acquisition of private property? Someone give this man the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in perpetuity.

This has to be done very carefully. For example, confiscating the opposition party (native or foreign) wealth, is a good way to win domestic fight.

However, confiscating someone's property while that very someone do not vocally oppose the regime, shows a very unfriendly attitude towards anyone involved.

 

[Merkinball]

Cheezy, do you believe that places such as India, China, Indonesia, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil, Argentina, etc, etc, would be more economically developed if the first world never had anything to do with them?