Sovereignty
Check out this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1775561,00.html
It's about our government's reaction to the Bolivian takeover of its nation's gas and oil fields. You may not realize this, but there are many poor nations that are rich in natural resources. Sometimes this is due to a corrupt government, as in present-day Chad and Algeria '62-'92. But unfortunately, when these nations opt for privitization, capitalism does NOT work magic to release the nation from poverty. It can't, so long as the private companies that take over are owned by foreigners who care not about the people of the resource-rich nation. For example, Exxon, Chevron, and Halliburton (to name a few, but not to single them out) are American companies. When they do well (ie, they make big profits by exploiting foreign workers and plundering their resources without just compensation) our stockmarket does well. Every American, whether they realize it or not, has a vested interest in the stock market doing well. If it were to fail (as older generations still remember) it would bring devastation to nearly every household. Importantly, almost every White House cabinet person, and every CIA director in history has had extremely close ties to Wall Street. The truth is, what happens there is MUCH more important to our government than freedom, justice, democracy, or any of that banter.
Back to what I was saying... When these companies take over oil drilling in poor nations, those nations have no clout to resist or limit or to demand more of the profit be directed to the nation's benefit.
In Bolivia, the government takeover follows a campaign promise that the people of Bolivia strongly supported. In their democratic elections, they chose the man who said he would do this. In fact, as the above article points out, "the privatisation of Bolivia's gas and oil in the 1990s was almost certainly illegal, as it took place without the consent of congress." But Rice and Blair berate the Bolivian president, as do newspapers owned by wealthy American corporations.
Now, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (never a man to mince words) accuses Washington of trying to buy off soldiers in Bolivia, to encourage a military coup.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060528/wl_nm/venezuela_usa_bolivia_dc_1
Whether or not this accusation is proved true, we have to admit that it is perfectly in line with America's tactics in S. America for several decades, especially since Reagan. It is also what we did in Iraq and are now doing in Iran. Propaganda. Propaganda to try and influence the ruling of a nation other than your own. So it's normal. We accept it. We've been openly doing it for years. The problem is, this type of thing is the very antithesis of democracy and freedom. Democracy and freedom are meaningless where there is no sovereignty. And where a foreign power seeks to influence the democratic elections of another, democracy has entirely failed. In other words, in every case where America has, is, and will attempt to influence the outcome of an election or help bring about a coup and/or regime change--in every case--sovereignty and freedom have been destroyed. The only way they can be restored is through the people, unaffected by foreign militaries, foreign corporations, and foreign propagandists, taking back their nations, taking back their resources, and choosing what is in the interests of the people, rather than the corporations. Have not corporate donations to candidates here even led to scandal?? Especially when the corporations suddenly have legislation introduced to congress in their favor. It happens every day, of course, but sometimes people actually see it for what it is: the creation and continuation of a bureaucracy run by and for the rich, rather than a representative body for the people. And they are outraged. How long will our generation sit silent? To judge oneself as the promoter of freedom and democracy around the world, while your very tactics destroy them altogether, is not simply hypocrisy, but prideful self-deceit. O when will we humble ourselves before the Lord God, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Sovereign over all creation, our Creator and Redeemer, deserving of all glory and honor and praise. His alone is the power. We need not fear this corrupt government. But we must fear God, and submit to His will in everything. No matter what it means, or how much we "lose," or how much we suffer as a result. God will bring about justice. He opposes the proud, and Scripture declares that the proud nation will be brought low. And that the humble will be lifted from their poverty and affliction. Be among the humble. No matter what happens around us--be among the humble. Do not think you are safe, or that your sins will not find you out. Repent. Confess your sins. Submit to your Creator and to His Christ. Then, no matter what judgment befalls us, you will find yourself safe in your heavenly reward.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1775561,00.html
It's about our government's reaction to the Bolivian takeover of its nation's gas and oil fields. You may not realize this, but there are many poor nations that are rich in natural resources. Sometimes this is due to a corrupt government, as in present-day Chad and Algeria '62-'92. But unfortunately, when these nations opt for privitization, capitalism does NOT work magic to release the nation from poverty. It can't, so long as the private companies that take over are owned by foreigners who care not about the people of the resource-rich nation. For example, Exxon, Chevron, and Halliburton (to name a few, but not to single them out) are American companies. When they do well (ie, they make big profits by exploiting foreign workers and plundering their resources without just compensation) our stockmarket does well. Every American, whether they realize it or not, has a vested interest in the stock market doing well. If it were to fail (as older generations still remember) it would bring devastation to nearly every household. Importantly, almost every White House cabinet person, and every CIA director in history has had extremely close ties to Wall Street. The truth is, what happens there is MUCH more important to our government than freedom, justice, democracy, or any of that banter.
Back to what I was saying... When these companies take over oil drilling in poor nations, those nations have no clout to resist or limit or to demand more of the profit be directed to the nation's benefit.
In Bolivia, the government takeover follows a campaign promise that the people of Bolivia strongly supported. In their democratic elections, they chose the man who said he would do this. In fact, as the above article points out, "the privatisation of Bolivia's gas and oil in the 1990s was almost certainly illegal, as it took place without the consent of congress." But Rice and Blair berate the Bolivian president, as do newspapers owned by wealthy American corporations.
Now, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (never a man to mince words) accuses Washington of trying to buy off soldiers in Bolivia, to encourage a military coup.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060528/wl_nm/venezuela_usa_bolivia_dc_1
Whether or not this accusation is proved true, we have to admit that it is perfectly in line with America's tactics in S. America for several decades, especially since Reagan. It is also what we did in Iraq and are now doing in Iran. Propaganda. Propaganda to try and influence the ruling of a nation other than your own. So it's normal. We accept it. We've been openly doing it for years. The problem is, this type of thing is the very antithesis of democracy and freedom. Democracy and freedom are meaningless where there is no sovereignty. And where a foreign power seeks to influence the democratic elections of another, democracy has entirely failed. In other words, in every case where America has, is, and will attempt to influence the outcome of an election or help bring about a coup and/or regime change--in every case--sovereignty and freedom have been destroyed. The only way they can be restored is through the people, unaffected by foreign militaries, foreign corporations, and foreign propagandists, taking back their nations, taking back their resources, and choosing what is in the interests of the people, rather than the corporations. Have not corporate donations to candidates here even led to scandal?? Especially when the corporations suddenly have legislation introduced to congress in their favor. It happens every day, of course, but sometimes people actually see it for what it is: the creation and continuation of a bureaucracy run by and for the rich, rather than a representative body for the people. And they are outraged. How long will our generation sit silent? To judge oneself as the promoter of freedom and democracy around the world, while your very tactics destroy them altogether, is not simply hypocrisy, but prideful self-deceit. O when will we humble ourselves before the Lord God, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Sovereign over all creation, our Creator and Redeemer, deserving of all glory and honor and praise. His alone is the power. We need not fear this corrupt government. But we must fear God, and submit to His will in everything. No matter what it means, or how much we "lose," or how much we suffer as a result. God will bring about justice. He opposes the proud, and Scripture declares that the proud nation will be brought low. And that the humble will be lifted from their poverty and affliction. Be among the humble. No matter what happens around us--be among the humble. Do not think you are safe, or that your sins will not find you out. Repent. Confess your sins. Submit to your Creator and to His Christ. Then, no matter what judgment befalls us, you will find yourself safe in your heavenly reward.
posted by Michael U at 2:14 PM
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