Thursday, December 08, 2005
While Washington sits on its hands, Venezuela lends a helping hand.
Being out of the country I have missed a lot of the good press Venezuela is getting by helping low income Americans with their heating bills. This winter has already gotten off to a cold and snowy start. Further, home heating oil prices have risen sharply. Nevertheless, the U.S. government, frozen in its own indifference, has refused to increase the amount of funding for heating oil for the poor. As is pointed out in this Washington Post article, New Yorkers are greatfull that Venezuela has stepped in to fill the breach. Further, I thought the following was a pretty good rebuttal to the notion of Venezuela`s magnanimity being a political stunt:
Yup, the Federal government and big corporations are welcome to come to New York and play politics anytime. Actually, the sooner the better.
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Rep. Jose E. Serrano (D-N.Y.), who brokered the oil deal, brushed aside suggestions that Chavez was playing petro politics.
"To those who say this is to score political points," he told a shivering crowd when the first oil arrived, "I invite any American corporation that wants to score points with my community to start this afternoon."
Yup, the Federal government and big corporations are welcome to come to New York and play politics anytime. Actually, the sooner the better.
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