Jesse Jackson: Venezuela Invests in Its People, U.S. Invests In Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

by Democracy Now (reposted)

Mon, Sep 19, 2005 6:48AM

The Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke Saturday night in New York City at an event with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Jackson said, "[The Venezuelan] government's priorities are to invest in its people. They subsidize oil, gas, health care and education and that's civil. We cannot subsidize our oil and education because we are investing in tax cuts for the wealthy and a war that does not make sense in Iraq. We need new values, we need to go another way."

During his three-day tour of New York City, President Chavez visited the South Bronx. At night, he addressed a packed audience at the Saint Paul and Saint Andrew Methodist Church on the Upper West Side.

Also speaking were New York Congressmember Jose Serrano and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Jackson traveled to Caracas in August to offer support to Chavez just days after tele-evangelist Pat Robertson called for his assassination.

* Jesse Jackson, longtime civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH coalition.

LISTEN ONLINE
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/19/1336220

Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)

§STFU Jesse!

by Steve

Mon, Sep 19, 2005 12:57PM

Another idiot remark from the race baiting extortionist, Jesse "Shakedown" Jackson. Old and tired.

Add a Comment

§Baiting

by Steve--how ironic

Mon, Sep 19, 2005 1:13PM

Calling anyone baiting, when that's alll you do. Get some follow through, until then you'll be recognized as irrelevant.

Add a Comment

§US petrochemical corporations are subsidized

by public transit is not subsidized

Mon, Sep 19, 2005 1:56PM

Another difference is that the US doesn't subsidize local public transit, while billions of taxpayer dollars are used to subsidize construction of new freeways and suburban sprawl development..

Education is last in line for government subsidies, public schools in disrepair is the result..

The petrochemical corporations are also subsidized in their operating costs by taxpayer dollars. One term for this is "socialism for the wealthy, capitalism for the impoverished." The corporations benefit from government handouts, though none of the benefits are passed on to the consumer..

Riding a bicycle is one way to circumvent this petrochemical monopoly of ExxonMobil, BritishPetroleum/Shell and ChevronTexaco. If Citgo really is benefitting the people of Venezuala, this may make them the only petroleum corporation with some ethics (sounds to good to be true). Otherwise the oil regime is ripping everyone off. Your only real option is either don't drive or jack the gas at the pump, unless you enjoy getting jacked by petrochemical barons like Bush/Cheney..

Exxonmobil boicott;

http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/causes/criminals/exxonmobil/overview.html#who

"Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) for energy is changing the climate. Yet the fossil fuel industry is resisting change, funnelling millions of dollars into advertising and campaigns to oppose global warming solutions.

What's worse, our governments are listening to them.

Our leaders, on all levels, talk about taking action against climate change. Then they throw taxpayers' money at the fossil fuel industry, approving more coal and gas developments and giving little support to clean energy."

http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/government/index.html

Add a Comment

Support Independent Media

We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!