Maduro: No cordial talks with US until it stops alleged conspiracy against Venezuela

[COLGATE4]

17. Talk about a non sequitur - prior to Chavez'

Last edited Wed Oct 2, 2013, 02:35 PM - Edit history (1)

election the Venezuelan government was working hard on overhauling the Electric sector of the country, precisely because their studies showed the increasing demand that was coming to an already outdated electric generation and distribution system. However once Chavez took power all these reforms were thrown out. In fact, the first great success of the prior government (improving electric service for the Venezuelan people - not your imaginary 1%) was Margarita Island where system capacity and reliability was increased dramatically. But this was abruptly done away with when Chavez nationalized it shortly after taking power. The other proposed reforms were likewise scrapped.

Since then the electric sector in Venezuela, already starting to be in crisis at the time Chavez rode in, has only continued to deteriorate. It cannot keep up with ever-increasing demand and, in addition, the large capital investment needed to keep machinery 50 years old in some cases functioning just isn't happening. Thus, the present situation of rolling blackouts and outages which Maduro, displaying his infinite wisdom and technological expertise, tries to blame on 'sabotage'.

Chavez' and Maduros' elections were in no way a referendum on the public's satisfaction with a lousy electric sector. In fact this current lack of dependability of electric power is a factor which will only serve to bring more discontent with Maduro's government. And all the cheap demagoguery won't do anything to improve that. Blaming the famous "1%" for their own ineptitude doesn't convince anyone.