Hugo Chavez is the president of Venezuela and he was originally elected to that position and then re-elected several times. Unfortunately, he is acting a lot less like a president and more like a dictator each and every year. He has worked to change their constitution allowing for no term limits, thus giving him almost the status of a king.

Only Pro-Chavez Media or State Run Media

Hugo Chavez has been using regulations on the media and using a licensing program to shut them down. Of course, he only shuts down the media that reports things that might be offensive to his political domination. Therefore, most of the private media has been shut down except for those that are pro-Hugo Chavez.

The Winds of War

The president/dictator of Venezuela is now telling his troops to be prepared for war because the US has sent troops into Columbia to help with the narco-terrorist groups. Venezuela has been supporting FARC for years, a known terrorist group.

It should be obvious to anyone watching that this man is quickly becoming a ruthless dictator, and is using all the same tactics that Fidel Castro used to seize power in Cuba after he led the revolution with the farmers. Now Venezuela, or rather Hugo Chavez and his group called ALBA have interfered with the elections in Argentina, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Bolivia, and they are working to change the governments in several other nations as well.

Interestingly enough, none of this is being reported inside of Venezuela. Even bloggers have been rounded up and put in jail, and several have left the country. Please consider all this.

By: Lance Winslow
Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow wants you to tell your friends and give them a call;
phone services.

What is going on in America today? Americans are getting tired of big Government interference in area's that are not needed, and seeing big Government intimidation when American citizens don't agree with their policies. This is still a free country as far as I can still tell, at least for now, and we as American citizens have the right to voice our opinions, agree or not, without the fear of Government backlash.

Another czar added to the Presidents staff. This one is in charge of violating American citizens right to privacy and free speech. Their is now a call for Americans that agree with the Obama health care plan to report other Americans that do not agree with the Presidents plan. It's a call that is a dangerous one which looks closer to a call for a new civil war.

Obama's approval ratings are down and dropping further everyday. George W. Bush's approval was higher at this stage of his presidency than Obama's at this same time. Health care support is dropping by the moment as citizens begin to see what is actually in the bill. People are starting to worry, as reports of the Government lying to Americans, becomes more apparent. The Town hall events going on all over the country now, that are all over the news showing regular citizens voicing their concerns were non-violent. Loud at times, yes, but that is only because Americans have been asking these same questions for months, even years without getting any real answers. People are fed up with patronizing answers from politicians, and are now demanding real answers. These are regular people of all ages, races, political affiliations, religions etc. It wasn't until the Obama supporters, encouraged by the Obama administration, came to the town halls, not to voice their opinions but to intimidate those apposed to Obama's plan, that any kind of violence happened. What do Americans need to do now?

First, do not back down from your positions. Do not let anyone intimidate you into changing your mind. If you do change your mind, make sure it's for personal reasons that directly effect you or someone close to you that you truly believe is in your best interest. Stand firm and voice your opinions loudly but peacefully until the politicians we elected into office, hear what we are saying and do the job we hired them to do. This is a very dangerous time in America, and for the Government on the left side of Washington to encourage violence and spying on your neighbors for opposing this administrations views, kind of looks a little like what goes on in a communist country.

The American people are beginning to educate themselves on what is going on in government today. This is something that should have happened a very long time ago. When you have a new administration that ran a campaign on positive change and transparency, and you get nothing but huge spending, lies, intimidation, corruption and most of all, total disregard to what the American people say and want, people start to take notice and begin to realize that we are slowly turning the clock back to the days when we were ruled and not governed by people we gave the privilege to.

Violence is not the answer, even if you are the target of the violence, it's important to keep a good composure in order to be taken seriously. Those that impose their violence or encourage violence, will be suppressed in due time. The coming election in 2010 is the first test to see if Americans will show those that oppose them, it's time to leave and be replaced with someone that will listen. Americans must not listen to those calling them mob's or any other derogatory word the opposition comes up with. Live life free and protect that freedom for generations to come, at all peaceful costs necessary.

By: Michael Pomper
Michael Pomper An American Citizen concerned for the very freedoms we have enjoyed for over 233 years and counting... http://www.michaelpomper.com

I remember, as a pre-boomer, the coming together of the United States to fight common enemies in WWII. Although I was only a kid, there was no doubt the country was committed to a patriotic cause with one goal in our collective minds: defeat those who threatened freedom. Victory was all that was acceptable, no matter what the cost. Wars, conflicts and other military engagements since than have met with more and more opposition, the most notable being our involvement in Vietnam and more recently Iraq.

While the fighting continues in Iraq as well as Afghanistan, the protests at home have shifted from overseas military operations to a battle of philosophies instigated by strong opinions for and against health care reform. Both sides are gaining supporters and it appears as if all-out war is just over the horizon. What's interesting is that the loyal opposition is on the right while other protesters over the last hundred or so years have primarily been to the left of center, far left in most instances.

The suffragettes, a century ago, were on the left as were the anti-war sympathizers in WWI. There were workers rights causes, which resulted in unions and their form of protests, the strike, coupled with their form of demonstrations, the picket line. Later the civil rights marches of the '60s, the women's movement, and the anti-Vietnam protesters where strongly supported by liberals, at least in the beginning. Then there are animal rights, gay rights, global warming, immigrant rights and more.

For now, the shoe is on the other foot, and the left is not happy having to defend its positions. That is the likely reason for demonizing the new protesters by many in Washington, the media and the party faithful. However, there are plenty of us who think this is simply democracy in action. Some would like to ratchet down the rhetoric to what they think is a more civil level; but I'd rather see peaceful, yet boisterous, gatherings than have people seat idly by and not voice their concerns. That's the way this country got started, and it's still an effective way for Americans to be heard.

Most people agree that the citizens are scared at worst and anxious at best. But the politicians are not willing to attack our problems on a bi-partisan basis. The result is those in power are pushing through the items on their political agenda. Those on the outside have dug their heels in and refuse to budge without offering alternative plans of their own. So in the words of the song, "When an irresistible force such as you meets an old immoveable object like me, you can bet as sure as you live, something's gotta give, something's gotta give, something's gotta give."

Whether they like it or not, the politicians work for us. If they don't deliver what we expect, they can be voted out of office. During this critical time that will set the direction of the country for years to come, they better listen to both sides of the argument, and then to do the right thing. They'll get their report cards when the ballots are counted. So don't stop protesting or demonstrating. Be loud if you must, but not obnoxious. Take part in the greatest, and sometimes messiest, form of government ever to exist: democracy.

By: Don Potter
Don Potter, a Philadelphia native, was born in 1936 and is a 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement, frequently writes on marketing issues, and has a blog dedicated to pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945).

Read more articles for and about pre-boomers with thoughts, comments and opinions designed to spark thinking, foster discussion, and stimulate debate by logging on to http://www.pre-boomermusings.com

Since the White House now it projecting a much larger deficit then previously expected they are acting surprised and amazed. It appears that the only people who had no clue that we had an exploding deficit were those who were generating this debt to begin with. White House officials have finally admitted that the upcoming fiscal statistics are much bleaker than those initially estimated by the Obama administration.

Current estimates border upon a $9 trillion dollar deficit quickly approaching for the years 2010 to 2019. In addition unemployment it expected to reach as high as 10 percent this year alone. What this essentially amounts to is that you can pull the wool over some people's eyes but not all the people. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that when you are spending funds quicker then you are bringing them in you are certain to end up with a minus sign. Our present administration even in view of these shocking figures has still not attempted to reduce the government handouts in the least.

In my honest opinion these result are just another example of failed socialist policies. They did not work effectively in other countries nor will they prove beneficial in America either. Add to all the other needless government expenses and spending the proposed health care overhaul program suggested by President Obama will tend to increase our deficit by another trillion dollars or more and America is surely going to be seeing bankruptcy in the near future.

The current administration is completely out of control with its spending and debt and our lawmakers need to drag in the ropes and put an immediate halt to these irresponsible actions by the executive branch of the government. It is evident that the stimulus packages are not doing as they were expected to do. We are still in the hole and still not up to par.

As I had previously stated this is not the time to increasing taxes at any level of government so our only other alternative is to cut back on expenditures. Our country needs to escape from this recession before we can start to increase taxes and push for greater social reform programs.

Although Obama and his administration are likely to encounter these issues I am certain that they will simply be pushed under the bus and ignored. As this happens America will go deeper and deeper in debt. This should be a wake-up call for our Senators and congressmen. Listen up gentlemen and put a stop to all this needless spending before it is too late.

Copyright @2009 Joseph Parish

By: Joseph Parish
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