Venezuela: Greg Palast on Hugo Chavez

Greg Palast defends the legacy of Hugo Chavez The so-called liberal New York Times, Pat Roberson the Catholic Church and all the other apologists for capitalism all vilified Hugo Chavez.  Chavez made mistakes and was by no means perfect but by any standard what he accomplished in Venezuela, for the poor, the indigenous and working people of that country put him head and shoulders above his critics. He is vilified for the same reason public sector workers and public services, (socialized medicine, the USPS) are vilified in the US---it undermines the lie that the market is the most efficient way of producing social needs.  Here's a few reasons why they hated him.

Chavez on racism: "Racism is very characteristic of imperialism and capitalism. Hate against me has a lot to do with racism. Because of my big mouth and curly hair. And I'm so proud to have this mouth and this hair, because it is African." - Hugo Chavez, September 21, 2005

Chávez on Women: "Women] work so hard raising their children, ironing, washing, preparing food … giving [their children] an orientation … This was never recognised as work yet it is such hard work! ... Now the revolution puts you first, you too are workers, you housewives, workers in the home."

“No part of the human community can live entirely on its own planet, with its own laws of motion and cut off from the rest of humanity.”

“I have said it already, I am convinced that the way to build a new and better world is not capitalism. Capitalism leads us straight to hell.”

“I hereby accuse the North American empire of being the biggest menace to our planet.” “A coup happened in Venezuela that was prepared by the U.S. What do they want? Our oil, as they did in Iraq”

"That's why Pat Robertson, the spiritual adviser of Mr. Bush, is calling for my assassination. That would be much cheaper than an invasion,”

“[The planet] is being destroyed under our own noses by the capitalist model, the destructive engine of development, ... every day there is more hunger, more misery thanks to the neo-liberal, capitalist model.”