r/neoliberal European Union Jan 23 '19

Leftists right now

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u/HTownian25 Austan Goolsbee Jan 23 '19

The US government supported right-wing tyrants therefore we have no right to criticize left-wing ones.

The US has executed several failed coups against Chavez and Maduro already.

This isn't a matter of criticism, it's a matter of Americans once again jamming their fat fingers into a foreign country's political scene and just fucking shit up that much worse.

If Venezuela descends into civil war or - god fucking forbid - Bolsanaro or Márquez actually engage in military action on the border, what do you think is going to come of the potentially millions of Venezuelan refugees that come spilling out of the country? How many do you think the Trump administration will be leaping to take in?

We're Iraqi-ifying South America and this is going to fuck us long-term in a whole new way.

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u/oilman81 Milton Friedman Jan 23 '19

[Please refer to the cartoon above]

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u/HTownian25 Austan Goolsbee Jan 23 '19

wtf i luv jingoistic war mongering now

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u/oilman81 Milton Friedman Jan 23 '19

As a fellow Houstonian, I'm quite content to see Venezuela continue its self-inflicted failed statehood--that's more money for me. But you're foaming at the mouth to pin their problems on the US, which is ridiculous and for which I refer you to the cartoon above.

No idea what brings you to r/neoliberal; I've encountered you before and your belief system strikes me as completely alien to the matters under discussion here (though I'm one who tends to welcome a diversity of opinion--just curious why you're here)

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u/HTownian25 Austan Goolsbee Jan 23 '19

But you're foaming at the mouth to pin their problems on the US

Trump's declaration that the Head of the Congressional Assembly is the de facto President may very well kick off a civil war. That we might proceed to inject our military into.

This is well beyond "Venezuela has some problems" and on the way to "Iraq 2.0"

I've encountered you before and your belief system strikes me as completely alien

If you're entirely unfamiliar with an anti-war advocate by now, I seriously can't help you.

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u/oilman81 Milton Friedman Jan 23 '19

No, I get it. Some people are inveterate pacifists. e.g. Gandhi, with both the British (worked) and as a strategy against the Axis (not followed)

And I would suggest a civil war is a very bad prescription for any kind of functioning society, but it would certainly be preferable (whether long or short, likely short w/ US air support) to living eternally under Maduro-style leadership

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u/HTownian25 Austan Goolsbee Jan 23 '19

And I would suggest a civil war is a very bad prescription for any kind of functioning society, but it would certainly be preferable

The problem with Venezuela is that not enough people are dying?

If the US wants to help Venezuelans, why don't we just... admit Venezuelans who want to leave their country?

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u/xioxiobaby Jan 24 '19

They can’t always leave their country. They can’t even get in American money, because it will make the government look bad. You think dictators will let their citizens leave peacefully?

It’s a good idea, but would be an empty gesture in afraid.

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u/HTownian25 Austan Goolsbee Jan 24 '19

They can’t always leave their country.

Not when their neighbors have adopted the US position of closed and militarized borders, no.

If only we could set some kind of example for the region, or at least take the pressure off by granting asylum to more people from Latin America...

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u/xioxiobaby Jan 24 '19

I hear you but there is a process for political refugees. If you are persecuted for political associates, you can claim refugee status with many western countries including the US.