November 23, 2005
Idiot of the Day - Sangibin Edition
From reader Julio Perez comes this gem.
Alright, faithful Babalu readers, feel free to tear it apart.
Thanks Julio.
Buy Your Gas at Citgo: Join the BUY-cott!
by Jeff Cohen
Looking for an easy way to protest Bush foreign policy week after week? And an easy way to help alleviate global poverty? Buy your gasoline at Citgo stations. And tell your friends.
Of the top oil producing countries in the world, only one is a democracy with a president who was elected on a platform of using his nation's oil revenue to benefit the poor. The country is Venezuela. The President is Hugo Chavez. Call him "the Anti-Bush."
Citgo is a U.S. refining and marketing firm that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company. Money you pay to Citgo goes primarily to Venezuela -- not Saudi Arabia or the Middle East. There are 14,000 Citgo gas stations in the US. (Click here http://www.citgo.com/CITGOLocator/StoreLocator.jsp to find one near you.) By buying your gasoline at Citgo, you are contributing to the billions of dollars that Venezuela's democratic government is using to provide health care, literacy and education, and subsidized food for the majority of Venezuelans.
Instead of using government to help the rich and the corporate, as Bush does, Chavez is using the resources and oil revenue of his government to help the poor in Venezuela. A country with so much oil wealth shouldn't have 60 percent of its people living in poverty, earning less than $2 per day. With a mass movement behind him, Chavez is confronting poverty in Venezuela. That's why large majorities have consistently backed him in democratic elections. And why the Bush administration supported an attempted military coup in 2002 that sought to overthrow Chavez.
So this is the opposite of a boycott. Call it a BUYcott. Spread the word.
Of course, if you can take mass transit or bike or walk to your job, you should do so. And we should all work for political changes that move our country toward a cleaner environment based on renewable energy. The BUYcott is for those of us who don't have a practical alternative to filling up our cars.
So get your gas at Citgo. And help fuel a democratic revolution in Venezuela.
Jeff Cohen is an author and media critic (www.jeffcohen.org)
Posted by Robert M at November 23, 2005 10:00 AM
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Comments
Jeffie don't hafta worry 'bout filling up with Citgo. He's already fulla GAS...
Posted by: Alberto Quiroga at November 23, 2005 11:21 AM
Gee, isn't selling a product at below cost usually called "dumping", and considered a predatory practice?
Posted by: mojo at November 23, 2005 11:43 AM
What a tool. And people these days are ignorant enough to believe him. "Sick Sad World" indeed.
We never went to Citgo much anyway, but ever since I read on Babalu that chavez runs the show at Citgo, we deliberately avoid it.
Posted by: FL Mom at November 23, 2005 02:11 PM
Idiot doesn't even begin to describe it....I gues he is not aware that Chavez is buying up Argentina (bonos that is) and subsidizing Fidel as well. His much advertised policy of using oil wealth for the poor has not materialized...but let stop since I could go on and this is not jeffie's site....so Iill go there and vent.
Posted by: Adriana at November 23, 2005 03:17 PM
Val,
Cohen is but a mouthpiece in this... the real story and what a surprise...!! A Kennedy taking sides with a sworn enemy of the USA...!! Amazing....!! not..!
Rather... how predictable that this Kennedy would continue a long established family tradition and look for ways to publicly betray his own, in benefit of one who would gleefuly slit his throat in a split second. In the name of Bolivarianism and anti-capitalism, of course.
Posted by: Soroaman at November 23, 2005 05:05 PM
Jeff: You are beacon of intellect and wisdom. Venezuela and its people need you there. Only with voices like yours speaking the truth on their behalf can their revolution survive.
People of your ilk are vital to revolutionary causes. In fact, in Cuba they were known as "paradons." I'm sure they are waiting to welcome you to the elite group of paradons in Venezuela. You're obviously a man who stands up--then quickly falls--for what he believes in.
Posted by: Ray at November 24, 2005 09:35 PM
It is funny to hear Chavez described as using the oil money to help the poor in Venezuela what with him selling their oil at 40% below market to low income people in Massachusetts. It is not for political reasons of course, it is just that the poverty in Massachusetts is so much more important to him. I am sure the people of Venezuela don't mind. In 1998, 47% of the people were below the poverty line but I am sure Hugo has fixed that up by now.
Posted by: Apesnake at November 25, 2005 09:32 AM
If ignorance is bliss, this Jeff Cohen is the happiest man in the world.
Posted by: K-2 at November 28, 2005 06:07 AM
jeff is another one of these that hates Bush, and what America represents, therefore it doesn't matter if they are murderers or dictators....if they are against Bush, count on jeff to be on their side!
Posted by: nurian at November 28, 2005 03:06 PM
