Back to SoWal Lounge

South of the border

Matt J avatar
SWGB
947 views1

South of the Border


2009NR 77 minutes Eager to investigate how the U.S. media has depicted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, director Oliver Stone journeys south to interview the man himself and speaks with several other South American presidents in the process. Among the distinguished subjects in Stone's probing and controversial documentary are Bolivia's Evo Morales, Brazil's Lula da Silva, Argentina's Nestor Kirchner and Cuba's Ra?l Castro.

You'll probably need Netflix to watch this movie, but it is available on demand through them.

It's an interesting look at at so called Dictator's in South America and how they came to power. I think my favorite scene from when Chavez was elected the first time were the white rich ruling class screaming that their country was being taken from them.

Replies

15
Banned
#2
So-called dictator? Oliver Stone? This is a joke, right?
Matt J avatar
SWGBAuthor
#3
So-called dictator? Oliver Stone? This is a joke, right?

No it's not, feel free to debate the issue, but drive by posting of sound bites is rude. I'm guessing you haven't watched nor would you watch the video so move along.
30ashopper avatar
SoWal Insider
#4
What's the deal with this major self loathing trip white democrats are on lately?

"Down with the man!"

"You are 'the man' you know.."

"Oh, well, down with, um, myself!!" :lol:
sunspotbaby avatar
SoWal Insider
#5
No it's not, feel free to debate the issue, but drive by posting of sound bites is rude. I'm guessing you haven't watched nor would you watch the video so move along.


Sorry, You're the one being rude. :roll:
Matt J avatar
SWGBAuthor
#6
What's the deal with this major self loathing trip white democrats are on lately?

"Down with the man!"

"You are 'the man' you know.."

"Oh, well, down with, um, myself!!" :lol:

It's not self loathing. I find it interesting that most, if not all, of the stuff being said about Chavez is completely false.
Matt J avatar
SWGBAuthor
#7
Sorry, You're the one being rude. :roll:

Please explain further.
Banned
#8



You'll probably need Netflix to watch this movie, but it is available on demand through them.

It's an interesting look at at so called Dictator's in South America and how they came to power. I think my favorite scene from when Chavez was elected the first time were the white rich ruling class screaming that their country was being taken from them.



What exactly is there to debate?

This is the same dramatization by hollywood types that put Obama in office.

Are you saying that these south american nations are not run by dictators because Oliver Stone makes a warm video showing these guys looking out for the folks? Look at the stats in these nations rather than watching these silly films, numbers dont lie. And to ignore these stats does nothing for the people or a nation as a whole.

Let me guess, youve been educated our current health care system by watching Michael Moores "sicko" film?
Banned
#9
It's not self loathing. I find it interesting that most, if not all, of the stuff being said about Chavez is completely false.



So Chavez is not silencing the media? Chavez IS creating wealth? Chavez is not overtaking private industry? What exactly are we getting wrong? And keep in mind that not even Obama has a use for this guy and theres something loud and clear to be said about that.
Matt J avatar
SWGBAuthor
#10
What exactly is there to debate?

This is the same dramatization by hollywood types that put Obama in office.

Are you saying that these south american nations are not run by dictators because Oliver Stone makes a warm video showing these guys looking out for the folks? Look at the stats in these nations rather than watching these silly films, numbers dont lie. And to ignore these stats does nothing for the people or a nation as a whole.

Let me guess, youve been educated our current health care system by watching Michael Moores "sicko" film?

So Chavez is not silencing the media? Chavez IS creating wealth? Chavez is not overtaking private industry? What exactly are we getting wrong? And keep in mind that not even Obama has a use for this guy and theres something loud and clear to be said about that.

The movies isn't just about Chavez and I believe that was made pretty clear in the first post, read the list of people interviewed. It's a documentary which is simply Oliver Stone interviewing various leaders of these countries.

I won't dispute that Chavez doesn't have the best relationship with some media in his country. Interestingly enough it's the private media, similar to the Murdoch empire, that he doesn't like. Similarly to the US 80% of the media is private and controlled by the oligarchy. They were the ruling class for years.

Chavez is overtaking private industry and he is creating wealth. In Venezuela's extreme poverty and poverty rates have dropped amazingly during his tenure. He is constantly re-elected in landslides and while he is the only one running he's not preventing anyone from running against him. In fact the female President of Argentina made the comment while being interviewed that Chavez should encourage additional candidates so as to stop the rumors that he is a dictator.

Chavez's biggest problems were with the US Treasury and IMF (International Monetary Fund) that basically wanted to run South American countries via financial means. He was the first leader in South America to reject their policies, pay off the debt owed, and then throw them out. The other countries that have followed have done very well.

One of the big reasons that these countries are vilified is because of their rejection of US control. Why shouldn't they be allowed to do things on their own in their own way? If socialism works for them why not let them do it? If socialism is so paid and must be eradicated why aren't we gearing up to go after other socialist countries in Europe?
30ashopper avatar
SoWal Insider
#11
So Chavez is not silencing the media? Chavez IS creating wealth? Chavez is not overtaking private industry? What exactly are we getting wrong? And keep in mind that not even Obama has a use for this guy and theres something loud and clear to be said about that.

Who cares, it doesn't effect us. As long as he's not a radical funding extremists, let him ruin his country if he wants to. Another France in South America would probably help stabilize the region.

The movies isn't just about Chavez and I believe that was made pretty clear in the first post, read the list of people interviewed. It's a documentary which is simply Oliver Stone interviewing various leaders of these countries.

I won't dispute that Chavez doesn't have the best relationship with some media in his country. Interestingly enough it's the private media, similar to the Murdoch empire, that he doesn't like. Similarly to the US 80% of the media is private and controlled by the oligarchy. They were the ruling class for years.

Chavez is overtaking private industry and he is creating wealth. In Venezuela's extreme poverty and poverty rates have dropped amazingly during his tenure. He is constantly re-elected in landslides and while he is the only one running he's not preventing anyone from running against him. In fact the female President of Argentina made the comment while being interviewed that Chavez should encourage additional candidates so as to stop the rumors that he is a dictator.

Chavez's biggest problems were with the US Treasury and IMF (International Monetary Fund) that basically wanted to run South American countries via financial means. He was the first leader in South America to reject their policies, pay off the debt owed, and then throw them out. The other countries that have followed have done very well.

One of the big reasons that these countries are vilified is because of their rejection of US control. Why shouldn't they be allowed to do things on their own in their own way? If socialism works for them why not let them do it? If socialism is so paid and must be eradicated why aren't we gearing up to go after other socialist countries in Europe?


True, as long as the oil revenue keeps rolling in, he can pretty much fund whatever entitlements he wants. Long term he's creating some very serious fiscal problems but I doubt he's worried about that, he'll be long gone by then.

The U.S. actually benefited in terms of added talent from his take over. A lot of smart, well educated entrepreneurs fled the country and immigrated to the United States. We put a lot of them through our entrepreneurial fast track immigration system.

Edited

Matt J avatar
SWGBAuthor
#12
True, as long as the oil revenue keeps rolling in, he can pretty much fund whatever entitlements he wants. Long term he's creating some very serious fiscal problems but I doubt he's worried about that, he'll be long gone by then.

Yes, and those "entitlements" are helping his country to pull itself out of poverty. People generally give up the welfare check when they can get a job. Keep in mind that all of his "entitlements" are funded, the country had no debt.

The U.S. actually benefited in terms of added talent from his take over. A lot of smart, well educated entrepreneurs fled the country and immigrated to the United States. We put a lot of them through our entrepreneurial fast track immigration system.

Oh please name just one.
30ashopper avatar
SoWal Insider
#13
Oh please name just one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/us/23florida.html?pagewanted=print

Plenty of data out there on the subject, try searching google.

It's a fairly common occurrence, commonly known as "brain drain". We benefit quite a bit from these trends, since we have more reasonable tax rates on higher incomes compared to other social democracies across the globe.
Matt J avatar
SWGBAuthor
#14
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/us/23florida.html?pagewanted=print

Plenty of data out there on the subject, try searching google.

It's a fairly common occurrence, commonly known as "brain drain". We benefit quite a bit from these trends, since we have more reasonable tax rates on higher incomes compared to other social democracies across the globe.

was on vacation in New York with his family when opponents of President Hugo Ch?vez called a crippling labor strike hoping to bring the government to its knees.

BBC NEWS | Business | Venezuelan strike falters

Venezuela's 58-day-old strike by right-wing business groups and unions to remove the country's democratically elected president appears to be waning.

"You can't close indefinitely," said exchange president Nelson Ortiz.
"The government didn't pressure us at all into reopening," he said adding it would trade for limited hours every day.

Faced with the possibility of bankruptcy, many private businesses, restaurants and stores have already broken the strike and private banks continue to open everyday, but for limited hours.

As your political beliefs would say "He chose to stay here".

We may have gotten someone who opened a furniture store, but he traded his homeland for nationwide economic instability and a slightly lower tax rate.
30ashopper avatar
SoWal Insider
#15
BBC NEWS | Business | Venezuelan strike falters
As your political beliefs would say "He chose to stay here".

We may have gotten someone who opened a furniture store, but he traded his homeland for nationwide economic instability and a slightly lower tax rate.

:idontno: What on earth are you rambling on about?

Checking your forum account

Please wait while we verify your forum account.