Anyone who does not own a Roku box should purchase one. You can get the basic model for under $60. Or you can download the "Boxee" software. Either will open you up to the world of news on an international scope. "France 24", "RT", "ANI" and "Al Jezeera English" provide a broader perspective on the world than most American news media cares to provide.
Today I learned that Bolivia had joined the nation of Iran in removing the government subsidy for gasoline.
Bolivian president Evo Morales announces plans to remove government subsidy of gasoline.
Morales defended his new policy pointing to the costs of the price supports and evidence of how black market smugglers are purchasing subsidized fuel and illegally exporting it to other nations, profiting off of the spread.
The poor in the nation rejected the removal of the price supports, making note that increased fuel prices will hit them directly in their fuel purchases and as companies raise prices on goods to compensate for their increased energy costs. Fuel prices have gone up between 57% and 83%.
In response to the violent protests over the new policy, Evo Morales has reversed himself, thus continuing the price supports despite the $800 million+ per year costs.
I would be remiss if I did not point out Evo Morales' activism in the recent UN global climate change policies in which the burning of fossil fuels by humans is claimed to be the main trigger for the increase in global temperatures, threatening to raise the sea level from the melted ice caps.
In addition Venezuela represents a 'lucky strike' with regard to its petroleum reserves. There is no better time to promote "People over Profits" than this particular occasion when their continental partners are in trouble.
Yielding To Forces Of Anarchy Merely Delays The Day Of Reckoning
The populist policies which promised the people benfits that the nation's productivity could not support are the blame here. It appears that the national government increased its subsidy as prices rose. They should have indexed their support within a particular range whereas today they are faced with having to do a wholesale cancellation.
Today Evo Morales showed that violence and anarchy is an effective negotiating tactic.
Unfortunately anarchy does not trump ECONOMIC TRUTH. No one who broke out the windows in government buildings will likely offer a solution.
I predict that the United States will receive the blame before this situation is resolved.
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