Posted by
ErinHaust on Friday, July 17, 2009 1:21:06 AM
Another chapter in the Socialist Playbook as written by Hugo Chavez is emerging from Venezeula this week as oil workers are forced to join state-backed unions and socialist community groups.
In a televised speech on Tuesday Venezuela's oil minister Rafael Ramirez told workers they must support the president's socialist agenda or be suspected of conspiring against the revolution. (Forbes)
Ramirez warned workers that if they do not join the state-run unions or socialist community groups they would be fired from their jobs. Further, Ramirez instructed the country's major oil company, PDVSA, to comply with Chavez's wishes to support social works projects and sell oil to China. (AP)
"By now there should not be one single counter-revolutionary left in the heart of the oil trade unions. We must stay on alert," Rafael Ramírez, the oil minister and head of PDVSA, said in [the] televised speech. (Guardian UK)
The Obama administration, along with Congress, is taking a decidedly similar path with American businesses. Just as Chavez has been taking control of private industry such as food companies, electricity, telecommunications, media, steel and more, the United States has been taking control of the auto industry, banking, investments, etc.
Community organizations and unions such as the ACLU, SEIU, ACORN, UAW and others have enormous power and influence over their members, often securing millions of dollars in campaign contributions for elected officials. Those elected officials are then lobbied heavily to produce legislation in favor of growing these organizations. It's a form of the "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" game that has been all too prevalent in Washington as of late.
A congressional bill that is flying somewhat under the radar as the nation focuses on the Sotomayor confirmations, the death of Michael Jackson and the latest contestants kicked off So You Think You Can Dance, is the so-called Employee Free Choice Act, also known as Card Check. Defined simply, this bill would allow unions to coerce employees to join the union by taking away their secret ballot, or be repeatedly harassed by union bosses. More on the act here.
Chavez has openly discussed his pleasure with the Obama administration as it heads down a path to socialism. Obama seems to be taking Chavez's play-by-play instructions seriously as he and congress attempt to overhaul health care insurance and completely take over the energy industry.
Americans take note: So goes Venezuela, the US is sure to follow.