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Mayo 22, 2006
Erosion of Democracy
Q Thank you. Alana Foster (ph), Westport, Connecticut. Speaking of oil-producing countries that are not friendly to the United States right now, I'm very concerned about what's going on in Venezuela and Bolivia and all, the coalition of Hugo Chavez. I wondered what your strategy was going to be, or what you're working on in that respect.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I am going to continue to remind our hemisphere that respect for property rights and human rights is essential for all countries in order for there to be prosperity and peace. I'm going to remind our allies and friends in the neighborhood that the United States of America stands for justice; that when we see poverty, we care about it and we do something about it; that we care for good -- we stand for good health care.
I'm going to remind our people that meddling in other elections is -- to achieve a short-term objective is not in the interests of the neighborhood. I will continue to remind people that trade is the best way to help people be lifted from poverty; that we can spend money -- and we do in the neighborhood -- but the best way for there to be growth is to encourage commerce and trade and prosperity through the marketplace.
I want to remind people that the United States stands against corruption at all levels of government, that the United States is transparent. The United States expects the same from other countries in the neighborhood, and we'll work toward them.
We'll continue to work with forces like the Central -- countries like the Central American countries, where we passed a free trade agreement called CAFTA, to remind the people in that area that relations with the United States will be beneficial to their people. There's a lot of things we're doing.
Thank you very much. I'm concerned -- let me just put it bluntly -- I'm concerned about the erosion of democracy in the countries you mentioned. (Applause.)
Why is Ms. Foster concerned about what is going on in Bolivia? Will it mean even higher gas prices for her van? Sure, blame Evo Morales for the $3.50/gallon price hanging on the local gas station sign. The poor oil companies, after record breaking profits, are the victim here.
Perhaps she is concerned about poverty in Bolivia and that could mean even more immigration from Bolivia.
I wonder if Bush was worried about the erosion of democracy when Goni took office and divvied up the government and had no accountability to the population. Is democracy considered eroded when only a select few get an opportunity to govern and corruption runs rampant? Bush makes it sound like Evo Morales had just undone a flawless democracy that politicians helped create the conditions for a MAS government.
Posted by eduardo at Mayo 22, 2006 09:50 PM
Comments
I don't see where Bush mentioned that Bolivia was perfect, either before or after Goni. Only that he's worried about the erosion of democracy in the region ... as are many people, both before/after Goni. Perhaps Alana Foster's motives are less than altruistic ... but I do think the US has an interest in democracy in the hemisphere, and Chavez & Castro are a threat to that (they explicitly claim to be). Morales might become one. Other threats included Fujimori (and the US had an embargo on him, too). But just because Bush said publicly that he's worried about Bolivia TODAY doesn't mean that he thinks Bolivia was perfect BEFORE. Don't assume it's black & white, this or that. He was probably worried BEFORE as well, or perhaps he would've been if Bolivia was more on the State Department's radar before 2003.
Posted by: mcentellas at Mayo 23, 2006 01:27 PM