Constitutional Law, International, Society

Chavez Calls For the Regulation of the Internet

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has continued his campaign against free speech and the free press with a new call for regulation of the Internet. Chavez (like his mentor Fidel Castro) wants to control both the media and any public forums of information.

In his statement, Chavez warned “The Internet cannot be something open where anything is said and done. Every country has to apply its own rules and norms.” Chavez appears to be motivated to censor the Internet after reading negative commentary on the Venezuelan political opinion and gossip website Noticierodigi tal.

For the full story, click here.

37 thoughts on “Chavez Calls For the Regulation of the Internet”

  2. bdaman Cheney is an advocate of torture and he ordered it. While others may have been too complicit, he is in a league of his own.

  4. Too funny, I knew that would illicit a response from someone to that effect.

    John if you would support similar International Court proceedings against alleged American war criminals, plural, I’ll join you in that support.

  5. John:

    I would not call this one of the courts finest hours, but then I believe in individual rights and property rights. It is probably why Sam is choking.

    Kelo v. New London

    Stevens, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer, JJ., joined. Kennedy, J., filed a concurring opinion. O’Connor, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Rehnquist, C. J., and Scalia and Thomas, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion.

    Seems like “conservatives” are actually a little more “liberal” than liberals are when it comes to protecting private property of individuals. And the big Pharma company ended up not doing the deal. So liberal justices are in bed with big pharma?

  8. I suspect if Chavez turned Venezuela’s oil over to Exxon-Mobil, et. al., while about the worst thing he could do to the Venezuelan people, all objections to his “dictatorial rule” would immediately and “mysteriously”cease.

    The world is full of “authoritarian thugs.” We hear about only those who refuse to make their countries” resources available to the transnational corporate persons who want them. Those who cooperate can abuse their populations without interference or exposure.

    To Sam D, below is a link to the latest on the Kelo, “non-takings,” case:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/nyregion/13pfizer.html?_r=2

  10. John, I’m not a lawyer, but I know enough about the decision you’re referring to know it’s not what you (or the WaPo for that matter) represent it as. I’ll lave it for one of the lawyers here to explain why, since I’m not fully fluent in the takings clause.

    Byron: If you want to see some redistributors, check out the guys over at Goldman Sachs who received billions of tax payer dollars which they then handed out to each other in the form of “bonuses” (which I always thought was something you got for doing a good job, but apparently in a capitalist system is what you get for nearly destroying the global economy).

    As for Chavez, he’s an illiberal, authoritarian thug. It’s a shame more American leftists can’t see through his “man of the people” shtick, but the guy honestly has far more in common with Mussolini than anyone on the left, Castro included.

  11. @Byron So Hugo Chavez took some land?? And so that makes him a dictator?

    If you were paying attention our Supreme Court did the same thing. And not just for public domain, but they ALSO ruled that a PRIVATE PARTY can confiscate your land!!!

    By Charles Lane
    Washington Post Staff Writer
    Friday, June 24, 2005

    The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that local governments may force property owners to sell out and make way for private economic development when officials decide it would benefit the public, even if the property is not blighted and the new project’s success is not guaranteed.
    ===

    So what do WE have for a government???

  13. Bdaman:

    this seems to be the time of the redistributors, they are rising up everywhere, from Caracas to Washington, DC these men who want to redistribute wealth and take away individual rights are still alive and well.

  14. no respect for property rights?

    Wednesday, November 25, 2009

    This week, the Venezuelan government has taken control of 31 farms totalling more than 48,000 acres, accusing owners of not holding proper titles or not putting the land to adequate use.

    Agriculture Minister Elias Jaua was responsible for overseeing the expropriations, which included a ranch belonging to exiled presidential candidate Manuel Rosales, according to a report from The Morning Star entitled “Chavez frees farmland from privateers.”

    Representing the so-called privateers, the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce opposes this move to liberate farmland from its rightful owners.

    Tragically, as Chavez tightens his grip on agriculture, we can expect food in that country to become increasing scarce and expensive.

    March 6, 2009

    Hugo Chavez seizes land owned by Irish tycoon

    Yep he’s a dictator

  15. John:

    here is what a citizen of the country ruled by your buddy has to say.

    “In Venezuela, gasoline was rationed back in 2002 during an oil strike and there’s a constant gasoline crisis in place like the Tachira state, right next to the Colombia border. Still no bread shortages, but since 2007 beef has been hard to find in many supermarkets and we had troubles finding toilet paper back in 2008. If we find it, we were only allowed to buy one pack per family. We also went through a major shortage of milk and currently we are having troubles to find bacon, chicken and we don’t have water service at least one day a week.”

    http://jonathanturley.org/2010/01/03/chavez-orders-rationing-of-electricity/#comment-101816

  16. jOHN:

    he has a long list of offenses against the people of Venezuela in addition to having no respect for property rights. He has closed down the free press, there is now rationing of basic needs (as reported by a woman from Venezuela on this web site) he has arrested opponents and on and on.

    Seems pretty clear to me he is a dictator. You must be from Hollywood as they seem to be the only apologists for Chavez.

  17. I see the old propaganda machine is at it again.

    When Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made cheap oil available for people on the east coast during a hard winter, he was a “hero” & a great guy.

    But when he got tired of seeing his country being screwed by the oil companies, and decided to nationalize the oil, then all of a sudden he’s a dictator.

    Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has NEVER hated America, but he HAS hated George Bush & his oil cronies…and I don’t blame him!!!

    Bush should have been prosecuted as a war criminal, and still should be.

  18. Very funny Chaplin clip, except real tyranny isn’t very funny. Chavez is a dictator with no respect for individual rights or the rule of law.

    Another of Bush’s failures.

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