The campaigns are getting harder to tell apart.
On healthcare
“We’re going to have universal health care when I’m president — there’s no doubt about that. We’re going to get it done.”
The Cuban-supported Barrio Adentro Mission (Mission Into the Neighborhood) —launched in April 2003 with 58 physicians—is one of several social welfare missions initiated by the Chávez government. It aims to bring healthcare, dental care and physical training to the most marginalized in Venezuela. Barrio Adentro is an attempt by the government to use the nation’s oil wealth to fund the provision of universal healthcare, which is guaranteed in the consitution.
On the oil industry
“I wanna take those profits and I wanna put them into a strategic energy fund that will begin to fund alternative smart energy, alternative and technologies that will begin to actually move us toward the direction of independence.”
Chávez has pledged sembrar el petróleo–to sow the oil. That is, to invest its profits in a way that transforms the very structure of Venezuela’s economy.
On taxes
“Many of you are well enough off that … the tax cuts may have helped you. We’re saying that for America to get back on track, we’re probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We’re going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.”
President Hugo Chavez announced plans to slap taxes on luxury property including second homes, expensive cars and art collections on Sunday, targeting the rich to help fund his drive to remake Venezuela as a socialist society.
