Venezuela's Unclenched Fist? Extended Hand?

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Now, before I write, I must state that Jamaica and Venezuela have always had excellent relations. Venezuela is Venezuela. Jamaica is Jamaica. Venezuela does not ask Jamaica to be Venezuela; Jamaica does not ask Venezuela to be Jamaica.

However, Venezuela and the US....well, let's say they have not been the best of friends in recent years.

So, do you remember President Obama's inaugural speech? Remember this line: "...but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." Full Text of Speech.

By and large, Americans (to be clear, not Jamaicans) would describe Venezuela as having a "clenched fist" with respect to their bilateral relations. By and large, the IOCs would subscribe to a similar view with respect to their relations with Venezuela

Well, have you been following Venezuela's extending hand? Have you been following the news out of Venezuela?

First, it was reported that President Chavez is willing to talk to the IOCs (International Oil Companies) again. See International Herald Tribue article here: Chavez reopens oil bids to West as prices plunge

Now it's reported that he's ready to talk to President Obama "any day". See article in the NY Times: Chavez reaches out to Obama ahead of vote

Whatever the motivation, willingness to dialogue is always preferable to hostility.

Whatever the motivation, whenever oil rich countries are the ones willing to talk, the world generally benefits.

Let's hope that the US and Venezuela do talk, can find some middle ground of civilized discourse - at minimum. The world will be better off for it.

If they agree to cooperate, that would be a milestone worth celebrating!

Memo To Congess: Did You Catch This Bit Of News?

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The Wall Street Journal ran an interesting article today. Although the title, says it all - the article itself is well worth reading. Nations Rush To Establish New Barriers To Trade

• Maybe it was the sheer number of countries reportedly erecting trade barriers
  
• Maybe it was the countries in particular that were reportedly erecting trade barriers
  
• Or maybe it was the special meeting the WTO feels it needs to have on Monday. Yes, this coming Monday.

Now, I have often criticized globalization. But I am not anti-globalization. Rather, I am pro-globalization that is fair and sustainable.

So now, we have a position of hostility developing. Is this supposed to be progress? Because I am not getting that impression.

So since the crash in September 2008, let's do an ideological check:

• Capitalism took a major hit - some say permanent, others say altered

• Democracy looked dicey when the Republican party had not one but two internal party revolts when it was in power. And, by the way, Democracy's not looking so great now with all this bickering and inability to find a compromise

• And now, Globalization is on thinner ice than it was before

And by the way, aren't these all the bedrock of American foreign policy?

So here's my question for the Republicans. Is it the tax cuts they are holding out for? Because, frankly if something does not happen ASAP, I really don't see the point of them.

• Because businesses have to sell and trade and have markets to make money to even have money to pay taxes. Barriers to trade make that kind of difficult

• And oh yes, business do need inputs, right? So, what happens when those prices go up because everybody is seeing who can erect the most barriers?

• And one more thing, when was the last time you looked at the data from the US Department of Commerce - the US depends on the world quite a bit.

Again, every time there is a delay the cost goes up. There has to be spending. There's no avoiding it. But why make the tag higher than it needs to be? No trade or limited trade or difficult trade means money has to come from somewhere. That's State Subsidization. And that ideology is somewhere along the lines of Socialism. And which party would honestly be responsible?

Ironic, isn't it?

Congress, if you missed that WSJ article, may I humbly suggest that you have a quick look at it?

Green Jobs First Topic For Biden's New Task Force (VIDEO)

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A middle class task force? Good!

It's first meeting focuses on jobs? Great!

Not just jobs, but green jobs? Fantastic! Now this is more like it!

About Joe Biden
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

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