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Quote by: rcne There is a bias here in the states - where we are effectively censored with what "news" we hear. This issue came up recently on another board (that member was from South America) and she couldn't understand why Americans didn't care about the political situations in South America. We just don't know about it, in fact other than the BBC, which in itself is minimal, "news' just trickles out. It may be an internal censorship issue where only news bites get out, and I'm sure there is much more to the story, but without their news getting out, and our government filtering it we are left with a tiny filtered snapshot of events. I agree though that if this country doesn't approve of a leader, not much about them gets out. It's similar to Cuba, we could and should drop all sanctions against them - but since we don't approve of their leadership we ban them. We are the only ones who continue this policy though, so what good did it do. Our Cuban-Americans won't let it go, and our politicians to keep a hope for their vote think its a third rail issue. We need to have real diplomatic relations with all countries in the final analysis.

Nothing to disagree with. Only a moron could disagree with " We need to have real diplomatic relations with all countries in the final analysis". Even if it's only know your enemy. Given it's track record on lying to it's own citizens, I would think that it's in every citizen interest to be self-informed. Relying on the US media alone is clearly foolish. Now here's the first US paper to at least attempt to cover their elections. How can they be judged 'true and fair' if they are not observed!

[CENTER]Vote is closely watched - Mercury News[/CENTER] [CENTER]BALLOTING FOR LOCAL OFFICES SEEN AS KEY FOR PRESIDENT'S ALLIES[/CENTER] [CENTER]By Thais Leon, Associated Press. Posted on Mon, Aug. 08, 2005[/CENTER] http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...d/12329652.htm CARACAS, Venezuela - Voters across Venezuela cast ballots to select thousands of local officials Sunday in elections that could predict how well President Hugo Chávez's political allies will fare in key congressional elections in December. Chávez said the elections marked "one more step in the strengthening of the electoral system" to prevent irregularities. Casting his ballot in a poor neighborhood of Caracas, he said "there is security, there is calm throughout the country." Chávez, a former army officer who is up for re-election in 2006, has drawn loyal supporters and bitter enemies through his close ties to Cuba's Fidel Castro and his sharp criticism of the U.S. government and Venezuela's wealthy "oligarchy." Recent polls suggest Chávez has about a 70 percent approval rate, but it was unclear whether that would translate into a resounding victory for pro-Chávez politicians. Pro-Chávez lawmakers currently control 53 percent of the National Assembly and are trying to increase their majority in December elections.

There's similar coverage fro Associated Press in other Area newspapers. Of course still nothing from the MAJOR US Newspapers. I'm surprised?

[center]Local elections could foretell Chavez backers' futures Across Venezuela, more than 38,700 candidates for local offices sought voters' approval. The results could foreshadow December's congressional voting. Miami Herald Posted on Mon, Aug. 08, 2005 http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/12327916.htm [/center]

Notice 38,700 candidates . Doesn't seem like a dictatorship to me.

[center]Venezuela Vote a Test for Chavez Allies By JORGE RUEDA, Associated Press Writer, SFGate.com -San Francisco Chronicle - Saturday, August 6, 2005 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...i155316D27.DTL [/center]

Notice, missing is New York and Washington. How is that?