Twenty-six more decrees, gotta love this guy.
President Hugo Chavez is aiming to set up neighborhood-based militias, move toward a socialist economy in Venezuela and increase state control over agriculture under a package of laws enacted by presidential decree.
Changes in areas from the military to small business loans were pushed through by the president in 26 laws released Monday in the official gazette. Chavez approved them on the final day of an 18-month period during which lawmakers had granted him special legislative powers.
Some of the new decrees…
Under one of the new laws, food retailers or distributors caught skirting government-imposed price controls or hoarding products will be punished with up to six years in prison.
Hey, at least San Francisco only wants to fine residents $1000 for messing up their recycling.
“The government believes it can advance toward a centralized, state-run economic system, but that’s going to cause more conflict with the business community,” said Jorge Botti, an economist who heads a Fedecamaras committee studying the impact of government policy on the private sector.
Hmmm, doesn’t sound too much different than Boulder?
Critics also raised concerns about a decree that creates a new National Bolivarian Militia — a branch of the military consisting of civilian volunteers who will help neighborhood-based “communal councils” establish “defense committees.”
Former defense minister Fernando Ochoa warned that neighborhood defense groups could closely resemble Cuba’s Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, which encourage citizens to watch for “counterrevolutionary” activities.
Not too different than Boulder County enforcing land use rules by complaint?
Read more here.
