Sometimes it’s better to say nothing.
From the Vancouver Sun:
“At this key juncture, I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights,” Harper said in a statement Tuesday evening.
Of course, the Venezuelan government sent a note of protest. They, too, shouldn’t have said anything. Is it any surprise that a leader held in complete thrall to the fossil fuel industry would be happy to see the passing of someone who has used wealth to fund education, housing, healthcare and the general welfare of the general populace?
Once again, Mr. Harper has shown a lack of diplomacy and a streak of unpleasantness unbecoming any leader, but especially a leader of a country that once considered itself to be polite and restrained, even with those with whom we disagreed.
Mr. Harper makes reference to a better future, but I suspect that his vision of the Venezuelan future is predicated on control of the economy and political apparatus by the likes of Carmona, and a return to the enrichment of the few who play nicely with Exxon, Shell and BP at the expense of the broader community of the citizens of Venezuela. His only love for democracy is for that version exported by the Washington Consensus, a rule of, by, and for corporations.