Should U.S. boycott fuel from Venezuela?

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Would you buy fuel from Chavez?

During a speech before the United Nations General Assembly, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called President Busch "The Devil."

In his 23-minute tirade, Chavez also made the following remarks:

"Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly as the owner of the world."

Chavez also called Bush a "spokesman of imperialism" who was trying "to preserve the current pattern of domination, exploitation and pillage of the peoples of the world."

"An Alfred Hitchcock movie could use it as a scenario. I would even propose a title: "The Devil's Recipe," " Chavez said.

He referred to America's consumer patterns as "madness," saying Americans have wasteful habits in using oil and other forms of energy.

Given these ridiculous and inflammatory remarks about our government and people, should Americans boycott fuel from Venezuela?

One South Florida lawmaker thinks so. According to the Miami Herald, Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, has contacted the Florida Department of Transportation to see if it was possible to terminate the contracts held by Citgo Gas Stations that line the Florida Turnpike.

Citgo is an American-based, yet Venezuelan-owned company.

Hasner suggests that "We should send a clear message to Chavez ?that the State of Florida will not support institutions that seek the destabilization of America."

There is no question in my mind that Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is a lunatic. His antics have evoked exceptional controversy in Venezuela and abroad. He is a career military officer who was released from prison following a 1992 failed coup d'etat only to be elected president in 1998. His recent trip to Cuba and his hugs and anti-American remarks shared with his creepy Iranian president friend, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, are very offensive.

Do you think Chavez has any control over Citgo? I checked the official Citgo web site to learn more about this and there is actually a bit of propaganda entitled "from the Venezuelan Heart to the U.S Hearths" under the news and press releases section and it features a statement from Chavez himself.

So, if he can use a billion-dollar company as a political tool while at the same time lambasting our elected leaders, government and people, should we retaliate?

This leads to many broader questions as well.

Should we Americans act out against this and peacefully boycott Citgo?

Should we wait for our government institutions or other organizers to get the ball rolling or simply just drive past Citgo on our own?

Should there be a better-organized method of showing Chavez that we did not appreciate his remarks?

Would doing so impact our own economy?

If America was able to make Citgo a thing of the past in this country, would that allow other companies not associated with such political games to fill the void, creating jobs and opportunities for those who once worked for Citgo.

Should the government create a special tax or other charge that would make it undesirable for Citgo and Chavez to do business in the U.S.

Economics aside, do you want to do business with Citgo?

Your thoughts are always welcome.

Regards, Russ Handler

If you have an issue you would like to have addressed, feel free to e-mail Russ.

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