Mass. gets heating relief from Chavez

We just received our monthly heating bill which covered Oct. 12-Nov. 9 and got an early taste of what this year's heating costs are going to be. Keeping our heat at 60 degrees and walking around in sweatshirts, did not prevent our bill from being $265. Ouch. And, it's not even that cold yet. As J and others have been predicting, US energy companies recently posted record profits. Of course, the profits are not going to help any poor folks in this country heat their homes, much less keep the heat on/running in what could be a devastating season for many.

Just when it was beginning to look super bleak, I just discovered that US representative William Delahunt has recently brokered a deal with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to have 12 million gallons of gas shipped to Massachusetts for low-income families and charities/institutions that deal with the poor! According to the agreement, which should be signed today, Delahunt worked with Citizens Energy Corp (non-profit energy group), and CITGO a Houston subsidiary of the Venezuelan national oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA. 9 million gallons will go to low-income families and 3 million gallons to homeless shelters and other like-minded institutions.

I know many critics of Chavez, particularly in our media, will view this as a publicity stunt to further shame Bush and US energy companies. I don't care--I think Chavez along with Lula and other leaders in Latin American countries are paving the way for a renewed socialist revolution that begins to put people at the center of analyses instead of profit. I believe the failed trip by Bush to push the FTAA is but one small sign that people are no longer willing or able to abide by the "Washington Consensus."

Score one for Mass.