Green Daily

Okay, this is more of a social justice than an environmental issue, but it's still pretty interesting...

Beginning in 2005, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has used his country's state-owned petroleum company, Citgo, to highlight the class-based policies of the Bush administration. On the one hand, Citgo has generally priced its gas slightly below that of its competitors, and has aggressively touted the fact that much of its profits go toward helping Venezuela's underclass. On another front, Chavez has used Citgo to subsidize heating oil for America's disadvantaged communities. For America's President, who wears his oil bona fides like a badge of honor, Citgo's policies have been a serious black eye.

Over the past few months, with Obama on his way in and gasoline prices on the way down, Chavez has been faced with a difficult problem. After all, while Citgo's heating oil subsidies highlight America's economic inequities and, not coincidentally, help 200,000 households in 23 states, they are also really expensive. Moreover, with revenues decreasing, Chavez's citizens could probably use the cash.

Early this week, Citgo suspended the program; however, by Wednesday, they had reinstated it, allegedly at the behest of President Chavez. While the political impact of Venezuela's foreign aid is certainly painful to many American politicians, there is no question that it provides vital help to some of the country's neediest citizens. With winter scratching at the door, it's nice to know that some political ploys CAN keep you warm at night!