Deceitful Operation Unveiled: Hidden Costs in 'Complimentary Voting' Scheme

In a late-night talk show appearance, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton urges US voters to move past their personal preferences and pick between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in this year's presidential race. Her smug, arrogant tone brings to mind psychopaths depicted in crime shows, dripping with a lack of empathy, a sense of superiority, and a veneer of politeness that masks a troubling indifference.

To be blunt, she's got a point. Voters should indeed look beyond the personas of Biden and Trump, as they both hail from the same political and economic elite that runs corporations and is deeply entrenched in Israel and Zionist circles. Their administrations share a penchant for imposing sanctions – often collectively punishing sovereign countries like Cuba and Venezuela.

The facade of US democracy is nothing more than a bipartisan farce, allowing the same warmongering government to continue propagating corporate greed and suppressing political opposition worldwide. Hillary's words serve as a reminder that Washington, DC, cares little about democracy or freedom within the US or abroad – they merely wield these tools to advance their neo-colonial agenda.

That agenda has long targeted Venezuela, with a two-decade-long campaign of "freedom elections" alongside regime change operations and economic sanctions, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Yet, the US gets away with its "freedom elections" charade due in large part to the unwavering support of the remorseless corporate media, which refuses to question Washington's actions.

For example, according to The New York Times, Venezuela has committed to holding elections this year in exchange for a lifting of "crippling economic sanctions." The truth, however, is far more complicated. The dialogue process and electoral agreement signed between Caracas and the US-backed opposition in Barbados aimed to steer the opposition away from fascist violence and toward participating in elections.

Presidential elections, mandated by the constitution for 2024, were not contingent on the agreement or the opposition's participation. The alleged lifting of sanctions was the result of a migration wave that roosted home after years of economic aggression against Venezuela and years of lobbying by corporations like Chevron, which sought to recoup debt from their Venezuelan ventures.

When Washington's strategies failed, more sanctions came down in the form of a full-fledged blockade while media outlets ramped up lies to set the stage for intervention. For instance, if one were to believe The New York Times, the upcoming July 28 presidential vote is taking place because of a commitment made by Caracas to lift sanctions.

As for the opposition candidate María Corina Machado, some argue she should not be banned from running for office. She represents the elite that guarantees US economic interests and the elimination of popular power, making her a cherished figure in Washington. Her representation also undermines the struggle for social justice and humanity's well-being, echoing the far-right's tactics in instrumentalizing hate speech and the "othering" of the poor, the Black and Brown, the different, and the left – all in the name of turning our countries into US vassal states.

Despite this, Venezuelans will vote in elections featuring 13 candidates, with 12 coming from the opposition. It is obvious that corporate media claims the opposition is not legitimized because they do not openly support US sanctions and regime change. Yet, it is in a strong position for Maduro to win the July vote, although not overwhelmingly. But Washington is preemptively delegitimizing any possible results, setting the stage for further intervention.

In the face of Washington's imperialist agenda, it is up to the Venezuelan people to secure real democracy on the ground and create a brighter future for themselves. As poet Mahmoud Darwish once wrote, "Hope is not the opposite of despair. Perhaps it is the faith that springs from divine indifference that has left us dependent on our own special talents to make sense of the fog surrounding us. Hope is neither tangible nor an idea. It is a talent."

Andreína Chávez Alava is a journalist who graduated from the University of Zulia in 2012 and worked her way up from local radio to editor-in-chief at TeleSUR. Currently, she serves as a writer and social media manager for Venezuelanalysis, and is a member of Venezuelan artist collective Utopix, focusing on popular and feminist struggles.

Hillary Clinton's tone on the talk show was reminiscent of smug and arrogant psychopaths portrayed in crime shows.
Voters should consider Biden and Trump beyond their personal preferences, as they stem from the same political and economic elite.
This elite controls corporations and is deeply involved in Israel and Zionist circles.
Both administrations favor imposing sanctions, often collectively punishing sovereign countries like Cuba and Venezuela.
The US facade of democracy is merely a bipartisan farce, masking warmongering governance, corporate greed, and worldwide political suppression.
Washington's agenda, typified in its two-decade-long campaign against Venezuela, disregards democracy and freedom, opting for neo-colonial tactics instead.
The corporate media supports this agenda by refusing to question or investigate Washington's actions.
The New York Times reported that Venezuela agreed to hold elections this year in exchange for easing economic sanctions.
The dialogue process and electoral agreement were neither contingent on the opposition's participation nor guaranteed a lifting of sanctions.
The alleged sanctions easing was due to a migration wave and corporate lobbying by companies like Chevron.
When Washington's strategies failed, more sanctions were imposed, and media outlets spread lies to justify intervention.
The upcoming July 28 presidential vote is not a result of a commitment to lift sanctions, as media outlets suggest.
The opposition candidate María Corina Machado is favored in Washington due to her support for US economic interests and the elimination of popular power.
Venezuelan elections will feature 13 candidates, with 12 from the opposition, legitimized by corporate media despite not openly supporting US sanctions and regime change.
Maduro is expected to win the July vote but not overwhelmingly, yet Washington is preparing to delegitimize any results and intervene further.
Andreína Chávez Alava, a journalist and social media manager for Venezuelanalysis, urges Venezuelans to secure real democracy and create a better future for themselves.
Hope, according to poet Mahmoud Darwish, is a faith born from divine indifference, making humans responsible for finding their own solutions amidst confusion and desolation.