The Company You Keep

Hugo Chavez called the President of the United States the "devil" in his shameful address to the UN General Assembly. I say shameful, because his childish rant was unbecoming of a leader of a nation - any nation.

This is not the first time a national leader has insulted the U.S. in an attempt to capitalize on anti-American sentiment around the world, and, since it can be done with apparent impunity, there's no reason to think it will be the last.

Hugo reminds me of Mussolini - just another posturing buffoon.

It's time we shunned tin-pot dictators by cutting off all diplomatic and economic ties with their countries when they decide to bite the hand that feeds them - so to speak. Without support from the U.S. government (us taxpayers) and the American economy, they would soon understand the real meaning of "third world."

The same should apply to any country whose government leaders scorn ours. Just like with undesirable people, we should not associate with undesirable governments.

We can certainly do without them.