could this happen in the USA or Canada

[bill-costa rica]

Hugo Chavez Signs Law to Nationalize Gold

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed a law that allows the State to control all the activities related to gold exploration and exploitation.

It is about nationalizing the gold, I sign it and send it to the Supreme Court, said Chavez during a Council of Ministers at the Miraflores presidential palace.

According to the president, the decision responds to the efforts to continue strengthening the national economy and independence.

The law aims to change the capitalist mining model and its negative impact on human health, the environment, and deposits, said Chavez.

The Venezuelan leader said that the law also promotes joint ventures in the sector, with State majority, and the encourages small mining enterprises.

Regarding nationalization, Chavez passed a project aimed at enhancing oil and gold development.

The initiative seeks to interconnect the strategic plans for boosting the oil industry north of the Orinoco River (the Oil Belt which has the world´s biggest hydrocarbon reserves) and the mining arch, south of that river.

[russau]

HUMMMMMMM?? where have i heard this story before?? (the story i heard of another country went)that country would just come in and take controll of a operation and your equipment and your out! yep it could happen anywhere! our current gubermint and socalled "representatives" here already have proven that!

[gremlin]

yes it could happen any ware, not only here. you can bet there are a bunch of guys watching whats going on. Hugo Chavez is nuts.

[Reno badboy]

Your kidding right???? It's already happened!!!!! Dredging is just the begining. This country is a lost cause right now, but it still could be saved if....... but I dought it will happen!!! To many sheep!!!!!!(And no balls!!!)

[Gramps43]

That's the BIG problem we have none of the front runners have any cahones. Romney and Perry are empty shirts, Bachmann was a flash in the pan, Paul has a couple of good ideas but the rest are off the wall, Huntsman is so middle of the road squishy he's dead meat. Herman Cain is probably the best of the bunch but sadly I don't think he has decent chance.

Gramps