What comes next for Venezuela?

Venezuelans is at a crossroads. Maduro has been taken from power, and their nation must choose who will inherit control. America also has a choice to make. While the debate over our country's actions so far is only starting, what we do next also will reflect greatly on our character as a nation.

Edmundo González is considered by many to be the rightfully elected president of Venezuela, following allegations of election tampering by Maduro. Our country has the opportunity to right a wrong, and to support a democratically elected and internationally supported leader taking power. We can return control of Venezuela to Venezuela, as neither a dictatorship nor a puppet state.

Venezuela also sits on possibly the largest reserves of oil in the world. Oil that American industries, cars, and businesses desperately need. But that oil belongs to Venezuela. It is in their territory, to do with as they choose. To sell it, to use it themselves, or even to leave it in the ground. They did not steal the oil from us. It was never ours.

We must choose what we will do next in Venezuela; decide if we will respect their sovereignty or pillage their natural wealth. I do not believe America to be a nation of pirates. Let's hope the government proves that to be true.

Shane Spickermann

Coralville