Chavez certainly has some disturbingly authoritarian tendencies. He’s no Lula, I’ll grant.

But blaming Chavez for Venezuela’s grinding poverty is ridiculous. Bad as things are now, they were even worse before he came along.

Bullshit, poverty has increased in Venezuela since Chavez took power. This is according to government figures. Despite having higher oil prices than ever and more revenue than any other previous government.

And that’s the Venezuela Bush wants to return to – the one where oil can be plundered with no benefit to the Venezuelan people whatsoever.

That’s also the Venezuela Chavez wants, the difference is who benefits. Chavez has been in power for 7 years! How long before it is his fault?

And in any case, you don’t violently overthrow democratically-elected foreign leaders just because they aren’t the nicest people on the planet. By that standard, the world would’ve ousted Bush himself long ago.

I agree on this, Chavez shouldn’t be violently overthrown. He is not a whole lot worse than previous governments, but he is not better either. But still, the incompetent attempt of overthrowing him was in 2002… three years already! that’s almost a whole term (US standars) in which Chavez has enjoyed popularity and high oil prizes. How long do we have to wait?

Before we never had problems like these. Amazing!

I have some distant family throughout South and Central America, I’m genuinely interested.

d.

did you also just learn how to type? ‘cuz it clearly makes you the worlds snarkiest troll.

really, a million more like you and we’ll have shakespeare.

The poverty there (as well as anywhere) is tragic, the corruption is tragic, people CAN do better, and I feel it is a shame that we do not.

But blaming Chavez for Venezuela’s grinding poverty is ridiculous. Bad as things are now, they were even worse before he came along.

And that’s the Venezuela Bush wants to return to – the one where oil can be plundered with no benefit to the Venezuelan people whatsoever.

And in any case, you don’t violently overthrow democratically-elected foreign leaders just because they aren’t the nicest people on the planet. By that standard, the world would’ve ousted Bush himself long ago.

Plus I just saw “City of God” for the first time and now consider myself one of the foremost experts on the area.

Will be interested to hear your thoughts greg.