Hugo Chavez

Call me a reactionarycapitalistpigtool of the ruling class - I think that the vote of the Venezuelan people to allow Chavez to run indefinitely will be horrible both for the country and region in the long and short run.  Chavez apparently used neighborhood thugs to help gain his victory, as well as the power of his public office, hand picked courts and minions.   Much like Mugabe has done in Zimbabwe.

And like Mugabe, Chavez strategy has been spot on, nationalize everything in sight and redistribute wealth to the poorest people in his country.  Make pariahs of those in the middle and upper classes. Destabilize neighboring countries by funding revolutionary groups like FARC.  Establish relations with shadowy and unsavory middle eastern countries and terrorist groups and start to persecute jewish Venezuelans.

I have talked to several Cuban people lately, both in Cuba and in Fallbrook and some of the tales regarding the reality of life under a dictatorship are sobering and frightening.  As the people of Venezuela will soon discover.

An interesting article with a former leftist turned opposition editor from Venezuela in today's Los Angeles Times.