I have often been fascinated by Hugo Chavez and how he is his own’s worst enemy. So many great ideas, such poor judgement. He is clouded by power, not socialism. He reminds me of a combination of Castro and Pablo Picasso.
Frontline on PBS did an 90 minute doc on him that explains it all.
I like the uniforms though . . . red is such a powerful color.
The only reason socialism could work in Venezuela is because they’re floating on a sea of oil. Take that away, and they’re North Korea with a little more food.
Chavez is nothing but a Huey Long with a lot of money. Now that the same market forces that benefited him a few months ago are biting him in the ass, he’s getting all uppity about OPEC cutting production so he can buy some more expensive toys.
Watch the Docu, it is not working. The same people he promised to free from poverty are still poor. Partially because the wealthy are still controlling industry in the country and partially because the poor have been poor so long they are having trouble accepting change.
I actually had a conversation with a rather pretty venezuelan girl in college and she said every time she goes home, she brings toilet paper and other things we take for granted here with her.
Her family isn’t poor, but they just can’t find a lot of things in the stores in Caracas. Sometimes the free market is pretty efficient – especially when you really need to wipe your ass.