OK, so, in the past I've been pretty solidly pro-Chavez. He's the democratically elected leader of Venezuela. The USG supported a coup to remove him from office back in 2002 and they also supported at least one (of several that occured) recall votes. All of which failed. Chavez offered cheap oil/gas to poor sections of America while oil prices cracked $60 for the first time. He trades oil for doctors with Cuba and is supposed to be sharing oil wealth with all of his people, not just the rich. He kicked the big oil companies out that were taking most of the oil profits for themselves and took control.
However, not too long ago, he got his cronies in the legislative branch of their government to give him the power to decree--as in create a law just by saying it. He needed it, Chavez said, because of the nationalization of oil--it couldn't be done slowly thanks to the oil companies protesting. It had to be a literal over-night thing. This makes sense to a certain degree--what doesn't is that his powers to decree last something like 18 months. Seems a long time for something that had to happen over night. Now, I haven't had the time to research this to find out if he turned that power back over, but just the fact that he had it at all is worrisome to someone like me.
Now we see another push for power on Chavez' part. In an article from August 15, 2007 (found here: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/15/ap4024566.html), Forbes.com reports that Chavez is trying to change the Venezuelan constitution to remove term limits. This means that he can get elected over and over and never have to step down from power. Sure, this isn't that big a deal if they have honest elections. But they use electronic machines down there for voting.
Yeah.
Now you see the problem? Instant Sadam Hussein. Just add, er, take away term limits and hacked elections and you might as well call him King Hugo. He and our good King Bush can hang out.
The point is, I'm not blind to a power hungry despot who used to be a populist (and cool) president. When I support the wrong people I admit it.
Sadly, power tends to corrupt and it sure seems to be doing so in Chavez' case.
I'd say don't buy your gas from Citgo anymore since it's a chain owned by Venezuela, but you'll just be supporting corporate assholes instead of a fascist one.
There's just no winning these days.
Orignal From: HUGO CHAVEZ QUICKLY TURNING ANTI-DEMOCRATIC
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