Well, at least they're paying attention to their leader

[kierthos]

Venezuelans slowly come to the realization that Chavez may be as crazy as a shithouse rat

Okay, I'm spinning it horribly... but come on, Hugo, the reason your people didn't mind you nationalyzing the oil industry is that it meant, ultimately, more money from selling that oil stays in the country. Shutting down the "opposition" TV station is going to upset people. (Actually, I think it's because Chavez horribly underestimated the popularity of soap operas. Now wouldn't that be a fucking hilarious headline? "Venezualen President Ousted Over Soaps")

Still, you have to love this quote from the article... "...accusing their leader of maiming Venezuelan democracy as he forges a socialist state."

Um, yeah... that usually happens when a country becomes socialist. It's one of those "wonderful" political ideas that looks so good on paper, but when you actually try to make a socialist country, you end up with the USSR. Or East Germany.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grimtales_/]

Neither of which were socialist, or even communist.

[mithras.livejournal.com]

No, but they tried to pretend they were.

[kierthos.livejournal.com]

See, that's part of my point. I don't think there's ever been a successful example of a nation being run through a socialism model.

Communism didn't work in the Soviet Union or in the Soviet bloc. And what China has isn't Communism or Socialism or Capitalism but is like the bastard offspring of all three with all the bad qualities of each and damned few of the good qualities.

Cuba? That's pseudo-communism around Fidel Castro's cult of personality, and once he kicks the bucket, his brother Raul (and then whoever succeeds him, because he's in his 70s as well) will be hard pressed to keep that same aura of power. Hell, I'm betting within a decade of Fidel going to Communist Heaven/Secularist Hell/where-ever, the U.S. will have dropped their sanctions, and it will be capitalism (or what passes for it in a decent light) all over again.

Chavez is caught up in all this chest thumping over President Chimpypants, and he doesn't quite seem to grasp that his people are only willing to go so far. And then? Well, it's one last smoke in the shade before "Fuego!"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grimtales_/]

Communism only existed in Russia and China _during_ the revolutions, during which it was successful. Cuba isn't communist either, though of the so-called communist states Cuba seems to have remained the most true to the principles. Latin America is interesting.

Socialism is different to Communism and is just a principle that can be applied in numerous political systems. By US standards Europe is socialist.

[kierthos.livejournal.com]

Hell, by U.S. standard, Berkeley, California is socialist.