May 25, 2007:
What is currently unfolding in
Venezuela is yet another populist leftist leader taking his nation down the
path of false hopes and economic destruction. It's a sad tale, that has been
repeated many times in the last century. President Hugo Chavez has used a
combination of corruption, confiscation, unfulfilled promises and terror to
stay in power. But even with high oil prices, Chavez has to be careful.
Corruption tends to "grow" and everyone dipping into the pie wants a little
more with each dip. So even if the oil price remains high, the amount of
goodies trickling down to his constituents at the bottom is in danger of
completely drying up, which would be bad news for his popularity. That's why
Chavez is taking a cue from Fidel Castro, and trying to make the United States
appear as the implacable enemy of Venezuela. This provides Chavez with the
cover he needs to create a police state. By taking over the mass media, and
forming a new army (whose main loyalty is to Chavez, not Venezuela), the people
hear no contrary messages, and have no way to threaten the new
president-for-life.