[paraclete]

As I said earlier he might have been an economic trogladite, I expect this comes from been very single minded and not taking a broader view, but some smaller nations have followed part of his example. We know the best way to lift a population out of poverty is to provide employment but this is a long term strategy which is undermined by inflation. He didn't take the oil money and embark on a vast building program as some have done so his legacy is in the hearts and minds of the people. We will see how long he is remembered

[tomder55]

I want to know where this info comes from that he helped the poor. Since opposition was crushed in the country .How do you know ? Chavez terrorized opponents, nationalized industries and crushed freedom of the press.

Neither official statistics nor independent estimates show any evidence that Chávez has reoriented state priorities to benefit the poor. Most health and human development indicators have shown no significant improvement beyond that which is normal in the midst of an oil boom. Indeed, some have deteriorated worryingly, and official estimates indicate that income inequality has increased. The "Chávez is good for the poor" hypothesis is inconsistent with the facts...

An Empty Revolution | Foreign Affairs

He gutted every institution that guaranteed democracy and trampled on fundamental rights. It is absolutely amazing to me that he is championed by any freedom loving person.
How exactly did he help the poor ? With price controls and production quotas on basics like cooking oil, white rice, sugar, coffee, flour, margarine, pasta, cheeses and tomato sauce.Good job ! All that did was create artificial shortage and scarcity .Basic products for the deeply impoverished often became the hardest to locate.
Like Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe ,Chavez seized the land of the "rich" ,and like Mugabe ,destroyed the agricultural sector of the economy .
Then only thing Venezuela had going for it was it's energy economy (which he plundered ) .
As for the rest ,the civil society is well on it's way to destruction . Caracas is perhaps the kidnap capital of South America. Since he entered office , murder rates in the nation's cities have quadrupled: there is one murder every 90 seconds.
So spare me the eulogies for the scumbag.

[speechlesstx]

Other than that he was a swell guy.

[paraclete]

I want to know where this info comes from that he helped the poor. Since opposition was crushed in the country .How do you know ? Chavez terrorized opponents, nationalized industries and crushed freedom of the press.

See my earlier post at #37 I have no wish to repeat myself endlessly because you don't read the op's. No one said this guy is perfect and in the vein of a long line of ethnic dictators he didn't take dissention well, for the third time I will paraphase Jimmy Carter, I didn't always agree with his methods

[speechlesstx]

see my earlier post at #37 I have no wish to repeat myself endlessly because you don't read the op's. Noone said this guy is perfect and in the vein of a long line of ethnic dictators he didn't take dissention well, for the third time I will paraphase Jimmy Carter, i didn't always agree with his methods

But as I was saying as long as he spews populist rhetoric and pushes back against American capitalism and American foreign policy he gets a pass.

[paraclete]

But as I was saying as long as he spews populist rhetoric and pushes back against American capitalism and American foreign policy he gets a pass.

Did you notice Tom that he cannot spew populist rhetoric any more, he is dead!

[tomder55]

Yes, but his brown shirts intend to terrorize the people of Venezuela for another generation.
The wild card in Venezuela: Armed Chavistas - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

[talaniman]

But as I was saying as long as he spews populist rhetoric and pushes back against American capitalism and American foreign policy he gets a pass.

He got a pass because his rhetoric didn't stop the flow of oil.

[paraclete]

Face it Tom you can't solve all the problems of the world, you can't even solve your own problems. Learn to leave people alone to work out their own development. Fascist and extreme socialist regiems eventually give way to more reasonable approches but it must come from within

[tomder55]

So I should be mute ? Or perhaps be like the sheeple who make a case that his brutality was justified because some misguided poor people liked his handouts.

[speechlesstx]

Did you notice Tom that he cannot spew populist rhetoric any more, he is dead!

What the hell is wrong with you people? Tom and I are not the same guy.

[smoothy]

News just in... Hugo Chavez is still dead.

[paraclete]

My apologies speech you guys seem so alike

[speechlesstx]

My apologies speech you guys seem so alike

No, I'm much more handsome. :)

[paraclete]

Have to admit a dog is a better looking avatar than a yankies symbol

[speechlesstx]

Bad news, Chavez unlikely to be preserved for eternity.

[smoothy]

Bad news, Chavez unlikely to be preserved for eternity.

Look at the bright side... at least he's still dead.

[speechlesstx]

Look at the bright side....at least he's still dead.

For eternity.

[tomder55]

Maybe the can get the medical experts in Havana to get it done.

[paraclete]

No they should take a body cast and make a model