Hugo Gone
I don't have too much to add to what others have been saying about Hugo Chavez (whose death I predicted, not that it took much prescience). The only thing I can't understand is those--and there are many--eulogizing him as a great man and a great leader.
I don't care if you think this is some sort of left/right thing (and it shouldn't be), just paying for social programs (by confiscating other people's money and keeping a billion or so for yourself) and attacking the United States regularly doesn't make you great, or even good.
Chavez not only clamped down on basic freedoms, but brought tremendous violence and, indeed, poverty to his country. Here's hoping Venezuela finds a way out of this disastrous path that their leader for life led them down.
posted by LAGuy @ 12:12 AM
5 Comments:
Geez, who do you think you are? Mamet?
A complicated megalomaniac. Maybe those type are scarier than your typical dumbass military strongman-its hard to deal with someone so convinced they are ultimately right. I know he is beloved in some quarters (especially the povery-focused nonprofits) and some of his poverty programs are actually models for things occurring here (its amazing what you can do with a wealth of oil money) and the US's stupid treatment (both dems and reps) of his regime (echoing its bipartisan stupid treatment of Cuba 50 years ago- a policy that has resulted in what may be the longest-lasting Communist regime in world history). He rode Anti-Americanism to popularity to its most ridiculous extreme in some cases such as embracing every international villain (though funding heating programs for the poor in the US which was a little shrewder).
Venezuela is probably better off without him although there is real risk of short-term chaos, score-settling, potential reassertion of oil company interests and a host of even worse alternatives in a continent known for death squads.
Don't you mean conservative death squads? I hear Newt took over the training since G. Gordon got too old.
But you're right. They're probably better off.
To Anonymous #1, who do you think you are, Sean Penn?
Another problem with a strong man is he leaves a power vacuum when he goes, which can lead to all sorts of problems. At least Chavez had regular elections (even if the system was rigged) so the country may make a smooth transition, but if Venezuela falls into violent anarchy, it'll be another gift from Hugo.
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