Foreign politics: What do you think of Chavez re-election in Venezuela?

I think it sucks. It is a reminder why it is a good policy to not let an American have more than two consecutive terms (although I support a third term if there is a break inbetween). I don’t believe socialism works. Chavez’s government literally stole/ceased money from people’s pension funds. He wants everything to come from the governmentand basically to be a dictator. As much as I want socialized medicine and some other social services I am not a socialist, and Chavez really is more of a Communist in my opinion.

As a side note, I think if the US keeps going in the direction of more super rich and more poor we will be ripe for the poorer masses to vote in someone who promises them a decent shot at a decent, safe, life, and if they witness unbridled capitalism is not getting them that, we risk the other extremes, rather than regulating somewhat the free market to control the corporate theives.

The guy is a far leftist crook. About the only positive thing that one can say is that he appears to be fairly ill, and may not live out his newly elected term.

He has done to Venezuela what Mugabe did in Zimbabwe – the rich got richer, and the poor are worse off. Inflation is not good.

The only thing that Chavez has going for him is petroleum, and from what I read, his supply is running out and his management has been poor.

So he’s on the way down, no matter what the elections look like.

I don’t follow it too closely but enough that I’m not be overly impressed, but willing to guardedly entertain a careful outlook of positive possibility.

He’s done a couple things well particularly in reducing extreme/poverty, improving the domestic production of basic staples (sadly at the cost of the environment), and basic health care and internet access. Beyond that however, there doesn’t seem to be much – which isn’t surprising seeing as the former is what kept him in office. I don’t believe he’s improved access or resources to education nearly enough (though he’s increased spending) and his attempt at curriculum meddling was intolerable. The food supply hasn’t been stabilized and the price ceilings for staples don’t seem to be tied well to a much needed (and at least from my vantage, inapparent) greater strategy. He’s made progress on crime but only after rates exploded, freedom of the press appears to be in name only, and concern over environmental, pollution, and effective sanitation seems non existent. His foreign policies seem to work well enough but appear based on securing power rather than the type of developmental relations necessary to make oil a sector rather than a dependency and improve opportunities and access for the people. He certainly doesn’t appear to be making headway against bloat in state run concerns, rather the contrary.

In general, like most politicians, he looks content to appease enough people to secure his power base but after that ignores rather than shepherds the efforts necessary to result in real, lasting, self-sustained change.

I followed the election closely and am mourning Capriles’ loss (virtually) with my friends in Caracas. I understand why many voted for Chávez out of fear of retribution.. and honestly doubt that a fair election was possible. Most people believed (and still believe) their vote was not secret.
What Chávez has done to that beautiful country over 14 years is truly a crime. It is so sad to see the impact not just on the infrastructure (run down, broken down) and natural resources of the country..but the people. He’s turned citizen against citizen..introduced racism/prejudice and ugly class-based struggles where there were none before…the crime, kidnapping and fear are part of daily life for shell-shocked people just trying to survive.
Before the election food shortages began in earnest too.. now it’s not merely dangerous, expensive and volatile..it’s also a place where even the wealthy cannot get lettuce…because no market has any.
The saddest thing is to see the talent drain..the educated and/or wealthy people who can are exiting the country in droves (and have been for years)...How can Venezuela hope to rebuild? I truly wonder if, in my lifetime, Venezuela will become another Haiti…and people will wonder: “How did it get this bad?” The answer will be a single word: Chávez