misterd on 03 December 2007
| stof said: I'm not trying to be a cheerleader for the guy. As I've said I have mixed feelings, but people in the U.S. seem to view him as a ruthless dictator, and actual facts seem to get set asside when discussing this controversial figure. As for those programs. They are actual programs that were launched, so yes I believe them. But that's different than commenting on how effective it has been. But it's pretty clear that million's of Poor Venezuelans have been exposed to education, medical and social programs that they would not have been otherwise. He's turned people that probably don't normally vote into enthusiastic supporters, which is why he's been able to do what he's done so far entirely democratically. Of course, this referendum would give him the power to not need that support... Like I said, I hope he loses it. |
In a democracy, one doesn't become dictator just by being ruthless. One usurps power a little at a time, often by buying the favor of the people. It worked for Caesar, and appears to be working for Putin and Chavez.
And if you don't know how effective these programs are (launching PR programs is very easy - we do it all the time), how can you possibly claim that millions more have been exposed to education, medical care etc than would have otherwise (not to mention that claim is doubly baseless unless you know what the alternatives to Chavez would have done).
