Chavez wins close Venezuela vote, say ministers

[FreeTalkLive rocks!]

SlorgNet said:
Russia before Putin: a burnt-out train wreck of a society, multiple civil wars, crashing economy, oligarchs stealing everything in sight, per capita GDP sinks to $1500, Yeltsin steals election in 1996, noone gives a damn.

Russia after Putin: revitalized society, peace and stability return, economy booms, oligarchs jailed or forced to turn legit, per capita GDP skyrockets to $7000, Putin's party wins reasonably fair and open elections.

Venezuela before Chavez: burnt-out train wreck of a society, unbelievable gap between rich and poor, tiny English-speaking elites live like kings, vast majority live worse than pigs, 50% of country in poverty.

Venezuela after Chavez: revitalized society, economy grows fast, civil society expands, poverty rate drops to 30%.

The demonization of Putin and Chavez is a project of very powerful, very devious and very evil American power-elites who don't give a flying %^&* about democracy or human rights and never will.

Putin and Chavez are not the same. Putin has increased economic freedom and lowered social freedom in Russia. Chavez has greatly reduced economic freedom and reduced social freedom in Venezuela.

They are not taking the countries in completely opposite directions, but very different ones. Chavez wants Venezuela to become the next great socialist (failed) state whereas Putin realized that socialism is a terrible system and is moving away from it.

But yes, anyone that wants to reduce social freedom (The leaders of US, CA, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, Iran) will be viewed poorly by many in the US.