Hmm, I wonder what Mr. Cook's political leaning are? This opinion piece is so blatantly one sided it's a sin. First, the reforms Chavez and his cronies put if place were a huge temporary boon for the poor, until the rich left or were paupered. Then, there was nobody left to create jobs… you know those things that lift the poor out of poverty. Then, Venezuela's natural resources were squandered. Now with the price of oil settling back, those poor are tasting what hardcore socialism means, rampant inflation, lack of work, lack of products on the shelves to buy which doesn't amtter anyway since the money you have is worthless. Maybe it's time they try something different.
Name: George
Title: Dictatorship
Comments: What has happened in Venezuela is just that corruption got out of hand just like it is here. To hide the events of corruption it is better to take control by dictatorship. This does not mean that the corruption will cease. Dictatorship is just a license to continue the corrupt practices by government officials without being exposed or interfered by the legality of the justice system. Some of the example are noticeable on the African continent. There are signs here too, that dictatorship is on the minds of many of our senior politicians.