Thank You Chavez for finally proving you want to be a vicious dictator.

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

This honestly just sucks for Venezuela.

When the time comes around they are going to realize they have a monarch/dictator instead of a President.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071129/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_chavez_s_power

[japanat]

My brother was on loan from Conoco to British Petroleum, working in conjunction with Venezuela's national oil company to expand current oil fields and prepare to exploit new finds.

When Chavez started his games, my brother and his family were forced to evacuate several times after Chavez would incite people to occupy the oil field offices, and at the same time pull out all police presence. The international school they had founded and run in a small town about 1 hr outside Caracas (70% of whose students were Venezuelan, btw) was forced to close, and eventually all staff were expatriated. Net result: a loss in oil revenues, not gain.

If his referendum passes, Venezuelans are going to suffer, no doubt in my mind.

[Chris]

I truly hope this doesn't pass, but I also fear it might just be too late.

[Mechs]

I kinda thought it would come to this one day. Poor Venezuela....

[Karthak]

What I find a bit funny is that this will only pass if a majority of venezuelans vote for it. They'll be shooting themselves in the foot.

[Plekto]

Still, the fact is that if it's their will, then so be it. It's not our place to tell them what form of government they should have.

[Chris]

From this point on, I don't think its necessarily their will thats deciding anymore. I'd be surprised if this vote wasn't rigged, let alone the ones that will come after it.

[Chris]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7124313.stm

ftw.

[Kenshin]

Chavez already lost this one, so, I don't think there's much to worry about. Finally, he cannot (by law) propose anything like this ever again, and (here's the best part of it) he cannot run for president in the 2012 elections. So, his dream of becoming like Fidel in Cuba is over. By legal means, at least...

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

SUCK IT CHAVEZ!

[Shishio]

...You mean there was a point when the fact that Chavez "wants to be a dictator" was in doubt?

[Chris]

Chavez already lost this one, so, I don't think there's much to worry about. Finally, he cannot (by law) propose anything like this ever again, and (here's the best part of it) he cannot run for president in the 2012 elections. So, his dream of becoming like Fidel in Cuba is over. By legal means, at least...

Good to hear. That's actually pretty depressing, seeing a country almost throw itself back into the arms of a dictator. But, I guess Chavez learned his lesson. Never depend on the people to rig an election for you. :D

[Plekto]

Still, it's how a real democracy works, so you have to respect the people's decision either way. They got lucky this time.