Chavez has created a society controlled by fear. A fear of crime, a fear of the police, a fear of property being seized, a fear of corruption. |
Elections without any opposition and with low turnout aren't good for anyone, not least the government, which should evaluate the anti-democratic impact. |
It is potentially dangerous for democracy. It could lead to an authoritarian exercise of power. |
Poverty in Venezuela is worse than ever. I didn't discover poverty because Chavez pointed it out to me. |
The government has a problem it cannot ignore -- a single-colored parliament elected amid a gigantic abstention. |