The people of Venezuela and the world have seen Chavez in action long enough to know he's taking the country away from democracy and toward Marxism!
But analysts say that the current surge of dissatisfaction in South America is rooted in the entrenched poverty and deficiencies of governments. The region's decadelong commitment to democracy, which was heralded as a panacea, instead has generated a crisis of expectations that is proving contagious.
"In many countries governments are just not performing well," says Michael Shifter, Latin America expert at the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, D.C. "There's deep unhappiness and people are searching for alternatives, but there's nothing available. It's a troubling trend."
U.S. planning to keep corrupt Latin American officials out-- ''People will understand that we are serious about going after government corruption,'' he added. ``There is a very selfish reason for this: We end up paying for the bill when these people steal the money, because we have to provide aid, or accept the citizens as refugees or as migrants.''
President Bush is meeting with the heads of other countries in Monterrey, Mexico - Rich, Poor Nations Discuss Poverty - I think he'll have some frank things to say. This is the time to make substantive changes. It's the perfect time to seek change while the mood of the people is calling for democracy. To let it pass would be unforgiveable.