The American media tends to report on two things, what Americans want to know about, and what the press thinks they should know. When Americans start complaining about prices at the pump, the press will make a much bigger deal out of it than they are now.
It's starting to get pretty good coverage on the Gulf Coast now, because that's where the shortage of Venezuelan crude is first felt.
I realize, and agree, that the political conflict in Venezuela is more important the economic effects in that country and how they will impact America. But, it's just a fact of life that average Americans don't consider anything south of our border as being very important or interesting, until it affects them personally.
sadly that is very much the truth. i was a latin american studies major undergrad, and so have always had an intense interest in the region. Colombia is a totally lost cause at this point, but prior to Chavez, Venezuela was stable and democratic. My venezuelan friends were every bit as agitated over the election of Chavez, as i was over Bubba sitting in the WH. Looks like they had every reason to be.