Verdicts? Take Your Pick....
"The Bolivarian revolution was a corrupt, mismanaged affair. The economy became ever more dependent on oil and imports. State takeovers of farms cut agricultural output. Controls of prices and foreign exchange could not stop inflation and engendered shortages of staple goods. Infrastructure crumbled: most of the country has suffered frequent power cuts for years."
The Economist magazine
Under the Chavez Bolivarian Revolution rule unemployment fell. Literacy rose spectacularly. "Tell the world Chavez is dead. Our hearts are broken, our hearts are Chavez. He gave us education, he gave us houses, he gave us poor a country to be proud of", wailed a 38-year-old teacher, as Mr. Chavez's funeral cortege passed.
The poor of Venezuela benefited hugely from their hero's 14-year-rule. Living conditions for millions of formerly poor have vastly improved under social programs he introduced; his 'missions'. Sanitation and housing improved as well. Poor people were given access to low-cost food. The infant mortality rate fell.
On the other hand, according to the UN health care agency Venezuela's expenditures on medical services is significantly lower than the regional average; $800 per person as opposed to $3,000 per person. Nurses and midwives number 11.3% per 10,000 people, compared with 61.5 for the regional average.
This, from a country endowed with immense natural resources, the largest oil reserves in the world. Hugo Chavez traded oil for medicine with Cuba. He gave them free oil and they sent over professionals to train Venezuelans in the various health fields. Despite which there is precious little to show for the reciprocal protocol.
In Venezuela more people are now succeeding to secondary education, but the regional statistics are even higher, and the same with primary school enrolment. Food imports have risen, far above the Latin American average. Improved sanitation and household expenditure per capita is where Venezuela levels out higher than the regional average.
And in 2010 Caracas - the nation's capital -distinguished itself by becoming the deadliest capital in the world, boasting the highest murder rate in the world. It averaged one murder every hour of every day. Nationwide well in excess of 21,000 people were killed in 2012, averaging out to 53 people dead each day.
Hugh Chavez's legacy over his years of autocratic rule of his country also has left the people of Venezuela more deeply divided than ever before. "This man sowed hatred and division among Venezuelans. I am not happy that he has died, but I can't be sad either", said a 32-year-old accountant. Decidedly not among those whose pain at the loss of their charismatic leader is so devastating.
The country has devalued its currency 30% to the U.S. dollar in the last month, and inflation in 2011 stood at 28%. The country is in the grips of massive inflation, a crisis in its electricity grid, and is reeling under rolling food and goods shortages. The policy Mr. Chavez instituted of nationalizing companies has undermined private investment. The country is deeply in debt.
Hugo Chavez loved to hate the West, particularly the United States. He held himself proudly as one of the several most intransigent of America haters, making common cause with the like of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with Cuba, boasting warm relationships with any country that viewed the United States and Israel as evil states.
Venezuela shared its vision of a socialist agenda with Russia and with China, both of which reciprocated with a fond regard for a country that, in the case of China, gave out over $40-billion in loans to the country. As for Russia, Hugh Chavez had another one of those special understandings with the Kremlin; sharing an ideology and sending along $6-billion to pay for Sukhoi fighter jets, combat helicopters, AK0-103 assault rifles, 91T72M1M battle tanks.
Human Rights Watch had an interesting take on former President Hugo Chavez's rule: "They seized control of the Supreme Court and undercut the ability of journalists, human rights defenders, and other Venezuelans to exercise fundamental rights. By his second full term in office, the concentration of power and erosion of human rights protections had given the government free reign to intimidate, censor, and prosecute Venezuelans who criticized the president or thwarted his political agenda."
But he did benefit the poor of Venezuela who unwaveringly, in their majority numbers, voted him back into office, dead man walking.
Labels: Celebrity, Crime, Crisis Politics, Culture, Economy, Education, Human Relations, Human Rights, Venezuela
posted by Pieface @ Friday, March 08, 2013
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