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From Wikipedia (a pretty neutral source): "The 2010 OAS report also found concerns with freedom of expression, human rights abuses, authoritarianism, press fre
by MikeCapone 17y ago
From Wikipedia (a pretty neutral source):
"The 2010 OAS report also found concerns with freedom of expression, human rights abuses, authoritarianism, press freedom, threats to democracy,[55] political intimidation, and "the existence of a pattern of impunity in cases of violence",[56] as well as erosion of separation of powers, the economic infrastructure, and "chronic problems including power blackouts, soaring crime, and a perceived lack of investment in crucial sectors".[57] The report discusses decreasing rights of those in opposition to the government and "goes into heavy detail" about control of the judiciary. It says elections are free, but the state has increasing control over media and state resources used during election campaigns, and interference with opposition elected officials.[58] According to The Washington Post, the report shows that "Chávez holds tremendous influence over other branches of government, particularly the judiciary";[55] "
edit: To make my position clear, I'm not sure if I would call Chavez a dictator right now. That depends ENTIRELY on how we define "dictator". I think he would be under some definitions, not under others.
But if we look at the direction in which he's moving, he could very well soon be a dictator under all definitions, and I certainly am glad not to be living in Venezuela right now (or that our politicians here in Canada aren't like him, despite all their faults).
- jordanb 17y agoI don't have much doubt that Chavez is not doing a good job running the country. I also don't doubt that he is a thug. However, he's not a dictator, anymore than Berlusconi is a dictator. He's been democratically elected several times. Each time the election was sufficiently clean that there can be no doubt that a majority of Venezuelians voted for him.
- MikeCapone 17y agoMany dictators were first elected, and with time eroded democratic institutions enough that subsequent elections meant less and less, and in the end the country became something else than what could fairly be called a democracy.
- cma 17y agoSounds like it could be describing Saudi Arabia. Of course, whether we treat either country as an enemy or an ally has nothing to do with any of that stuff.
- berntb 17y agoIt is called "realpolitik" -- to a large part, all countries let their interests go before most other considerations and they lie about it. That doesn't make all countries equal. (Yes, Saudi Arabia is a typical example of a country that can get away with breaking human rights, because the rest of the world needs a stable Mid East.)