Check the statistics about Venezuela's economic structure. Chavez claimed he was a socialist because that has positive connotations over there and the US wante

Check the statistics about Venezuela's economic structure. Chavez claimed he was a socialist because that has positive connotations over there and the US wanted to portray him as a socialist for the opposite reason. But check * percentage of workforce work in public sector * government expenditure as % of GDP * percentage of workforce that is part of a union * taxes * state enterprises * the welfare and state provided benefits Compare all of these to a country like Norway (richest or 2nd richest country in the world, also an oil state of sorts). You'll find that if Venezuela is socialist, than Norway must be a straight up reincarnation of the USSR.