Another South American Dictator in the Making

Chavez really must be living the dream of all South American boys, growing up to be a dictator. Well, that's likely overstated, but that is definitely where he appears to be going.

President Hugo Chavez was granted sweeping powers Wednesday to rule by decree for 18 months to accelerate his push toward socialism, a move that critics said propelled Venezuela toward dictatorship.

Convening in a downtown plaza for a session that resembled a political rally, the National Assembly unanimously gave Chavez control in 11 key areas, including the economy, the oil industry, defense and the structure of the state.

"Long live the sovereign people! Long live President Hugo Chavez! Long live socialism!" said National Assembly President Cilia Flores as she proclaimed the "enabling law" approved by a show of hands.

Makes you wonder what benefits the people of his country are seeing that would justify this. It regularly appears that he spends more money outside the country than in. The vote for his ability to rule by decree was unanimous, which I always find fascinating. How is it that a person representing the people would be willing to throw away his or her responsibilities in this way? But, they can still make laws you say? True, up until Hugo decrees that they can't.

This article has some great quotes:

"Long live the sovereign people! Long live President Hugo Chavez! Long live socialism!" said National Assembly President Cilia Flores as she proclaimed the "enabling law" approved by a show of hands. "Fatherland, socialism or death! We will prevail!"

Seig Heil! Seig Heil! Seig Heil!

"The people of Venezuela, not just the National Assembly, are giving this enabling power to the president of the republic," congresswoman Iris Varela told the crowd.

Just remember that when he starts getting weird. Weirder.

"What kind of a dictatorship is this?" Rodriguez asked the crowd, saying the law "only serves to sow democracy and peace."

"Dictatorship is what there used to be," Rodriguez said. "We want to impose the dictatorship of a true democracy."

Uh, what? I suppose the service to peace will be well served by their increased military spending and that million man army Chavez is proposing.

I'm sure all the foreign investment will just start pouring in as well. Or out depending on your point of view.

Chavez has said companies upgrading heavy oil in the Orinoco River basin British Petroleum PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips Co., Total SA and Statoil ASA must submit to state-controlled joint ventures. The new law enables Chavez to unilaterally "regulate" this transition if companies don't agree to the new framework within an unspecified "peremptory period."

Regulate? Is that the new word for seizure?

Sadly, the US is one of the few countries with the refineries that can handle the especially poor quality crude oil that comes out of Venezuela. It's a shame that we couldn't just stop buying from them and thus eliminate our participation in their "democracy."