Watch out for Chavez

As America fights terrorism and spreads democracy does anybody wonder why we are letting democracy fade in our own backyard. As anti-immigrant sentiment in America grows we increasingly ignore our neighbors to the south of our borders. We are in the middle east toppling Hussein in Irag, in Afghanistan toppling the Taliban, but in Venezuela we are seeing the rise of a dictator before our very eyes. Many Americans, ignorant of affairs south of the border, do not know the constitution in Venezuela will be changing in December to allow Hugo Chavez presidency for life. Democratic forces in Venezuela are protesting and fleeing the country with no support from us. How can we not support a country fighting for democratic ideals in our own backyard and let them slip into a leftist regime that will surely suppress its people and economy? Does the richness that oil has brought this country responsible for creating and egging on their boldness to deny freedoms to its citizens?

Are we as major procurers of their oil responsible for their backtracking of democratic freedoms? Are we providing them the profits to move their regime forward? Are we part of the problem with our locust-like consumption.

The Chavez regime is in the process of stripping land and holdings away from its people. The poeple of Venezuela have no choice but to flee the country and leave all that they worked for behind. In many instances Venezuelans are holding wrecking parties. These are get togethers with friends and family desinged to wreck and demolish thier homes and other properties to prevent Chavez from siezing a working piece of property. Chavez ends up with rubble and the owners end up with some satisfaction.

America needs to wake up are we will be fighting far worse and far closer in our next struggle to maintain the democracies we are used to having.