...Of a long list of despotic South American Presidents, Chavez was not one. Chavez guided Venezuelan/American relations through the turbulence of an America guided by a meddling criminal misfit, George Bush. It is easy to understand the grief of the Venezuelan people at the loss of a “Peoples President”!

The oil cartels are now mobilising to steal back Venezuela's oil.The push now will be to try and destabilise the country and set up their own puppet Govt.

With the new Global awareness of the endless greed of the Banking Military Industrial Complex I don't think their task will be easy.Venezuela also has an extensive independant Govt Banking system which they want to destroy.

So much power in one individual’s hands is not a good thing. Chavez did leave a more positive than negative legacy. Australia could learn some lessons from his time in power.

Providing there is a proportional government in place first I believe Australia should pursue state owned bank and nationalising, health, education, utilities and resources. Other things would need to change to level the playing field and curb the power and influence of the rich and powerful allowing real market forces to come into play.

Producer before we embark upon nationalation of resources and energy,we need a proper constitution which defines the role of Govt in relation to the population they suppposed to serve.

Chavez was demonised by Western Oligarhs because Venezuela threatens their New World Order of fascist domination.

Venezuela is a basket case full of hungry people run by those who put political power before the best for the people. As in most of Latin America and increasingly the US, it is run by leaders who make great statues. Reality never gets a look-in, the place is broke and infrastructure is decrepit (long time to run down, much longer to repair).
His death is the only hope for a glimmer of sanity in a dire situation.

Peron in Argentina similarly rode to power on a populist agenda, nationalised major industries, and dished out largess to all and sundry. He was also extremely popular right up to the point when industry collapsed, Argentina went bankrupt, and poverty rose to record levels.

Chavez was still riding the initial wave, but with industry, and oil production collapsing, all the signs are that this tin pot demagogue is no different.