Aqvarius,

My point was they voted for Chavez in 1999, 2001 and 2004 and 2006. This is in spite of hostility from the United States and a very concerted, peristent and well-funded campaign from Venezuela's wealthy elite to have him removed from office.

If that does not indicate that Chavez enjoys the popular support of the Venezuelan people, then I don't know what will. How you can claim that those who would overturn the result of these elections have a more "have a greater, more inclusive, democratic world view" is beyond me.

Even though the "Sweatshop lobby" story is not directly related to Venezuela, I pointed it out as an example of the kinds of political forces in the world today who seem to have the strongest objection to Chavez's government, that is those who are so insatiably greedy, that they would object to even the most basic rights being granted to China's exploited workforce.

No doubt the "Sweatshop Lobby" would have a similar attitude to Venezuela's workforce and oil and gas reserves, that is that it should be theirs to freely exploit without any hindrance from Hugo Chavez's government.

Aqvarius wrote: "Have you got anything else eating away at your sense of self-rightiousness that you might want to attribute to me dagget. Or have you finished pissing into the wind."

I probably would have a lot more to say on this subject, but only to people whose minds are open and able to cope with views which are contrary to their own.

dagget says: "My point was they voted for Chavez in 1999, 2001 and 2004 and 2006. This is in spite of hostility from the United States and a very concerted, peristent and well-funded campaign from Venezuela's wealthy elite to have him removed from office."

My point dagget is that the rules of democratic elections in Venezuela give the elected a six year term with one consecutive term in office.
Follow your own information that strikes you with so much pride in Chavez's rule. 1999,2001,2004,2006. Now I wonder what could behind all that. Oh I know, it is the demon U.S. of A once again upsetting the peaceful democratic calm of South America. No body likes me cuz I'm doing such great things Chavez changes the rules at every democratic obstruction to his whim. Chavez became a peoples hero attempting a military coup, was that instigated by the USA? No No No that was my hero standing up against American imperialist injustice. Get a grip dagget. Chavez is not doing Venezuela any long term good and he has no ideas for the future of "his people" beyond using them to destroy their own future. Every thing Chavez is doing will have to be paid for tomorrow. Even the leftist Carter Centre questions the validity of his office but can't bring themselves to actually say so.
You really must learn to read beyond the knee jerk emotionalism of the daily headline dagget. I probably would have a lot more to say on this subject, but only to people whose minds are open and able to cope with views which are contrary to their own. :-)