Pity for Venezuela

Hugo Chavez has "won" yet another election in his quest to be leader for life of Venezuela. This country so rich in natural resources remains burdened with poverty after more than a decade of redistributionist misrule. Venezuela is one of the murder hot spots of the world. Press which has opposed Chavez has been intimidated, prosecuted, often silenced, yet some would contend that though the voice of the opposition has been squelched, this was somehow a "free election". Be that as it may, remember Stalin's admonition that "it is only who counts the votes that counts". It is a shame that Venezuela has been deprived of freedom and prosperity by their clownish despot.