Lessons not learned: Venezuela

Just as Cuba might be going the other way with the impending death of Castro... With Chavez's announcement of the nationalization of utilities, power and media, he'll no doubt blame the ensuing economic chaos on the bourgeoisis, the CIA, and western decadence. Though his efforts have about as much popularity as Bush's maligned leadership these days, one wonders why they elected him in the first place:

Ordinary Venezuelans may also disapprove of Mr. Chávez's approach. U.S. pollster Greenberg Quinlan Rosner recently found that 49% of Venezuelans were opposed to turning the country into a socialist state. Other polls have shown a broad majority is against turning the country into a Cuba-like communist nation.

Of course, it's said we get the governments we deserve.