21 January 2007

Chávez is Bad!

Reading the excellent blog of Johan Norberg i found an interesting post about Venezuela´s Hugo Chávez a leadership role in the region. Johan Norberg states that he is as unpopular as Bush according to this year´s Latinobarómetro;

"How ironic then, that 39 percent of the Latin Americans dislike Chávez - exatcly the same proportion who dislikes Bush (and Chávez´ approval rating is even lower than Bush´s)."

First I must say that despite my great admiration for Johan Norberg I dont agree that Bush is unpopular, after all, Bush has won two elections, liberated Iraqs oil from a brutal dictator to a free market and is winning the war on terror. So even if Bush has some minor setbacks at the moment history will prove him right, and after all the mission is accomplished and the oil is free.
And reading the Latinobarómetro report i couldnt help notice, contrary to Johan Norbergs conclusion, how much support Chávez has among the socialists.

For example; asked if they have a good or very good economic situation. 40% of Venezuelans said yes, thats in third place after Argentina and Brasil.

Venezuela is also number one with 47% on the question "Here everyone has the same chance to get out of poverty" Costa Rica is second with 43% and Argentina at the bottom with 19%

Answering who is percieved as having most civil liberties the Dominican republic is number one with 67% and Venezuela on second place at 63%

Answering 'on a scale between 1 and ten where do you place your country in terms of democracy' Uruguay comes first with '7,2' (62%) and Venezuela second with '7' (55%).

On the statement "here the government only governs for the good of the whole people" 50% of Venezualans agree and on second place Uruguay with 43%

The government is seeking the welbeing of the population? Venezuela comes third with 72%

.....You get the picture?

I dont know why Johan Norberg wants us to think that the Latinamericans are less socialistic and supportive of Chávez than they really are and I think its time to follow the great former head of Office of Special Plans, Douglas Feiths advice and liberate Latinamerica from the commie threat.