I'm in no way unaware of Chavez's faults, and there are many. But I know too many people in Caracas who have been lifted out of unimaginable poverty, been given a chance of life, after decades of being oppressed by right-wing American-backed plutocrats who simply plundered the country, to fall for the 'he's an anti-democrat' schtick. Yes, it's possible that at some point in the future he could chance his arm to get such powers, but there's no evidence of that at all yet, and his own supporters would rise against him if he did. Yes also, he is in danger of over-reliance on oil, and needs to use oil revenue as a platform on which to build an alternative economic model. But none of that is the point. The point is that in Venezuela, as in Latin America generally, politics is polarised on a 'you're with us or against us' basis. And there is no viable sane and non-fascistic alternative to Chavez in Venezuela. Certain people here are very careful not to mention all the very good things he has done in health, education, and so on, and also not to mention that he has the backing of the people, democratically. The choice really is between him and a nasty junta of right-wing fanatics who would have the poor there, particularly the Amerindian and mestizzo poor, put back in the slime. Until something better comes along, Chavez is by far the best option.