Viva Chavez, the only courageous voice in the world, some would discredit him because his "undiplomatic" ways, but nothing he's ever say is untrue. Good for Peter as well, he put things right for the contras. If some one out there really want to know why latin americans are forced to go to the USA , Europe or elsewhere, should read "The open veins of Latin-America", then speak.

So, Roberto Meza, how do you explain this: "I am sure that Venezuela has many problems, as the centuries of governance that removed assets from Latin America cannot be wiped out in one generation. Here is something that perhaps is worth sharing. Since 2003, the year Venezuela took control of oil company, the GDP grew by 94.7% in 5 years, or 13.5% annualy. Most growth in non-oil, and non-government sector. Poverty rate cut by 1/2, from 54% households in 2003, to 26% at end of 2008. Infant mortality fell by 1/3, and the number of primary physicians grew twelve-fold. Enrollment in higher education tripled. Unemployment fell from 13.3 to 7.8, and the old age pension number of beneficiaries doubled. In 10 years, total government public debt fell from 30.7% GDP to 14.3% GDP. Foreign debt fell even more, from 25.6% to 9.8%. of GDP. Source: Center for Economic Policy Research, Washington, DC. Notable advisory Board Members, Nobel Prize winners Robert Solow and Joseph Stiglitz, Rich Freeman, Professor of Economics, Harvard." By the way, President of France has just appointed Joseph Stiglitz to head his newly formed body on the economy. Is Sarkozi also some "hidden" communist?