The Media Myth of 'Once Prosperous' and Democratic Venezuela Before Chavez

[Colgate 64]

6. No, I'm not. I lived and worked in Latin America

for more than 25 years including Venezuela. The entire premise that Chavez didn't wreck the economy doesn't even qualify as a decent lie. Venezuela was the envy of South America pre-Chavez. It had a booming economy, a strong middle class and was making strides in improving the lot of those economically marginalized. All this went out the window with Chavez. He and his cronies pilfered untold millions and millions of dollars from state funds and spent part of it establishing vote-getting programs that were not sustainable but only intended to buy a portion of the population's loyalty. Anyone looking at Venezuela after Chavez and his idiot-henchman Maduro's tenure would not recognize the country. The economy is in total shambles, public services are crumbling and millions of Venezuelans are leaving for any place that will have them. It didn't have to be like this but it is because the populace fell prey to a scheming golpista.