As an American who has lived in Venezuela for the past five years, I can attest that Chavez wins elections here because his government actually serves the needs of the majority of the people, not merely the 0.01%.
The Chavez government has brought universal health care, free pubic education to the doctoral level (with stipends to students), free technical training, low cost government subsidized food, free or low cost housing to those who need it, and support for unions and worker-owned cooperatives. Chavez's policies are vastly improving the lives of the majority of Venezuelans. The capitalist press in the U.S. refuses to report that because it is dangerous to their interests.
The millions of Americans who have lost their jobs and houses due to the criminal policies of the wealthy who have wrecked our economy would vote for Chavez's policies overwhelmingly if they could. But they can't, since only the candidates of the super-wealthy can run for office here and they certainly don't want to represent the working and middle classes.
The U.S. media companies which demonize Chavez are all owned by big corporations who are terrified of losing their power and money if Chavez's ideas were to take hold here. Thus, they report only lies about Chavez and his government.
Genuine democracy is flourishing here in Venezuela, with very honest elections, unlike the U.S. That is why more than 60% of Venezuelans approve Chavez's policies and keep voting to re-elect him. His Bolivarian socialism really works!
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