Reply #118: Even FRANCO didn't start out as FRANCO. Fidel didn't start out as Fidel, either.

[MADem]

They all start out with good intentions. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

This is not rocket science--Dictators suck.

Anyone who tries to mitigate or justify the rule of ONE PERSON, without ANY input from the people (for their own "unwashed peasant" good, of course) has a serious problem.

And all of the well meaning "proposed reforms" do not, can not, and will not mitigate the fact that if you are in VZ and Hugo wants you shot, it's bang-bang time for you. No lawyer, no trial, no nothing. You're guilty because HE said so, and you're DEAD because HE said so.

You can't be a progressive in favor of representative democracy and support Hugo Chavez's "reforms." He's buying off the poor and dumb, who are selling off their freedoms and rights foolishly and trustingly, with a shorter work week.

Don't try to tell me that the EVIL media has made up the fact that he will be able to wield absolute power at the snap of his fingers, either. That is bullshit--the proposals are that ALL POWER can be vested in Chavez simply by HIS decree. To say nothing of him controlling all the money, all by himself.

But hey, whatever. Que Viva Chavezuela. Knock yourself out.