Seems like Venezuela is slaloming down towards becoming a basket case. Over the years its oil wealth had only enriched a few while keeping the majority in poverty so the people voted in Hugo Chavez who promised a more equitable distribution of public wealth. He brought in Cuban doctors and teachers and ensured poor people had education and health care they could afford. He nationalised the oil industry so that the billions earned from this national asset went to the state and not into the pockets of the robber barrons. This enraged the robbers who felt so aggrieved that they organised a coup which failed miserably and Chavez won the next election comfortably. He blamed the US for the coup and turned into a paranoid buffoon using his country's oil wealth to support leftist governments in Latin America. There is evidence that he is supporting guerillas against the Columbian government because it is a friend of the US and he sees it as a traitor. Unfortunately oil prices fell and suddenly he cannot finance his social schemes. Crime has become uncontrollable. He is suddenly realising that once you relaese the genie of expectations you cannot bottle it again. He nationalised rice mills and is ranting against pharma companies for high prices. His goons have been attacking tv and newspaper offices for criticising him much like his friend, Ahamadinejad, is doing in Iran. Perhaps the lesson is that once you bribe the people it becomes standard and impossible to stop. Is it happening to India too?