First, can social good come from socialism? Of course, and Venezuela is full of disenfranchised people. They are what create a Chavez. For the article to point out the benefits to Jose and Juanita Tequila is reasonable.

Second, can a Chavez turn that popular support into a de facto dictatorship, effectively turning away from his base once he receives power? Again, of course, and the last paragraph in the article told the story well.

Both - and. Both disenfranchized Venezuelans seem better off, and Chavez is on the road to dictatorship.

We don't have to go to Venezuela to become aware of politicians who get elected and then attempt to turn an election to an office into personal power, as the article describes Chavez as doing.

The problem with black-and-white thinking is that situations have to be crammed into an all-good or all-bad box. None of them ever fits.

Arf