Chavez and Bush: The people persons

Coming from the United States it is interesting to study Hugo Chavez. There is so much tension between the Venezuelan and U.S. Governments, but looking in the past I can see many points of similarity. When Bush originally lost the race for Governor it was because people viewed him as an elite man with nothing in common with the everyday American. When he ran for governor a second time he started joking around with the public, he portrayed himself as a man who could go drink a beer and have a good time. His campaign for president was run on a very anti-intellectual platform. He didn't like big words and he ruled with his instinct rather then academia. Now I am not saying that these two men are exactly alike, but you can also see Chavez walking down the street singing and dancing. Venezuelans can connect with him because he seems like a friendly approachable man. By putting on an amiable mask it was easy for these two men to gain a position of power. In the beginning of Chavez’s term he expanded the term limits to two terms, still not a huge deal. In 2007 he almost passed a referendum which would allow infinite term limits for anyone in the presidential seat with a pulse, but it failed. Since 2007 Chavez has been moving the Venezuelan economy from the private sector to the public sector. This means more people are employed through these public jobs, they get handouts, and social services. It is no surprise then, that now in 2009 Chavez has pushed this referendum through. It is surprising, however; that Chavez still had 47% of the voter turnout vote no. Since there is no large upper or middles class in Venezuela this means that a large portion of the lower class who is supposed to benefit from these reforms voted AGAINST Chavez. One must also pay attention to the media. Stations like RCTV and GLOBOVISION, were shut down for this vote (which was held on a SUNDAY). These two stations did a great deal of coverage in the 2007 referendum, where mass demonstrations took place in Universities at Caracas, and all over Venezuela. Many of these demonstrations turned violent and resulted in deaths. These demonstrations allowed people all over the country to see that there was resistance. During this election there was very little, if no coverage of these demonstrations. Although Bush was not classified as a dictator, laws like the patriot act, and his tax reforms sure sang a different tune. Perhaps the same can be said about Chavez, who may not be an outright dictator, but who has claimed that he will try to remain in power for as long as necessary to create his socialist regime.