On the Venezuelan Constitutional Referendum

Hugo Chavez is in the process of putting the final pieces of his "socialist paradise" together in Venezuela. On Sunday, the people have been asked to vote for constitutional amendments that will do away with presidential term limits, end the right to be tried by an independent tribunal, allow the president to declare emergency rule indefinitely, and allow for the censorship of news organizations.

The New York Times has a piece describing the growing opposition to Chavez's power grab. Unfortunately, I am afraid it is too little, too late; Chavez's political machine is far too big to lose at this point. I hope that the people can eventually wrest control away from their new totalitarian dictator. Otherwise, there is a high probability that the vast wealth of oil found within Venezuela's borders will be squandered.