its a shame chavez didn't do more to build the country up and improve self sufficiency instead of handing out welfare to indians through the good years, they really missed an opportunity over there
This issue is not just limited to Venezuela. Almost all the Latin American governments are like this. They play with populism, showering the voters with unviable subsidies and freebies. Still, I am sad with what happened to Venezuela. That country had the potential to become one of the richest nations in Latin America, due to the vast mineral resources (petroleum, natural gas, bauxite.etc).
Chavez did his part pretty well. When he assumed power, a large part of the Venezuelan population was living in slums and shanty towns, in horrible conditions. He improved the healthcare and municipal amenities in these settlements. He even brought doctors from Cuba to serve the poor people. But unfortunately, he was a complete failure in persuading these slum dwellers to work. They liked his freebies, and they wanted them forever.
So rather than spending the money in improving the education and infrastructure, Chavez spent most of it in providing free gasoline and food for the rural population. That is where he failed.
Your own description of the events seems to prove that he did a truly terrible job, instead of "doing his part pretty well."
Somewhere in there is the socialist principle that the nature of man can be changed, and that he can work for the common good. Maybe, do you think, he believed this, and had to find out the hard way? That people only strive to better their own selfish interests?
Personally I view that as a reality to use, and therein to better society and civilization, instead of something to suppress or criticize.