Venezuela

So, Hugo Chavez's proposal to change the constitution was narrowly defeated and he accepted the results of the election there. Hmm...I am now wondering if the right-wingers will stop calling him a dictator. There is obviously real democracy in Venezuela and the will of the voters is apparently respected.

But if Chavez had won, we would be hearing over and over that the elections were not fair, and there was fraud, etc etc. One can not have it both ways. Chavez's critics will have to accept the obvious. That Venezuela has a democracy and Chavez has been elected by fair elections in the past (monitored and certified by a committee chaired by Jimmy Carter).

Anyway, I am glad that the memorandum was defeated because it would not have been a good thing for democracy in Venezuela in the long run. And democracy is the best system for any country.