Changes

'''Situation under Chavez'''

'''Situation under Chavez'''

[[Image:Venezuela372.jpg|right|280px|thumb|Venezuelans under Chavez have suffered a loss of basic human rights.]]

[[Image:Venezuela372.jpg|right|280px|thumb|Venezuelans under Chavez have suffered a loss of basic human rights.]]

Chavez has shown a marked intolerance for fundamental [[human rights]] <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,276356,00.html Venezuelan Opposition Leader Demands Hugo Chavez Free Jailed Protesters], ''Associated Press'', May 30, 2007.</ref> and is accused of funding insurgent activity outside of Venezuela's borders.  Chavez has much control of oil revenues from Venezuela's state owned, state run oil monopoly.  While Chavez in public criticizes [[capitalism]], he has sought to manipulate oil prices above $60 per barrel for Venezuela's largest customer, the [[United States]].

Chavez has shown a marked intolerance for fundamental [[human rights]] <ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,276356,00.html Venezuelan Opposition Leader Demands Hugo Chavez Free Jailed Protesters], ''Associated Press'', May 30, 2007.</ref> and is accused of funding insurgent activity outside of Venezuela's borders.  Chavez has much control of oil revenues from Venezuela's state owned, state run oil monopoly.  While Chavez in public criticizes [[capitalism]], he has sought to manipulate oil prices above $60 per barrel for Venezuela's largest customer, the [[United States]].

The U.S. State Department's Report on Global [[Antisemitism]] also recently cited Venezuela for statements by "senior government officials supporting Iraq's [[Saddam Hussein]] and Islamic [[extremist]] movements" which "raised tensions and intimidated the country's Jewish community. There were several reports of anti-Semitic [[graffiti]] at [[synagogue]]s in Caracas and two reported threatening phone calls made to Jewish community centers. In August, President Chavez cautioned citizens against following the lead of Jewish citizens in the effort to overturn his referendum victory. Anti-Semitic leaflets also were available to the public in an Interior and Justice Ministry office waiting room." <ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm Report on Global Anti-Semitism] U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 5, 2005.</ref>

The U.S. State Department's Report on Global [[Antisemitism]] also recently cited Venezuela for statements by "senior government officials supporting Iraq's [[Saddam Hussein]] and Islamic [[extremist]] movements" which "raised tensions and intimidated the country's Jewish community. There were several reports of anti-Semitic [[graffiti]] at [[synagogue]]s in Caracas and two reported threatening phone calls made to Jewish community centers. In August, President Chavez cautioned citizens against following the lead of Jewish citizens in the effort to overturn his referendum victory. Anti-Semitic leaflets also were available to the public in an Interior and Justice Ministry office waiting room." <ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm Report on Global Anti-Semitism] U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 5, 2005.</ref>

*Carafano, James Jay (January 11, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/americas-progressives-are-so-busy-extolling-virtues-of-socialism-that-they-want-you-to-ignore-this America's progressives are so busy extolling virtues of socialism that they want you to ignore THIS]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

*Carafano, James Jay (January 11, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/americas-progressives-are-so-busy-extolling-virtues-of-socialism-that-they-want-you-to-ignore-this America's progressives are so busy extolling virtues of socialism that they want you to ignore THIS]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

*Adelmann, Bob (April 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/31905-socialist-misery-deepens-in-formerly-prosperous-venezuela Socialist Misery Deepens in Formerly Prosperous Venezuela]. ''The New American''. Retrieved April 2, 2019.</ref> Massive hyperinflation was present in the country.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (April 17, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/28769-starvation-suicides-increasing-under-venezuelas-hyperinflation Starvation, Suicides Increasing Under Venezuela's Hyperinflation]. ''The New American''. Retrieved April 20, 2018.</ref> Many non-Venezuelan [[liberal]]s had praised the nation's slide into this poor state.<ref>Kew, Ben (May 4, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/04/ten-influential-public-figures-praised-venezuelas-descent-socialist-hell/ 10 Famous People Who Praised Venezuela’s Descent Into Socialist Hell]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 5, 2017.</ref> However, many of the "opposition" did not want to truly end the socialist policies.<ref>Martel, Frances (May 17, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/17/former-un-security-council-head-in-venezuela-even-opposition-uncomfortable-defying-socialism/ Former U.N. Security Council Head: In Venezuela, Even Opposition Uncomfortable Defying ‘Socialism’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Venezuela's May 2018 presidential election was derided by many countries as a sham and an illustration of its descent into authoritarianism.<ref>Multiple references:

*Adelmann, Bob (April 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/31905-socialist-misery-deepens-in-formerly-prosperous-venezuela Socialist Misery Deepens in Formerly Prosperous Venezuela]. ''The New American''. Retrieved April 2, 2019.</ref> Massive hyperinflation was present in the country.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (April 17, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/28769-starvation-suicides-increasing-under-venezuelas-hyperinflation Starvation, Suicides Increasing Under Venezuela's Hyperinflation]. ''The New American''. Retrieved April 20, 2018.</ref> Many non-Venezuelan [[liberal]]s had praised the nation's slide into this poor state.<ref>Kew, Ben (May 4, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/04/ten-influential-public-figures-praised-venezuelas-descent-socialist-hell/ 10 Famous People Who Praised Venezuela’s Descent Into Socialist Hell]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 5, 2017.</ref> However, many of the "opposition" did not want to truly end the socialist policies.<ref>Martel, Frances (May 17, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/17/former-un-security-council-head-in-venezuela-even-opposition-uncomfortable-defying-socialism/ Former U.N. Security Council Head: In Venezuela, Even Opposition Uncomfortable Defying ‘Socialism’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Venezuela's May 2018 presidential election was derided by many countries as a sham and an illustration of its descent into authoritarianism.<ref>Multiple references:

*Llorente, Elizabeth (May 21, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/21/re-election-venezuelan-president-denounced-as-sham-calls-grow-for-more-sanctions.html Re-election of Venezuelan president denounced as sham, calls grow for more sanctions]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 21, 2018.

*Llorente, Elizabeth (May 21, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/21/re-election-venezuelan-president-denounced-as-sham-calls-grow-for-more-sanctions.html Re-election of Venezuelan president denounced as sham, calls grow for more sanctions]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 21, 2018.

*Ulmer, Alexandra; Rampton, Roberta (May 20, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-reaction/re-elected-venezuelas-maduro-faces-global-criticism-u-s-sanctions-idUSKCN1IM0CT Re-elected, Venezuela's Maduro faces global criticism, U.S. sanctions]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved May 21, 2018.

*Ulmer, Alexandra; Rampton, Roberta (May 20, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-reaction/re-elected-venezuelas-maduro-faces-global-criticism-u-s-sanctions-idUSKCN1IM0CT Re-elected, Venezuela's Maduro faces global criticism, U.S. sanctions]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved May 21, 2018.

*Casey, Nicholas; Davis, Julia Hirschfeld (May 21, 2018). [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/world/americas/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-sanctions.html As Trump Adds Sanctions on Venezuela, Its Neighbors Reject Election Result]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 22, 2018.

*Casey, Nicholas; Davis, Julia Hirschfeld (May 21, 2018). [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/world/americas/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-sanctions.html As Trump Adds Sanctions on Venezuela, Its Neighbors Reject Election Result]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 22, 2018.