It's not really.

This happens on every major country. Russian news is quite about Russia you know, Chinese and Brazilian are all self centred as well. And they all report major events and tragedies around the world, but each, choose its own tragedies to give that emotional tone you speak off.

[QUOTE="Rich3232"][QUOTE="Yusuke420"] Publicly? No, but in private talks with the heads of the respective governments, he basically gave them the green light to at least see how it goes. Expect no interferance from the feds on this. 

Yusuke420

I think it's already on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rwP3zj2GHc

[QUOTE="Adrianstalker"]

[QUOTE="kuraimen"] Before Chavez Venezuela got 1% of the income from oil. The other 99% was taken by foreign companies. Chavez managed to make 2 million people literate where before children were not allowed in school without papers. He brought doctors to poor communities that were forgotten. He reduced poverty from a staggering 60% which made Venezuela the poorest country in the region down to the 20%s. And you dare say Venezuela would be better. Sure crime increased but it wasn't low before either and no big change happens all at once. Chavez have dignity back to poor Venezuelans and fixed the country in large part. The work is not over but much more people are better now thanks to him and that's why they overwhelmingly supported him probably more than any other president in the american continent.nunovlopes

I would say that most of these "good stats" would be at a higher level without Chavez. Practically all Latin Americas had their social diferences improved, given that the last decades was one of the most prosperous in terms of economy in the region. Brazil has rised 30 millions into middle class, Chile is reaching first world HDI status, Peru is experiencieng steady and balanced economy growth, among other examples. None of those came with the price of an african war zone murder rate. 

Are you serious? There are slums in Rio that are completely controlled by warlords, only the Army goes there.

According to this link, Caracas is the 6th most dangerous city in the world, with cities from Honduras, Mexico and Brazil above it. In the top 10 you have 5 from Mexico, 2 from Honduras, 2 from Brazil and 1 from Venezuela.

I remember reading that study last year. Its a compilation of regional murder rates to which they set up this rank, but they used older data and don't tell the whole story

Brazilian crime rates have been on a steady improvement over the last 15 years, while Venezuelan rate its on the exact opposite side.

For example: São Paulo had a murder rate of 33 in 1999. Now it is below 10. Rio had its rate at 53 in 1999 now its 21.

Now look the Venezuelan case

In 1998 they had 4.450 murders nationwide. In 2011 there were 19.336 and 2012 it was 21.692 murders. Caracas just reached the 200 rate mark last year

According to the Venezuelan Violence Observatory ( who presented these data I posted above on their annual report )

"Killings have become a way of executing property crimes, a mechanism to resolve personal conflicts and a way to apply private justice."

Venezuela violence rise its a case on its own. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/9769897/Venezuela-murder-rate-soars.html

Do people still get thrown into jail for weed possession? Or just some community services? Does it hold on your record permanently?

Here in Brazil weed is illegal, but it won lead into jail if you get caught using it or holding, and if you play your cards right, no criminal records as well. But we still have a long way to go and I want to see weed completely legal as well   

[QUOTE="Adrianstalker"]

[QUOTE="kuraimen"] Before Chavez Venezuela got 1% of the income from oil. The other 99% was taken by foreign companies. Chavez managed to make 2 million people literate where before children were not allowed in school without papers. He brought doctors to poor communities that were forgotten. He reduced poverty from a staggering 60% which made Venezuela the poorest country in the region down to the 20%s. And you dare say Venezuela would be better. Sure crime increased but it wasn't low before either and no big change happens all at once. Chavez have dignity back to poor Venezuelans and fixed the country in large part. The work is not over but much more people are better now thanks to him and that's why they overwhelmingly supported him probably more than any other president in the american continent.-Sun_Tzu-

I would say that most of these "good stats" would be at a higher level without Chavez. Practically all Latin Americas had their social diferences improved, given that the last decades was one of the most prosperous in terms of economy in the region. Brazil has rised 30 millions into middle class, Chile is reaching first world HDI status, Peru is experiencieng steady and balanced economy growth, among other examples. None of those came with the price of an african war zone murder rate. 

Chavez did have direct influence on the elections of Evo Morales ( Bolivia) and Rafael Correa ( Ecuador). Albeit they have friendly relations with the current government of Brazil ( first elected in 2002) he didn't play a role at their election at all (Brazilian politics always goes solo on South America)

Chile and Peru, well, I don't think Chavez reach quite there too. Sure, there is always admires all along South America, but not enough to play the role as he did at Bolivia and Ecuador. Also, remind that these countries I first exampled, didn't change their constitution and went on a ideology streak that scared off exterior investments.

What I mean is that their economic improvement by nationalizing oil ( still highly fragile ) came with a price that no other Latin American country is paying. Yet, all Latin Americans countries have improved social standards on the same time period. Being left or not 

In short, Venezuela failed to diverse their economy when everyone else was doing it.  

[QUOTE="Adrianstalker"]

Colorado

 

I would kill for a home in Boulder

dagreenfish

Correct state, wrong city. Boulder blows.

Really? What makes so?

I can imagine it could be boring to grow up there since its quite small, but I was thinking just to lay back somewhere closer to the mountain edge and enjoy the summers. Being close to Denver, I could catch the bigger events if I want   

[QUOTE="Adrianstalker"]

Venezuela would be in such a better place if that man had lost that 98 election. Now a city like Caracas ended 2012 with a murder rate of 200 per 100.000 habitants. Largest in the world. A gigantic social war is going on. To have an idea, only in Caracas there were more murders than the whole United States last year.  

Their murder rate was around 147/100.000 just the other day. Seriously, are they looking to see where does the rate stop? One day, their poor will notice hopefully ( after all, they are killing themselves)  

kuraimen

I would say that most of these "good stats" would be at a higher level without Chavez. Practically all Latin Americas had their social diferences improved, given that the last decades was one of the most prosperous in terms of economy in the region. Brazil has rised 30 millions into middle class, Chile is reaching first world HDI status, Peru is experiencieng steady and balanced economy growth, among other examples. None of those came with the price of an african war zone murder rate. 

[QUOTE="Adrianstalker"]

Venezuela would be in such a better place if that man had lost that 98 election. Now a city like Caracas ended 2012 with a murder rate of 200 per 100.000 habitants. Largest in the world. A gigantic social war is going on. To have an idea, only in Caracas there were more murders than the whole United States last year.  

Their murder rate was around 147/100.000 just the other day. Seriously, are they looking to see where does the rate stop? One day, their poor will notice hopefully ( after all, they are killing themselfs)  

Bucked20

Yes it's insane. The nation murder rate ended 2012 at 73/100k. 2011 were 67. Enourmous either way

Surely there are peaceful small cities, but Caracas is hell on earth

Colorado

I would kill for a home in Boulder

Venezuela would be in such a better place if that man had lost that 98 election. Now a city like Caracas ended 2012 with a murder rate of 200 per 100.000 habitants. Largest in the world. A gigantic social war is going on. To have an idea, only in Caracas there were more murders than the whole United States last year.  

Their murder rate was around 147/100.000 just the other day. Seriously, are they looking to see where does the rate stop? One day, their poor will notice hopefully ( after all, they are killing themselfs)