Reply #107: You're completely missing my point [View All]

which is that 1) undemocratic ends can be arrived at by democratic means and 2) that regardless of what the people want, if Chavez were truly a democratic ruler, he would be opposed to the idea of what amounts to the possibility of lifetime rule. I'm not even saying that he should ban it or prevent a vote on it or anything. If the people of Venezuela want lifetime Chavez rule, they're entitled to it. However, I think that if Chavez were the democratic person he says he is, he wouldn't *want* these powers for himself.

Since you keep comparing this situation to the US instead of judging it on its own merits, think about it this way: if Bush wanted a constitutional amendment to allow his administration to govern until 2027, would you think it were some kind of pro-democracy initiative even *if* it had broad popular support? I think not.