Many Venezuelans Keep Faith in Their President Despite Hardships

Many Venezuelans Keep Faith in Their President Despite Hardships
By Alexandra Olson The Associated Press
Published: Aug 23, 2003


CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - A huge photo of a beaming President Hugo Chavez decorated an army truck as Venezuelan army soldiers unloaded hundreds of bags of food for the hungry and needy.
For $6, citizens walked away with powdered milk, beans, sugar, cornmeal and rice at half the cost they'd find at private markets. It's enough to convince many that Chavez is the best president they've ever had despite the worst recession in history.

"Chavez isn't going anywhere because he helps the poor," said Jesus del Carmen Vivas, 45, struggling with a bulging food bag. "When have we ever had a president who did anything for us?"

The army food market this week was part of a large encampment of government social services on a Caracas boulevard where Chavez plans to celebrate the halfway point of his six-year term with thousands of supporters.

With all the markings of a campaign inauguration, Chavez's fiesta this weekend follows an opposition march this week by hundreds of thousands demanding a recall vote on his presidency. Opposition leaders turned in more than 2 million signatures to request the referendum.

Undaunted, Chavez plows ahead with his "Bolivarian Revolution," a variable mix of socialism and free markets that seeks to benefit the 80 percent of Venezuelans who live in poverty. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAZLYQ8PJD.html

Employ the entire country to build sidewalks. Tax rate on the rich will be between 70-90% Government has an income from the rich, there is full employment with programs such as WPA and the bithching stops.