Opinion
Little by little, but systematically, the government has been engaged in making things very awkward for most Venezuelans. Increasing insecurity; high cost of living; continued glitches in public utility services; legal uncertainty in relation to our property; unexplainable mismanagement of the economy; an education pointing to our children's mediocrity; dangerous meddling in third countries' internal affairs; systematic defense of the guerrillas; unfulfilled promises, such as housing or eradication of poverty; more and more deficient public health, and so on.

The rationale provided by those who circumstantially lead this government, with the revolution serving as an excuse, yet they are a pack of helpless, is no more satisfactory. Everything points to a nice plot so that those at odds with this project either stand it and keep quiet or leave. The shutdown of media outlets critic of the government and censorship via terror of the remaining ones that are still open is another way of making us feel that living in Venezuela makes no sense. Chasing of dissenting political leaders –sometimes to imprison them for a while and then release them- also endangers the whole population.

The latest polls found that the popularity of President Hugo Chávez and his administration is going downhill. Such findings reinforce the assumption that since there is no way to persuade most people, then they are working hard to make those voicing disagreement go away and leave them alone. This scheme was successfully implemented elsewhere, from the dictatorships in the Southern Cone, to Chinese communism, European and African dictatorships, to, for 50 years, Castro's Cuba. The old Cuban leader managed to wipe out half of his opponents via firing squads or escape. It is up to us. Either we abide by this government mission or resist.
unaiamenabar@hotmail.com

Translated by Conchita Delgado