THE AMERICAS: "Venezuela's term-limits referendum: Chavez for ever? The president has won a referendum to abolish terms limits. But the coming economic storm may make this a hollow victory," The Economist, 21 February 2009.

Weird, but it's in socialist Venezuela were the financial crisis puts a halt to nationalization plans and it's in capitalist America that it sets them in motion.

As the article points out, "oil is just about the only thing the country now exports," befitting the strong man's rise--i.e., connectivity is decreased AND narrowed.

I wouldn't expect Chavez to quit after 14 years come 2013. With Fidel exiting, he'll become the poster boy for the dictator "too important to the revolution to leave."

Meanwhile, inflation runs at 30%.