[crdoconnor]

>Sure, by stealing money from the people who have it and giving it to poor people

Largely by redirecting money from oil exports to anti-poverty programs.

Before he took power that money was mostly siphoned off abroad and by the upper classes.

Do you really think the country would have fared much better if this practice continued?

[gozur88]

The economy was growing under Chavez's predecessors. Yes, it would have fared much, much better. What he did with oil is less important than what he did to the rest of the economy. Chavez was lucky, in a way, because he died right about the time math caught up with his economic policies.

[crdoconnor]

Actually the economy suffered a massive contraction in the 80s when - surprise! - oil prices plunged. This is partly what led Chavez into power - mostly because while the country technically returned to growth - wages did not go up and unemployment did not go down.

Same cause last time as this time but last time was "all the fault of capitalism" and this one was "all the fault of socialism".