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Mark Weisbrot headlined "Continuity Likely Even Without Chavez."
Last October, he was overwhelmingly reelected. PSUV candidates dominated regional and local elections. Nothing suggests near or intermediate-term change.
Weisbrot explained what other Times contributors omitted. He discussed vital social progress. Poverty was dramatically cut. Extreme poverty dropped over 70%.
Elevating Venezuelans "came from increased employment, not 'government handouts.' "
Millions got free healthcare and education for the first time. "Eligibility for public pensions tripled." In the last two years alone, "hundreds of thousands of (vitally needed) houses" were built.Throughout Chavez's tenure, "the private sector (grew) faster than the public sector."
"If you follow Venezuela and haven't heard this, it's because (media scoundrels provide) the equivalent of a 'tea party' view of the country."
Pre-Chavez years were "economic(ally) disast(rous)." From 1980 - 1998, per capita income fell. Chavez turned disaster into success.
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