A very old dear friend of mine spent 5 weeks in VZ, visiting her brother, who has lived there for decades, and her sister ( all born and raised in Canada) who lives there 6 months of the year.

Her experience with the people, the newspapers, the political debates, and sharing many a beer with VZ people, is very interesting to say the least. There definitely is much support for Chavez. She passed on this website, that claims to be unbiased, and endevours to report accurately, critique on only the facts, and make commentary on all the hot topic issues.

http://venezuelanalysis.com/

Many here may be aware of this site...I wasn't. It does seem to be unattached in any political bent, and from what little I read ( I easily get overwhelmed with info ), it is.

It certainly seems to confirm what my friend has been saying, that the western press and the opposition often take liberties with their reporting. She said that she read many newspapers, and saw articles that were critical of Chavez. It seems there is no doubt that the media is sharply divided along political lines, and that there is much more 'taking of sides' in some media, than in the US and Canada....Fox network, and CNN, NBC etc. It sounds like in VZ some are much more political than here in the west.

I have to say that, as much as we think we are getting the 'real view', we are getting the side that has a great aversion to anything 'Social (istic)' Many in certain countries use the Socialist label on Canada, just because we some of our policies are more social/citizen leaning.So take it all with a grain of salt.

Anyway, I have not read enough to take an opinion. I have, though, wondered why so many VZ's support Chavez. It is not because they are all banana heads, as some like to label them. It wouldn't surprise me if the different segments of society, and the split between Urban and Rural, are much the same as the US.........some very ignorant, some very right leaning, some very business oriented, some very social minded, etc., and some who don't give a damn.

this site is worth a visit.

Pen