I'm reading now the history of the rise of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela (as depicted in the book "Comandante") and I cannot shake the feeling that his rise (and rule) are not that different from what emerging autocrats in the western world are doing (or trying to do) these days.

The tale & fate of Venezuela should be a cautionary tale for all of us... Let's see if we can learn from the mistakes of others or we'll be doomed to repeat them ourselves...