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A Hollow "Revolution" for Many Venezuelans

Seven years after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez first took office, an event commemorated earlier this month, many are still waiting for the "revolution." Chavez has spent much of this month warning of a possible U.S. invasion, preparing a citizen army, and lambasting President Bush. His rhetoric has made him a darling of leftists worldwide, but ordinary Venezuelans are growing increasingly frustrated with the country`s inadequate housing, under-resourced public hospitals, and damaged roads - bringing into question Chavez`s claim to be "for the poor".

Chavez said Sunday he may seek to lift presidential term limits to allow him to run for a third term in 2013, and maintains a high domestic approval rating despite actually doing little for his self-proclaimed "revolution". He currently has no viable challenger in the presidential election scheduled for December 3rd of this year.

"Chavez is transferring responsibility for Venezuela`s problems to America and Bush," says Luis Petrosini, an economics professor at the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello. Petrosini has voted for Chavez twice. This is only one example of many backing up polls which show Chavez`s support slipping slightly in recent months. With many of his staunchest supporters - known as "Chavistas" - wondering when they will start seeing more improvements in their daily lives, the time may come when Venezuelans ask for Chavez to make the revolution reality, rather than ramp up the rhetoric.