The voters in Venezuela chose poorly. Elections have consequences.
They chose poorly once with Chavez and his first election. As in all communist countries all subsequent elections are fixed. As with all communist countries this error is only corrected at the end of a gun barrel or economic collapse or both.
I lived in worked in Venezuela for two years back in the seventies. When I left Venezuela the price of oil was 20 dollars a barrel in inflation adjusted dollars. Today oil is 50 dollars a barrel. In 1973 the grocery stores were full of anything you wanted to buy. The hospitals and pharmacies were fully stocked. There was a vibrant and expanding middle class. Life was damn good in Venezuela and we had the highest standard of living in South America at the time.
Corruption was rampant in Veneauela. Due to the peoples disgust with the corruption they voted Chavez into office. Chavez was a Marxist and applied Marxist philosophy and economic dogma to Venezuela. As a result Venezuela today is a failed state.
It must be repeated that compared to the oil revenue in 1973 in constant dollars Venezuela is now receiving more income in constant dollars today than in 1973.
The current price of oil did not send Venezuela into economic and political chaos, Maxism did it.
Given the present state of governmental dictatorship that survives only at the point of a gun, it will only be resolved at the point of a gun. When the government no longer has the funds to keep those with the guns loyal their guns will then be turned around and pointed at the government.
As horrid as the conditions are in Venezuela today, I assure you it will be much worse in the future.
The one question in doubt is when it is over will democracy return or military dictatorship return.
A great deal of blood has run in Venezuela over the past 5 years. This blood will be but a small fraction of which that will be shed over the 2 years.
I know the "mostly good people" of Venezuela. I fear for their future sacrifices, pain and most assuredly much death.