i lived through the rise of chavez with my friend. back when i was going on and on about clinton, she was worrying about him taking power in venezuela, and then he was elected. he used class warfare. you see that same thing being used here as well by obama and company. with the election of obama i keep waiting for people to wake up here, but then i talk to her and she said people are still going about their every day lives, going out for coffee and pastries, kids stopping in after school etc. people try to cling to the semblance of normalcy and familiarity, no matter what the gov’t is doing.
It is much like the way Hitler took power in Germany. It all starts with economic depravity and a desperate public. Eventually, they will accept any government so long as they can survive and benefit.
Chavez took control by offering an elite class of government and special rights and favors to those who comply. Money and power was distributed to the faithful. Those who protested or disagreed were ruined, destroyed and often executed. The very last control mechanism is FEAR and ultimate power over life and death; And who wields it.