[Dr Lecter]

http://news.bbc.co.u...cas/6205128.stm

He's won this 3rd term in office. Apparently he got over 60% of the votes, and given that voter turnout in Venezuela is normally about 95 (yes, Western world, that is percent- not people). Just wondering, will the Western World EVER have an elected politician, that gets more than 50% of the votes or all voters (those that didn't vote and those that did). I was crunching the numbers a while ago, and I worked out that Tony Blair got 18% of the votes of the entire able-voting population. 18-fucking-%?

That's less than 1-in-5! Old Hugo is looking at over 1-in-2!

Now, let's start on the United States: Voter turnout in 2004 was the highest it had been since 1968, but it was still only 42.45%. That's terrible. I'm being serious, I wouldn't have expected that kind of turnout from anyone. Now, of this turnout Bush only got 51%. Now, remember Chavez got over 60% of a 95%(estimate since turnout is not yet known). Meaning bush has a score of: just over 1-in-5.

Why is it that a country has poor as Venezuela (including others such as Bolivia), can have a more democratic election two of the world's richest countries?

[J m HofMarN]

Voting in Latin America is a bigger deal, because 1 a lot of countries only just gained the right and 2 the people still think democracy can work and make their lives better and 3 the politicians still have to do enough to keep that belief alive.

In the US for about 1 or 2 generations after everyone got to officially vote in the 1800s voting was a big fuck off event. People got killed. You didnt have a campaign team, you had a mob whos job was to kick your opponents ass.

And its still the same in South America. Ever see Evita? People were seriously involved and there were real benefits doled out to the people directly by their elected government. There was also a lot more personality. Peron, Chavez, Lula, none of those guys and gals are just losers in suits.

But on the subject of Chavez, I love the guy.

[Jordan]

He's poo.

[Dr Lecter]

Oh damn, I bow down to your debating skills. I have no possible comeback to that. Shit, I've never seen such well thought out arguments, and such witty explains.

[Jordan]