>>19
Most improvements are due to grass roots action, not ideology, personality cults or the centralized state.
Chavez didn't improve working conditions or increase benefits, the Venezuelan people did, they would have still put pressure on the government to make these concessions without him. Chavez was just one of many politicians who wanted to get into power by making these promises, and power corrupts, to beat the competition he needed to do favors to get money for political campaigning, break promises, make only token efforts to cut costs, cater to extremists for their votes, use logical fallacies and use emotional appeals.
What about ideology? I can imagine socialism had some influence in promoting grass roots action, however it was definitely not Chavez's brand of socialism, neither was its influence significant compared to practical motivations.
Remove Chavez or socialism from the equation and not much happens.
Wouldn't that go for any ideology?
Yes?