Once again, this time in a letter to the editor (Jan. 21), I see Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez referred to as a being like a tyrant, or as heard many times on TV, as a dictator. If hes a dictator, so is President Bush. Both were duly elected and both rule with a heavy hand. The biggest difference is Bush derives his power from the far-right religious bloc, the wealthy elitists and big business – energy and military contractors in particular – and Chavez gets his power from the common people.

Even after the corporations, oil conglomerates, the right-wing media and wealthy property owners conspired with corrupt military leaders and ousted him, the people rose up in droves and returned Chavez to his rightful office four days later without bloodshed. It seems strange also that, of all major countries, only the Bush administration welcomed those who ousted Chavez as a legitimate government. No wonder Chavez sticks his finger in Bush’s eye every chance he gets.

If only the federal government was as concerned about heat for the poor as it is about the poor getting aid from Chavez and making Chavez the villain.

Michael Shain, Jay