Venezuela Circling the Drain

There will soon be no going back for Venezuela.

They're stuck with Hugo Chavez for life in all likelihood now and the last vestiges of freedom are rapidly evaporating.

Expect the ugliness we highlighted yesterday to get even worse.

CARACAS (Reuters) - Congress passed President Hugo Chavez's proposal to scrap presidential term limits on Friday in a package of constitutional changes that Venezuelans are likely to approve in a December referendum.

Polls show many Venezuelans reject the moves to centralize presidential power, but welcome sweeteners the socialist leader has included, such as reducing the work day to six hours and giving social security to unregistered taxi drivers.

I wonder how long the work day will be at the re-education camps?

"Today is a black page in the history of this country," said legislator Ismael Garcia, whose party has broken with Chavez over the reforms.

The package also strips the central bank of its autonomy, gives Chavez control over international reserves, empowers authorities to detain citizens without charge and opens the way to censoring the media in so-called political emergencies.

Where are the leftwing media solons in this country decrying this?