Hugo Chavez a threat to Democracy

Well this might be a little of the East Harlem topic. But there was allot of Latino leadership at the Chavez speech at the United Methodist Church at 86th and West end Ave, and I believe there is an important lesson to be learned. I had the benefit of going to hear Hugo Chavez speak last night. I was invited b several friends to hear Chavez speak and make my own mind up on the man. Well the verdict is in Hugo Chavez; President of Venezuela is a threat to democracy. But not the way the Conservatives in the country, the corporate interests or the Bush Administration would have him be.
Hugo Chavez is a threat to true democracy, because he is a Populist Demagogue. I believe that one of the most dangerous types of public figures is the Populist Demagogue. The Populist Demagogue appeals to the people, usually the poor and under represented, and offer them easy, quick solutions to their problems. They point to the issues of hunger, racism, social injustice and economic inequality and tell the people that there is an easy solution but that the "system", Admistration or whatever other group or term they want use isn’t going to solve these real issues. Like all good lies there is a germ of truth to their solutions, a good lie has enough truth to make it sound real, to make it feel possible, to make it feel like the better world of tomorrow is just over the next hill.
Chavez is a charismatic speaker, and like all true charismatic, his use of symbolism, romantic archetypes and emotion were present. This to me is very dangerous. He referred several times over as to his passion for his people, his passion for Latin America, his passion for social justice. Well the most heinous crimes committed are usually crimes of passion.
Now, I agree with many of the issues Chavez expounded on, but he offered no real solutions, no true concrete plan of action. There was nothing to of substance, but there was a lot of exciting rhetoric.
I am concerned that Jesse Jackson and Congressman Serrano were endorsing this man. Serrano had the good sense to leave early. I am concerned that there still remains a vacuum in the Latino leadership in the US and on the international scene. We don’t need leaders who wrap themselves in the imagery of George Washington; we need leadership that will embody, Thomas Jefferson.