It is time for the people of Venezuela to take a long, hard look at the current state of their country and what their flagging economy portends for their future. The truth is, President Chavez grossly mismanaged vast Venezuelan resources, using over a trillion dollars in oil assets for political purposes, rather than for the long- term benefit of the Venezuelan people. Under his leadership, daily production of the state-owned and managed oil company fell by nearly a million barrels a day. Meanwhile, Venezuela is experiencing record inflation, a devalued currency, widespread poverty and pervasive scarcity and shortages of basic goods.

History is replete with armed conquerors and brutal dictatorships. But great danger to liberty can also come from obscure corners. In fact, a new and high-stakes struggle has begun, one in which every American has a stake.