A reflection on a country I once called home.
“Chávez said he would put an end to poverty. What he’s really doing is putting an end to the poor.” — Venezuelan woman, UCAB research interview
Introduction
I wrote this paper during my time in junior college—back when I thought things in Venezuela couldn’t possibly get worse. Nearly two decades later, this reflection remains one of the most personal pieces I’ve ever written.
Born and raised in Caracas, I lived through Venezuela’s political transformation firsthand. What began as a democracy slowly unraveled into a system of control, corruption, and economic crisis. This essay explores that journey—from my own lived experience and through the words of two very different authors: Eva Golinger and Nikolas Kozloff.
A Country in Crisis
Venezuela is currently experiencing the most extreme recession in its history. The root of this economic disaster lies not only in the current government but in the difficult transition from democracy to socialism. And with every political shift, the people—ordinary Venezuelans—have been the ones paying the price.
So the question remains:
Has socialism helped or harmed Venezuela’s citizens?
Rafael Caldera and the Rise of Chávez
Rafael Caldera served as president twice and was a key figure in Venezuela’s early democracy. He granted amnesty to guerrilla fighters during his first term—and decades later, he extended that same mercy to Hugo Chávez, the man behind a failed coup who would eventually become president in 1998.
Chávez rose to power with the promise of justice for the poor. But many years later, even his supporters began to question: Where was the progress?
Two Books, Two Views
To better understand Chávez’s impact, I explored two books:
📘 The Chávez Code by Eva Golinger
A passionate defense of Chávez, focusing on U.S. interference in Venezuelan politics. Golinger argues that Venezuela was a victim of imperialism and suggests that socialism was never truly given a fair chance.
However, she ignores the domestic issues that shaped daily life for citizens—like food insecurity, corruption, and rising violence. Her sources are heavily biased, and her arguments often deflect rather than confront the country’s failures.
📙 Hugo Chávez: Oil, Politics, and the Challenge to the U.S. by Nikolas Kozloff
A more balanced portrait of Chávez’s rise and fall. Kozloff traveled through Venezuela, engaging with citizens, students, and activists. He documented not only Chávez’s speeches and political maneuvers but also the stark contrast between revolutionary promises and harsh realities.
Though Chávez pledged to lift people out of poverty, the streets told another story.
Where Did the Oil Money Go?
Despite oil profits soaring above $10.5 billion a year, Venezuela’s poverty rate increased more than any other country in Latin America. Why?
Because of corruption.
Because of a lack of transparency.
Because the people weren’t prioritized.
Billions of dollars vanished into secretive programs, while scandals like the infamous “briefcase of $800,000” made headlines. Meanwhile, families were going hungry.
Ignored Realities
Golinger’s work says little about these crises. Instead, it pins the blame on the United States. But for those of us who lived it—who lined up for basic goods, who watched the power shut off, who left loved ones behind—it was never just about foreign policy.
It was about the betrayal of a dream.
What the Numbers Say
Two major trends defined Venezuela’s collapse:
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Rising inequality
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Falling per capita income
According to the Gini coefficient, Venezuela became one of the world’s most unequal societies—worse than Brazil, worse than South Africa. And the wealthy elite? Many had already fled to Miami, leaving the country in the hands of a government with no accountability.
My Final Thoughts
Both Golinger and Kozloff offer valuable insights—but neither lived the reality I did. Neither stood in line for milk, neither walked home in the dark, hoping the lights would still be on.
Chávez promised change. But promises don’t feed families.
And so, I’ll keep writing.
I’ll write for those who can’t.
For the neighbors I left behind.
For the country I still carry in my heart.
If this reflection resonated with you, feel free to leave a comment below or connect with me via email.
This is part of a larger conversation I hope to continue—with honesty, memory, and a deep love for the people of Venezuela.
Poems From The Kitchen Table 
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