[xoxoxoBruce]

Chavez is doing what every despot had done.
Not enough food? Never mind that, we have to mobilize to defend our country against Yankee Imperialism.
No jobs? Never mind that,......
No this, no that, no other thing? Never mind that,.......

Create a common enemy and a perceived threat, make the people think they are not just doing without, they are sacrificing for the cause... the common cause.

Unfortunately this is easy to do in South America because of the many forays down there by the US government in the past.