These IOUs ballooned over years of democratically elected but rampantly corrupt governments. That impoverishment produced the charismatic Chavez's overwhelming triumph in 1998 elections. And despite the wave of protests, he has sustained high personal popularity ratings, especially among the poor. His government opened Venezuela's antiquated telecommunications industry to foreign investors and, despite its anti-imperialist rhetoric, wants more investment in manufacturing and mining. Chavez or no Chavez, this South American nation of 24 million, rich in oil and other natural resources, simply doesn't have the money to pay its workers.
Millions struggle to survive each day.
And Venezuela's discredited opposition has no one to offer any alternatives. Caracas' Metro subway workers say they, too, will stop the trains. Not everyone supports the strikes. Add to the mix a crime wave that led Chavez to deploy National Guard troops to the streets, and Venezuelans live a life in which many don't know if the subway will run, the schools will open or pay raises will come in. The only thing the government has are the dreams of the people.