> Socialist planned economies usually provided food, housing, employment, education, and medical care for free or at a subsidy. Socialist elites did live better lives, but they tended to be more modest compared to the ultra-rich excesses under Western capitalism.

This is patently false. Socialist regimes pay lip service to public services while keeping them in a disfuncional state where they exist only in name only.

> Chavez's terms over Venezuela proved to be very popular with the poor people of the barrios because he used state resources to raise their standards of living.

This is patently false to the point you surely are being disingenuous. I have relatives living in Venezuela and since Chavez and his cronies took over not only are they desperate to make a living but also the whole nation has been forced to fight for survival by any means necessary. One family member of mine died due to lack of medical care because the hospital couldn't even access drugs or medical supplies, and his immediate family is scrambling to get out of the country as soon as possible. Before you speak about the delights of socialist economies first get your facts straight.