Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez announced a series of measures Jan. 8 to change the face of the country’s economy and lead it further onto a socialist path.A series of “special powers” were requested from congress to reform Venezuela’s commercial legislation, and Chavez promised to end the Central Bank’s autonomy and to nationalize the Orinoco belt’s extra-heavy oil operations.Because the government’s party controls virtually 100% of the congress, there is little doubt that the legislature will grant the “special powers.”Chavez said that multibillion-dollar oil projects run by major oil companies should become state property.Si...