Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez wields considerable influence in Latin America. Aside from the countries aligned with policies that he favors and supports (i.e., Bolivia, Ecuador, and, to some extent, Nicaragua), Chavez is directly or indirectly part of the political debate in other Latin American countries.Perhaps with the sole exception of the US president, there is no other political figure who is as well known and whose policies are talked about as much in the whole region. Chavez says his aims are to help the poor and redress inequalities, but what is subject to debate is the means he proposes to achieve that end and whether those means are sustainable over the long term.Obstacles a...