Back in 1972 and 1973 in Chile, at the time of the Allende government, there was a wave of strikes involving truck-owners, businessmen and professionals, and some students.

This was widely presented in the media as being a defence of freedom against a tyrannical regime. It led up to the September 11 coup in Chile, which brought the Pinochet regime to power and ushered in a period of vicious repression, involving torture, and the killing of thousands of people. Backing from the USA was crucial in enabling this to happen.

I'm sure there are serious flaws in Venezuelan democracy under Chavez, as there was in Chile under Allende, and as there is is many other countries, including the UK and the USA. But I am equally sure that the regime that is likely to replace Chavez if it gets toppled will be vastly worse, as was the case in Chile.