Contrast Chavez with the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua. Nicaragua was under the iron boot of a dictator, Somoza, for many years. He was pro-America, it was the Cold War Era, and the US supported him. Through an armed insurrection, he was overthrown and the Sandinistas and Daniel Ortega took power.

Despite this, Ortega refused to follow the Cuban Benevolent Dictator model. Cuba was instrumental in supporting the Sandinista Revolution and in providing health care and teachers in its aftermath in helping the Sandinistas apply the program of educating and caring for the people. They also had, as a stated mission, the establishment of a multi-party system with free elections, and these took place under the eye of UNESCO. The Sandinistas were eventually voted out of power, but the democratic reforms they put into place remained, and they accepted political defeat and retired. But in the last election, Ortega was voted back into power, and the Sandinista Party is again at the helm.

Yes, I understand that the Sandinistas were opposed by the Reagan administration, wrongfully as it turns out. But my point is that revolutionary reform CAN be accomplished without resorting to Dictatorship. Nicaragua is a shining example of how successfully socialism coupled with democratic reform can work in a revolutionary environment.