Hugo Chávez died one year ago today and the firebrand leader's legacy -- "21st Century Socialism" as he called it -- is now driving Venezuela toward basket-case status. Widespread protests by college students over declining living standards, corruption, and out-of-control crime have roiled Venezuela since last month. Hundreds of people have been injured and at least 18 killed, most victims of Venezuela's repressive security forces. Yet today, even as those often bloody protests continue, Chávez's hand-picked successor Nicholas Maduro plans to lead extravagant  ceremonies to celebrate the memory of Hugo Chávez. The former Army paratrooper and coup leader died on March 5th, one year ago, after 14 years in office. In Venezuela, local media outlets report that two of Latin America’s high-profile leftist leaders will attend the ceremonies -- Bolivian leader Evo Morales and Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega. There will be a...(Read Full Post)