In 1950, Venezuela was the 4th richest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita, almost 12 times wealthier than China. In 1980, the country was still the 3rd richest in the Americas, behind only the USA and Canada. Today, in 2024, after 25 years of Chavista domination, the country is the poorest in South America, with almost 95% of the population living in poverty, and power is contested by a dictator who leads a drug cartel. This clearly shows how the people's poor decisions when electing their leaders can profoundly affect a country.