A couple points to make here:
1. There are many good points here about Venezuelan leadership under Maduro leading to very poor outcomes for ordinary Venezuelans.
I do not have enough information to add to the richness of this conversation beyond, a leadership vacuum does exist.
2. However, other than Gulley here, I have yet see in one post the influence the US has had on the Venezualan people and leadership for the last two decades. Just as we have done in just about every country in the southern hemisphere that explores a more leftist desire to run their country (socializing industry, protecting natural resources, and attempting to manage new monetary policy), the US wins out.
Here are just some examples --- do we blame all of the global left's leaders or can we find an understanding that contributes to their demise? This list really makes Russian electoral accusation pale in comparison. Nonetheless, we might consider how mass migration and hyperinflation can be manufactured to coincide with all of the foibles of an existing regimes weaknesses. Its not rocket science, the CIA has been doing this for a while now.
US Foreign Policy Intrusions (William Blum, 2004)- Killing Hope
1. China - 1945 to 1960 (Mao)
2. Italy - 1947-48 (Italy's Elections brought to you by Hollywood)
3. Greece - 1947-1950's
4. Philippines - 1940's/1950's (US oldest colony)
5. Korea - 1945-1953
6. Albania - 1949-1953 (Kim Philby - proper English spy)
7. Iran - 1953 (Mossadegh - Rise of the Shah)
8. Guatemala - 1953-54 (assassination of Arbenz)
9. Costa Rica - Mid 1950's
10. Indonesia - 1957/58
11. British Guiana - 1953-1964
12. Vietnam 1950-1973 - Hearts and Minds
13. Cambodia 1955-1973
14. Laos 1957 - 1973 Clandestine Army
15. Haiti 1959-1963
16. Ecuador 1960-63 Dirty Tricks Textbook
17. Congo 1960-64 Assassination of Lumumba
18. Brazil 1961-64 Introducing Death squads
19. Peru 1960-65 Fort Bragg moves to the jungle
20. Dominican Republic 1960-66 - Killing another leader
21. Cuba 1959-1980 - Trying kill Castro
22. Indonesia 1965 - liquidating Sukarno
23. Uruguay 1964-70 - Torture as US export
24. Chile 1964-1973 - Chicago Boys, Removing Allende
25. Greece 1964-74 - US says Fuck your parliament and constitution
26. Bolivia 1964-75 - Tracking Che in the land of the coup d'etat
27. Iraq 1972-75 - Covert Missionaries
28. Zaire 1975-78 - Mobutu and the CIA
29. Jamaica 1976-80 - Kissinger's ultimatum
30. Libya 1981-1989 - Reagan' plan
31. Nicaragua 1978-1990 - Destabilization policy in slow motion
32. Panama 1969-1991 - Double Crossing our drug supplier
33. Afghanistan 1979-1992 - America's Jihad
34. El Salavador 1980-1994 - Human Rights - Washington style
And there have been many more not listed here during this period, which does not include the most recent cases of US military, aid, and subterfuge from the CIA.
One is particular -
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/us-role-honduras-coup-and-subsequent-violenceIn ending, while I agree there are hundreds of dictators and authoritarian leaders across the world misrepresenting their political ideologies, we must not lose the context of the herculean tasks involved just to keep the political arm in power for long enough to enact change. With the US stated policy as protecting their southern cone from "communist influences" since 1944, I am not sure the US or their media outlets are the best people to judge dictatorships at this point in time (see El Douche):
And this is what a new leader who opposes a fascist right wing crony capitalistic state has to deal with:
1. Protect their economy from capital's interference --- not easy at all in this global economy even though they will lose out in the long run
2. Avoid being assassinated -- so many pieces to this that affect a country's ability to function
3. Find global partnerships for Trade
4. Solve problems ordinary people --- at some point this gets to be the reason for removing the "dictator" or violent repression
--- no mention of the violence or pressure from the US though?
With all due respect here to any changes that need to occur in Venezuela, the absence of discussion about how the US has been salivating for this moment for decades, and how many resources have been committed to this project that are unknown to the public should be cause for some concern.
Maybe not?