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I realize that there are still some on the far left who are infatuated with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, but I hope this makes them seriously reconsider their affection:

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- A congress wholly loyal to President Hugo Chavez approved a law Wednesday granting him authority to enact sweeping measures by decree.

Meeting at a downtown plaza in a session that resembled a political rally, lawmakers unanimously approved all four articles of the law by a show of hands.

''Long live the sovereign people! Long live President Hugo Chavez! Long live socialism!'' said National Assembly President Cilia Flores as she proclaimed the law approved. ''Fatherland, socialism or death! We will prevail!''

Chavez, who is beginning a fresh six-year term, says the legislation will be the start of a new era of ''maximum revolution'' during which he will consolidate Venezuela's transformation into a socialist society. His critics are calling it a radical lurch toward authoritarianism by a leader with unchecked power[...]

Vice President Jorge Rodriguez ridiculed the idea that the law is an abuse of power and argued democracy is flourishing. He thanked the National Assembly for providing ''gasoline'' to start up the ''engine'' of societal changes.

''What kind of a dictatorship is this?'' Rodriguez asked the crowd, saying the law ''only serves to sow democracy and peace.''

''Dictatorship is what there used to be,'' Rodriguez said. ''We want to impose the dictatorship of a true democracy.''

If you are a Chavez supporter not yet convinced, consider this: What would your reaction be if the US Congress had behaved similarly towards George Bush 4 years ago?

In politics, the means are as important - sometimes more important, even - as the ends. Dictatorships aren't acceptable simply because they may - and I stress may - sometimes produce positive results. If human history teaches us anything, it is that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

As for the whole "the dictatorship of a true democracy" idea, well... Orwell would have something to say about that, wouldn't he?