In a lively presentation, Dr. Aguilera led us from the arrival of democracy in Venezuela in with the Pact of Punto Fijo in 1958, via the Caldera regime to the rise of populism under Chavez and Maduro. He sketched out the economic resources (often squandered) and the differences among the regimes. Maduro has faced greater economic problems with fewer resources to maintain political support than did Chavez. Venezuela, unlike much of Latin America, gained democracy early but has seen it deteriorate into recent chaos. The full notes are found at our archive site, http://www.AWAC.US.