Chávez’s policies have evoked controversy in Venezuela and abroad, receiving anything from vehement criticism to enthusiastic support. The government of the United States claims that Chávez is a threat to democracy in Latin America.^[3] Many other governments sympathize with his ideology^[4] and/or welcome his bilateral trade and reciprocal aid agreements.^[5] In 2005 and 2006 he was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.^[6][7]