Globalisation has left some people facing dilemmas for which history is no guide. Steve Bradshaw for BBC World News series Life on the Edge asks what President Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution means to two young professionals.
Globalisation has left some people facing dilemmas for which history is no guide. Steve Bradshaw for BBC World News series Life on the Edge asks what President Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution means to two young professionals.
Florencio and Yurani are professionals Venezuela cannot afford to loseShould I Stay or Should I Go? When Florencio hums the famous tune by the Clash, he is not thinking of a girl, despite the twinkle in his eye. No, the bearded psychiatrist, the kind of guy his country so desperately needs, is thinking of Venezuela.
Florencio and Yurani are professionals Venezuela cannot afford to loseShould I Stay or Should I Go? When Florencio hums the famous tune by the Clash, he is not thinking of a girl, despite the twinkle in his eye. No, the bearded psychiatrist, the kind of guy his country so desperately needs, is thinking of Venezuela.
And when his friend Yurani, a physician in a children's hospital, searches the supermarket shelves in vain for fresh milk, and has to settle for an $8-pack of powdered milk, she is wondering whether to leave the country she loves, too.
And when his friend Yurani, a physician in a children's hospital, searches the supermarket shelves in vain for fresh milk, and has to settle for an $8-pack of powdered milk, she is wondering whether to leave the country she loves, too.
Florencio Quintero and Yurani Gomez Gutierrez are young professionals Venezuela can't afford to lose.
Florencio Quintero and Yurani Gomez Gutierrez are young professionals Venezuela can't afford to lose.
They don't like rising prices, street crime, poor working conditions, and they are worried about the future.
They don't like rising prices, street crime, poor working conditions, and they are worried about the future.
Bolivarian Revolution
Bolivarian Revolution
Many of their friends, colleagues and ex-classmates have already left the country and Florencio and Yurani are wondering whether to join them. But it's not an easy decision to make.
Many of their friends, colleagues and ex-classmates have already left the country and Florencio and Yurani are wondering whether to join them. But it's not an easy decision to make.
President Chavez often delivers speeches near images of BolivarAfter all, they are not latifundistas, scions of the old-time ranching families, or bankers, entrepreneurs or opposition politicians. They are doctors, and they want to help the poor and the underprivileged.
President Chavez often delivers speeches near images of BolivarAfter all, they are not latifundistas, scions of the old-time ranching families, or bankers, entrepreneurs or opposition politicians. They are doctors, and they want to help the poor and the underprivileged.
They have put helping society before making money.
They have put helping society before making money.
But hang on, isn't this what Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez trying to do?
But hang on, isn't this what Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez trying to do?
His Bolivarian Revolution, and Venezuela's form of socialism, is based on populist policies aimed at helping the poor.
His Bolivarian Revolution, and Venezuela's form of socialism, is based on populist policies aimed at helping the poor.
But our young doctors are not so keen on the way it is all panning out. Yurani loves working in the children's hospital, but feels she can't help as many kids as she would like.
But our young doctors are not so keen on the way it is all panning out. Yurani loves working in the children's hospital, but feels she can't help as many kids as she would like.
"I don't have the medicine, I don't have the resources," she says.
"I don't have the medicine, I don't have the resources," she says.
Social project
Social project
Yurani's brother and his family has already left Venezuela.
Yurani's brother and his family has already left Venezuela.
"They found in another country better education for their children," she says. "Their children can also walk the street safely."
"They found in another country better education for their children," she says. "Their children can also walk the street safely."
Florencio is also pulled both ways: "We have a lot of beautiful things here in my country," he says. But he is worried about his future, and that of his clinic - not to mention the president's whole Bolivarian Revolution.
Florencio is also pulled both ways: "We have a lot of beautiful things here in my country," he says. But he is worried about his future, and that of his clinic - not to mention the president's whole Bolivarian Revolution.
Until not long ago all that oil money was used to benefit the elite Omar Orsini, co-ordinator, cooperative complex President Chavez has often been criticised for concentrating too much on socialist ideology and affairs in other countries, rather than tackling real problems at home.
Until not long ago all that oil money was used to benefit the elite Omar Orsini, co-ordinator, cooperative complex President Chavez has often been criticised for concentrating too much on socialist ideology and affairs in other countries, rather than tackling real problems at home.
Critics have also accused the president of authoritarian tendencies.
Critics have also accused the president of authoritarian tendencies.
Watching a TV announcement that President Chavez's weekly show has been cancelled, Florencio says he is disappointed not to be watching him "talking and talking - this enlightened man," a remark so good-humoured that even its intended target might raise a smile.
Watching a TV announcement that President Chavez's weekly show has been cancelled, Florencio says he is disappointed not to be watching him "talking and talking - this enlightened man," a remark so good-humoured that even its intended target might raise a smile.
We visit one of the government's social projects, a cooperative complex at the heart of a Caracas slum. Yurani, who has been invited along, is clearly impressed by the complex's modern free health clinic.
We visit one of the government's social projects, a cooperative complex at the heart of a Caracas slum. Yurani, who has been invited along, is clearly impressed by the complex's modern free health clinic.
But she wonders why the government can't do the same with the old hospitals and clinics, such as the ones that she and Florencio work in.
But she wonders why the government can't do the same with the old hospitals and clinics, such as the ones that she and Florencio work in.
Omar Orsini, the co-ordinator of the centre, explains that it is funded by the national oil company.
Omar Orsini, the co-ordinator of the centre, explains that it is funded by the national oil company.
"Until not long ago all that oil money was used to benefit the elite," he says. "What we want is to have a society where everyone improves."
"Until not long ago all that oil money was used to benefit the elite," he says. "What we want is to have a society where everyone improves."
Mr Orsini is a supporter of the government's socialist programme.
Mr Orsini is a supporter of the government's socialist programme.
But Florencio worries that government officials too often believe that you are either for the revolution or against it.
But Florencio worries that government officials too often believe that you are either for the revolution or against it.
"I don't think that is quite real - life is made of grey tones," he says.
"I don't think that is quite real - life is made of grey tones," he says.
Free education
Free education
Chavez backers, or Chavistas, say the revolution will lead to social equality - his critics argue it could turn him into a Castro-like autocrat.
Chavez backers, or Chavistas, say the revolution will lead to social equality - his critics argue it could turn him into a Castro-like autocrat.
Many people in the shanty towns have benefited from the social programmesTo many sympathisers, Chavez is part of a new wave of Latin American neo-socialism - from Chile's Michelle Bachelet and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the more like-minded Evo Morales in Bolivia.
Many people in the shanty towns have benefited from the social programmesTo many sympathisers, Chavez is part of a new wave of Latin American neo-socialism - from Chile's Michelle Bachelet and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the more like-minded Evo Morales in Bolivia.
President Chavez has set out to construct an alternative model to the US-style free market capitalism, neo-liberalism, and a whole bundle of policies globalisation has brought in its wake.
President Chavez has set out to construct an alternative model to the US-style free market capitalism, neo-liberalism, and a whole bundle of policies globalisation has brought in its wake.
What is remarkable about this, is that full-blooded socialism - of the kind lauded by Chavistas - has not exactly been on a winning run elsewhere in the world.
What is remarkable about this, is that full-blooded socialism - of the kind lauded by Chavistas - has not exactly been on a winning run elsewhere in the world.
So the decisions of Venezuela's young doctors have a resonance far beyond the hills surrounding Caracas.
So the decisions of Venezuela's young doctors have a resonance far beyond the hills surrounding Caracas.
The Bolivarian Revolution was always going to anger some people - but what if it loses the support of young professionals devoted to helping both their own families and the poor?
The Bolivarian Revolution was always going to anger some people - but what if it loses the support of young professionals devoted to helping both their own families and the poor?
Minister of information Andres Izarra pointed out that many professionals leave the country because they are tempted abroad by higher Western salaries. Since we filmed in the country, there has been a rise in public sector salaries.
Minister of information Andres Izarra pointed out that many professionals leave the country because they are tempted abroad by higher Western salaries. Since we filmed in the country, there has been a rise in public sector salaries.
Speaking about the doctors who have already left the country, the minister says: "Those doctors have had a free education in Venezuela, so in a way we are subsidising the development of the rich countries."
Speaking about the doctors who have already left the country, the minister says: "Those doctors have had a free education in Venezuela, so in a way we are subsidising the development of the rich countries."
Some patients in our doctors' hospitals - like Betty Roblez - are deeply grateful to the government.
Some patients in our doctors' hospitals - like Betty Roblez - are deeply grateful to the government.
Betty, who was given Venezuelan citizen after fleeing its troubled neighbour Colombia, has learned to read and has more free healthcare than before.
Betty, who was given Venezuelan citizen after fleeing its troubled neighbour Colombia, has learned to read and has more free healthcare than before.
Yet Yurani and Florencio are still unsure: Should they stay or should they go?
Yet Yurani and Florencio are still unsure: Should they stay or should they go?
"If ... we don't have enough freedom and (this) really begins to be a socialist place like Cuba, then I will get out of here," says Florencio. "But right now, I choose to stay in my country."
"If ... we don't have enough freedom and (this) really begins to be a socialist place like Cuba, then I will get out of here," says Florencio. "But right now, I choose to stay in my country."
Yurani stresses that it is a personal decision: "If you want money, of course, it's very good to leave the country. If you don't, if your preferences are about family, love, friends or whatever, maybe you should think about staying."
Yurani stresses that it is a personal decision: "If you want money, of course, it's very good to leave the country. If you don't, if your preferences are about family, love, friends or whatever, maybe you should think about staying."
Life on the Edge is broadcast on BBC World News on Tuesdays at 1930 GMT. The films were made for the BBC by TVE.
Life on the Edge is broadcast on BBC World News on Tuesdays at 1930 GMT. The films were made for the BBC by TVE.
