http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1849215,00.html?cnn=yes

"For some countries there is a fear far greater than an economic recession: political turmoil. Iran, which earns 80% of its revenues from oil exports, set this year's budget on the assumption that oil would trade at $90 a barrel � a figure which seemed conservatively low until recently, but which is now above the world price. "If the price stays there a while Iran would cut spending," Priddy says. That might include cutting heavy gas subsidies for Iranian drivers, who have rioted in the past when the government tried to ration gas or raise the price at the pump. Hugo Chavez could face similar problems in Venezuela if oil prices drop below $75 a barrel � the rate at which the country calculated this year's budget. The problems lower prices could cause in those countries could be more visceral than those posed so far by the current financial upheaval."

Seems to me all we can do, same for any country including our own, is hope the people of Iran and Venezuala set their sights on the rotten politicians propped up before them.

I believe it is a fact that most people on this planet prefer peace. But it's also a fact people can only be pushed so far before becoming really pissed off and doing something aobut it.

As far as the MSM. Yeah. That's been obvious for decades.

ps

This is an oil rich nation, too. But one would never know it by looking....

As a nation we don't benefit from a free press, we suffer from free advocacy.

The media tries to formulate opinion, not report events in a factual manner.