Violence in Venezuela

AP

OK, so we understand the roots of the unrest and dissatisfaction in Ukraine (http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2014/02/why-ukraine.html). Now what about Venezuela, a little closer to home? Protests there have turned increasingly violent. In what could be called the ultimate irony, one of the victims is Venezuela's Miss Tourism 2013 for her home state of Carabobo. The protesters are mainly students, but what's their complaint? Why has President Nicolás Maduro accused the United States of trying to destabilize his government? And who is Leopoldo López? (story, slideshow): http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/20/world/americas/venezuela-qa/
   "I'm tired of the politicians of both sides," said one protester. I think many of us in the States can relate to that sentiment.
   For a recent report on the situation and more explanatory notes, see (story, video): http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/world/americas/protests-swell-in-venezuela-as-places-to-rally-disappear.html