Food shortages, high inflation rates, protests and violence: you see these headlines today in a Google search of Venezuela. Throughout the country there are long queues to buy basic necessities, such as bread and milk. High inflation rates lead to food shortages, which increases frustration leading to street protests and, unfortunately, increased violence. The protests and violence stem from Venezuelans' inability to meet their families' most basic human needs. Skyrocketing inflation rates in Venezuela are the result of Hugo Chavez, the country's former socialist and revolutionary leader, and his administration. While in power, Chavez was so busy solving social problems in Venezuela that other aspects of the country were ignored, such as the economy. In 2014, Venezuela finds itself with a destroyed economy, angry people, and a government that is trying to solve the many problems the country currently faces; Although the government is committed to finding solutions, the Venezuelan people do not believe the government is solving the problems fast enough. Hugo Chavez was a powerful and positive force in addressing social issues, however, his singular focus on social issues at the expense of other issues in the country left the Venezuelan economy in tatters. In 1998, 50.4% of the Venezuelan population lived below the poverty line, while in 2006 the percentage dropped to 36.3% (Chavez leaves). While he has aggressively addressed Venezuela's poverty problem, many other problems have gotten worse. Some critics of Chávez say he has used the state oil company as a piggy bank for projects: financing housing and health care while neglecting infrastructure and oil production. Without growth in the oil sector... at the center of the document......an.com/world/2014/apr/04/venezuela-queues-food-ration-cards>.Martinez, Ibsen. "Chaos, Chavismo and telenovelas". The New York Times. The New York Times, April 8, 2014. Web. May 26, 2014. “Real News/Wilpert Part 2: Why Is Inflation So High in Venezuela?” News, opinions and analysis from Venezuela. Np, nd Web. May 26, 2014. “Venezuela.” Central intelligence agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 26 May 2014. .Voigt, Kevin, Simon Hooper, Maggie Lake, Paula Newton, and Jim Clancy. "Chavez leaves Venezuela's economy fairer, less stable." CNN. Cable News Network, March 6, 2013. Web. May 26 2014. .