It's amusing how now 1st world westeners are so concerned and fired up about governmet overreach and oppression.

I happen to know a thing or two on the matter as in Venezuela EVERY LITTLE THING has been tried and tested for 25 years.

We marched, we voted, we raised our voices, protested, denounced, we collected firms, petitions... aaaand, we got killed, we got robbed, tortured and silenced and it has been all in vain, but why? Simply because we though, as you do now, that they are willing to listen, that there is some sense in them. There isn't.

You are fighting an asymmetric battle and the other side is several steps ahead. In other words...