spanish have a very long history of "King of the Hill" rulerships
(those who successfully brutalize their opponents, rule)
i haven't seen news citing gov workers in Venezuela living like the rich, but can assume they have been doing so
Venezuela btw has been in the news for making "verbal economic threats" to USA
Hugo Chavez was a communist who said "Welcome Commodore Obama"
i believe he was also the s.a. pres. who seized many private owned oil wells in the name of the State - which he then took millions out of for personal spending