If the world is a better place when someone passes, it should be considered it good news. Death shouldn't be viewed as an absolute negative.

I mean, I hate to jump right to it, but was Hitler's death not good news? Surely there are people whose negative impact on humanity outweighs their positive impact.

(I'm not taking a stand on Chavez specifically, I just disagree with the absoluteness of your statement.)

I hear people make this claim. How does it make sense?

A negative times a negative makes a positive.

An evil person dying is a good thing.

The only thing worth debate is if the person is evil or not.

It is scary that people down vote this comment. It is very sad to realize that people think they are the right person to evaluate if someone is bad or if it is good. This kind of of black or white thinking is something I didn't expect here on HN. I would really recommend some people to read some Fyodor Dostoyevsky novels... before getting into politics here.

I would sincerely recommend: Humiliated and Insulted, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humiliated_and_Insulted

Stalin was having dinner with the party elite one night. Suddenly he clutches his chest, grunts, and collapses on the table. Everybody is quiet. A minute goes by. One of the men then yells out, "Yes! He is dead!" Stalin slowly gets up from the table, points at the man and says, "No, comrade, but YOU ARE."

Stalin died 60 years ago today. Do you care to revise your sentiment?