Venezuela news

[Fife]

See your future.

Central planning doesn't quit; it doesn't decide, oh we are sucking, let's move back to the sticks.

[Speaker to Animals]

Venezuela is what you'd have gotten behind door number three had Americans elected Bernie Sanders. That type of shit always starts with good intentions. Eventually people are starving and the police are rounding up suspected dissidents.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Venezuela is what you'd have gotten behind door number three had Americans elected Bernie Sanders. That type of shit always starts with good intentions. Eventually people are starving and the police are rounding up suspected dissidents.

Yeah, because that's a binary choice. One minute it's public healthcare, the next you're being cattle-prodded for secrets.

[Calculus Man]

Communism cannot be implemented without totalitarianism. I really wish people would stop pretending that communism/socialism is just an economic system.

[Calculus Man]

I really have no idea why the people of Venezuela haven't revolted yet. Do they not realize nothing is going to change unless they change it?

It's your basic totalitarian communist police state, very, very difficult to actually revolt. One of the features of Communism is that they make it nearly impossible to trust anyone, including your own family member. Add to this control of all commodities, no one is allowed self-defense weapons and a Police force indoctrinated to beat down the populace and it makes it really tough.

Sounds oddly familiar. That ain't Communism, it's totalitarianism. Try to reach beyond your corporate-controlled mind-training.

Can you name one society in history that had communism but still retained its political freedom?

[jbird4049]

I really have no idea why the people of Venezuela haven't revolted yet. Do they not realize nothing is going to change unless they change it?

It's your basic totalitarian communist police state, very, very difficult to actually revolt. One of the features of Communism is that they make it nearly impossible to trust anyone, including your own family member. Add to this control of all commodities, no one is allowed self-defense weapons and a Police force indoctrinated to beat down the populace and it makes it really tough.

Aside from arguments about economics, Venezuela got into its current mess because of massive government corruption and the fall of oil prices which put an unexpected crimp in government revenues. If the government leaders stopped stealing so much and cracked down, they could start getting things running. However, greed is king.

Of course, the reason the current corrupt socialist government got into power is because of the former corrupt rightwing oligarchy that ran things. People are probably thinking both sides are corrupt, and they know about oil revenues going down, so why bother?

Also, I believe Hugo Chavez, the deceased politician who got the current party in power, was not very corrupt or even that incompetent. The relatives, and cronies, who replaced him, are different.

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

See your future.

Central planning doesn't quit; it doesn't decide, oh we are sucking, let's move back to the sticks.

Don't be so dang gloomy...

I am sure there are PLENTY of examples of states realizing they stepped in it and voluntarily giving up authority and power... right?

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

Aside from arguments about economics, Venezuela got into its current mess because of massive government corruption and the fall of oil prices which put an unexpected crimp in government revenues.

I also got the impression Venezuela's problem was more of an 'all the eggs in one basket' sort of thing. Not saying a command economy is a good way to manage affairs, but I am pretty sure they drop in oil prices would have crippled their economy and led to all sorts of problems no matter how it was organized.

[jbird4049]

Aside from arguments about economics, Venezuela got into its current mess because of massive government corruption and the fall of oil prices which put an unexpected crimp in government revenues.

I also got the impression Venezuela's problem was more of an 'all the eggs in one basket' sort of thing. Not saying a command economy is a good way to manage affairs, but I am pretty sure they drop in oil prices would have crippled their economy and led to all sorts of problems no matter how it was organized.

Yes true. The rampant corruption does make it much much worse. At least basic supplies and food would still be available.

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

Aside from arguments about economics, Venezuela got into its current mess because of massive government corruption and the fall of oil prices which put an unexpected crimp in government revenues.

I also got the impression Venezuela's problem was more of an 'all the eggs in one basket' sort of thing. Not saying a command economy is a good way to manage affairs, but I am pretty sure they drop in oil prices would have crippled their economy and led to all sorts of problems no matter how it was organized.

Yes true. The rampant corruption does make it much much worse. At least basic supplies and food would still be available.

Everyone's gotta get their VIG playa. Can't grease the wheels with morality.