Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
In today's New York Times, another devastating article about Venezuela, Hard Times in Venezuela Breed Malaria as Desperate Flock to Mines. Obviously this never should have happened. While the decline in oil prices was not Venezuela's "leaders'" fault, the squandering of resources on personal luxuries and revolutionary pot-stirring elsewhere was.
This is a needless tragedy. The Western countries will be asked to bail them out in one way or another. That is why I get upset when we are told "not to interfere" in these countries' affairs. To put i charitably, these countries are not ready for independence.
No government can convince people to do their best work for the sake of others. We will always work harder for the benefit of ourselves and those we love.
If taxes are too high, we work just enough to satisfy our needs and spend the rest of the time trying to figure out a way to get what we want without the government finding out what we are up to.
Very true. Oddly enough the people who promote socialist ideas the most tend to be those who contribute the least. For example. Bernie Sanders personal life was a train wreck before public office. Even now after over 2 decades of a 6 figure salary he has relatively little to show for his life.
In today's New York Times, another devastating article about Venezuela, Hard Times in Venezuela Breed Malaria as Desperate Flock to Mines. Obviously this never should have happened. While the decline in oil prices was not Venezuela's "leaders'" fault, the squandering of resources on personal luxuries and revolutionary pot-stirring elsewhere was.
This is a needless tragedy. The Western countries will be asked to bail them out in one way or another. That is why I get upset when we are told "not to interfere" in these countries' affairs. To put i charitably, these countries are not ready for independence.
Good article, Venezuela is in deep trouble. There are many reasons for their decline, mostly oil prices and the lack of alternative industries. People should note the limits and short sightedness of just pulling stuff out of the earth for profit.
We interfered plenty in South and Central America although not so much lately.
2001 - Venezuela's government decrees a new law requiring PDVSA, the state petroleum company, to hold a majority stake in all upstream oil projects.
2002-2003 - Chavez sacks about 20,000 PDVSA employees in light of the coup attempt, and begins using the energy company to finance social programmes.
2007 - Chavez takes control over four heavy oil products in the Orinoco belt worth billions of dollars. US oil firms Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips leave the country and sue for compensation.
2008 - Oil prices peak above $145 per barrel, and PDVSA is put in charge of a major food importing campaign to deal with supply shortages.
You can see that oil was the only product used to finance Chavez's endeavors.
Is there another choice? They aren't known for their diverse economy.
The Gini coefficient in Venezuela when Chavez came to power was only a tiny bit higher than ours is now.
They would've been better served to use the oil money to subsidize domestic food production and increase bottom end wages.
Very true. Oddly enough the people who promote socialist ideas the most tend to be those who contribute the least. For example. Bernie Sanders personal life was a train wreck before public office. Even now after over 2 decades of a 6 figure salary he has relatively little to show for his life.
Yep, anther example is Obamacare depended on the young to sign up but they didn't and Obamacare is failing.
The young realized that it was cheaper to pay the fine (tax) than it was to buy insurance. Obviously they don't support Socialism when it's coming out of their own pockets.
"Look at Norway."
"Yeah but look at Venezuela."
"We are not talking about Venezuela, we are talking about Norway."
"I am talking about Venezuela."
"Venezuela?"
"Yeah, what's Norway got to do with it?"
"What's Venezuela got to do with Norway?"
"Nothing"
"Something..."
"Nope."
"Yep".
" Yep Norway"
"Yep Venezuela"
"na, uh"
"Uh hu"...
I would say most people are not equipped to analyze a Chicago hotdog.
Take Cuba for example. There are a lot of problems with the Cuban Style of government to be sure, but to reduce all its problems to "communism" does not explain why it went communist in the first place , or take into account effects of a decades long trade embargo. if it goes "capitalist" its hardly going to matter compared to an open tourist industry. I don't think the Bahamas would be doing so well without its tourist industry no matter what government it had. ...Small well run states with good citizens of any kind are better than a basket case with the best government. Think Liberia is going to turn into Finland with a change in government? I could just as easily condemn democracy with Venezuela used as an example. They voted to raid the treasury did they not?
I would say most people are not equipped to analyze a Chicago hotdog.
Take Cuba for example. There are a lot of problems with the Cuban Style of government to be sure, but to reduce all its problems to "communism" does not explain why it went communist in the first place , or take into account effects of a decades long trade embargo. if it goes "capitalist" its hardly going to matter compared to an open tourist industry. I don't think the Bahamas would be doing so well without its tourist industry no matter what government it had. ...Small well run states with good citizens of any kind are better than a basket case with the best government. Think Liberia is going to turn into Finland with a change in government? I could just as easily condemn democracy with Venezuela used as an example. They voted to raid the treasury did they not?
The temptation to raid the treasury rather than to fix what is wrong is all to high.
Yep, anther example is Obamacare depended on the young to sign up but they didn't and Obamacare is failing.
The young realized that it was cheaper to pay the fine (tax) than it was to buy insurance. Obviously they don't support Socialism when it's coming out of their own pockets.
Obama Care, Sanders life style, are you guys on the right thread, this is Venezuela. Try to stay close to the topic.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
