Tag Archives: Venezuela

Following the crisis in Venezuela (because it can happen in the U.S.A.)

Posted on by
Reply

Thanks to the Communist-Socialist ascendency in Venezuela, what was once the wealthiest Latin American country now has many of its people adjusting to shortages of food, water and life-giving energy needed to heat and light their homes and neighborhoods. Common prescriptions and life-saving medicines are almost impossible to obtain there. Widespread hopelessness has led to a spike in suicides. Can this happen in the United States? The answer is: Yes.

Venezuela should be a warning to all who are mesmerized by socialists like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Socialism, and those who sell it will wreak havoc on our nest eggs and living standards. Look at the buying power of those who have worked hard and saved their money in Venezuela. Their life savings will hardly buy a loaf of bread due to hyperinflation. This is not opinion. Investigate for yourself.

In Venezuela there is nothing

This Venezuelan woman holds a sign that says, “In Venezuela there is nothing.”

Beware of politicians that promise “free” stuff like college tuition or healthcare or other shiny giveaways in return for votes. U. S. Senator Cory Booker has recently proposed that the government force taxpayers to award payments of $50,000 to poor people as a means of raising them out of poverty. Don’t be weak – don’t take that poisoned bait. If somebody gets something “free” it is because somebody else worked hard to pay for it, or will have to in the future. Think of it this way, you work hard year after year, but under socialism someone else in government decides that you are too successful and that some lazy ass shit is entitled (in the supposed causes of fairness, equality, and social justice) to what you have worked so hard to earn. (Of course, not all people in poverty are “lazy ass shits,” but there are many.) Or perhaps this or that politician and his supporters argue that needy refugees are entitled to the wealth you have worked so hard for and saved. A reason will always conveniently be found to argue why government planners are more qualified to control the assets of its citizens. Your wealth used to be your property, but under socialism, your property will be controlled and squandered by the state. Large scale redistributions of wealth lead to large-scale decreases in productivity – everyone in that society becomes poorer. This increases equality not in luxury, but rather equality in poverty.

To put it in simple terms, essentially socialists put their faith in government to solve societal problems which is done at the expense of freedom and individual and local decision-making. Opposite the socialists are those who want to place finite limits on the power of government. They do not put blind faith in politicians and bureaucrats because history teaches that rulers with too much power become tyrants and abusers of the people. These anti-socialists instead value individual liberty, and understand that the free association of individuals into charities etc. is a much more effective means of improving society.

Mountains of garbage in the capitol city of Caracas

One result of the socialist government’s mismanagement – mountains of garbage are accumulating in the streets of the capitol city of Caracas.

In 2013, when President Nicolás Maduro was elected, one of his campaign promises was that he would approve an increase in the minimum wage that would be between 38% and 45% by the end of the year. What Maduro and most of the people who have supported him do not understand is that wage increases without corresponding productivity increases will lead to inflation. In Venezuela it is even worse than that – the socialist government’s takeover of private industry and the gross mismanagement of it has led to a large-scale decrease in productivity. Under these self-inflicted circumstances wage increases will never keep up with monetary hyperinflation. Venezuelan money is practically worthless. This has destroyed the life savings of any and all Venezuelans who have worked hard and saved.

Below are excerpts translated from a Spanish-language website. Notice the obviously flawed rhetoric that focuses on the ethical and moral reasons for imposing socialism – the desire for greater equality. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Well it only took 14 years for Hugo Chavez and his socialists to ruin the lives on 32 million Venezuelans.

Excerpts:

Bolivarian Socialist Project leaves hunger and misery in Venezuela
Thousands of Venezuelans migrate to Latin American countries in search of better living conditions

Since 1999, Venezuela has suffered from the deterioration of its productive system, as a result of the application of social, economic and political programs that, far from favoring the lives of its citizens, have left them submerged in conditions of critical poverty. This process of economic collapse, initiated by the ex-president Hugo Chávez has its continuation in the government plan of the current president Nicolás Maduro Moros, with its disastrous consequences for the 32 million Venezuelan inhabitants.

Little by little more Venezuelan citizens were added to the Chávez government, in view of the need to live in conditions of social equality … by a socialist model that would provide everyone conditions of social equality.

The focus of Chávez’s government program was based on the full realization of 21st century socialism… through the ethical and moral rebirth of the Venezuelan nation. This restructuring had at its roots the fusion of the values ​​and principles of the humanist currents of socialism. Its ultimate goal was the supreme social happiness for every Venezuelan. (Ahhhh…. dream on….)

In 2013, Venezuelans were overwhelmed by a deepening economic crisis, which has left them unemployed, victims of organized crime, facing the loss of the purchasing power of the monthly salary of families, extremely high inflation and no food supply and of medicines. Currently, a significant number of Venezuelans are unable to meet their primary needs and live in conditions of extreme poverty.

Here are some English-language stories that will help explain what has been going on with Venezuela.

https://www.csis.org/analysis/venezuelas-presidency-jeopardy

https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/suicides-surge-in-a-hopeless-venezuela#gs.0aGIqWI

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-femsa/femsa-to-lay-off-2000-venezuela-workers-amid-crisis-union-idUSKCN1MW2G9

https://www.apnews.com/ffce652508c44d4184d88a921b582709

When reading this keep in mind that Chavez came to power in 1999 – coincidence?:

http://elpitazo.info/reportajes/sin-servicios-miguel-gladys-sanchez-se-nos-va-la-vida-esperando-llegue-agua/

Ocasio-Cortez: ¡Viva el socialismo!

Posted on by
Reply

So, the pretty, young Latina is a blazing star that has the left-wing media foaming at its mouth. Ocasio-Cortez may have opinions, but she is not a well-informed person when it comes to politics and socialism as a matter of policy. But she is photogenic. She has a nice smile. In other words, she is nothing short of a superficial know-nothing. She has pretty much proved this every time she has opened her mouth. It is telling that this hollow political candidate is so highly celebrated by the progressives in media, academia and Hollywood. It is a reflection on them.

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez

Ocasio-Cortez is a socialist candidate for Congress from New York. She will have lots of coaching in the future, but it has been pretty obvious that there is very little, if any, substance behind her slogans, pronouncements and platitudes.

Human nature will always be at work when it comes to flirting and sometimes embracing socialism. A large percentage of people simply cannot resist the temptation of “free” stuff, whether it’s the promise of free phones or healthcare or college tuition or whatever. This is because a large percentage of the population is ignorant of history and economics. But in this type of mind, the history and economics of socialism and its effects are unimportant – in fact they don’t count. What counts is how irresponsible politicians stimulate their imaginations to think how things could be (but never will be).

As far as socialism and electing socialists is concerned, a socialist is another word for a statist – one who thinks the state should be used to regulate people’s behavior down to the minutest detail in order to bring order and prosperity, etc. to the community as a whole. The problem is that those who you hand over the reins of socialistic power to are flawed human beings like everyone else. And as Lord Acton pointed out, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Once a people forfeit their individual rights to the rights of the state, which is also one result of socialism, they often lose their ability to change the government that has begun abusing them.

One only has to turn to Venezuela to see the ruinous effects of socialism. Many people there no longer have access to the basics for survival like bread and medicine. There has been a surge in Venezuelans committing suicide. Young mothers have turned to prostitution to support their families. People who want to reverse societal decay are murdered or imprisoned by their government and its cartel friends.

Several Americans have contributed to this humanitarian tragedy by their support for the late Venezuelan dictator who started it all, Hugo Chavez. Where are these boosters of socialism now? (Oliver Stone, Sean Penn, Michael Moore)

Will someone in the media ask Ocasio-Cortez why socialism has not worked in Venezuela? Doubtful. Jimmy Kimmel? Alec Baldwin? Maybe Rachel Maddow? Not that long-ago Venezuela was the wealthiest of all Latin American countries. Now it is a land of misery and starvation thanks to the socialist government there. But the Venezuelan people are reaping what they have sown. The socialist Hugo Chavez was democratically elected by the people. When Chavez asked for more dictatorial power the people gave it to him. Venezuela is yet further proof that democracies are capable of committing suicide. This should be a warning for all to see. Resist socialism. Save the United States from the fate of so many others who were tempted by the false promises of socialism.

Frotho

 

Mom Daughter flee Venezuela

A mother and her daughter flee Venezuela – “I’ll walk in my broken shoes.” Thanks to socialist President Nicolas Maduro and his cronies, nearly 2 million people have fled poverty, hunger, crime and hyperinflation in Venezuela since 2015.

P. S. Here’s what some very smart people have observed of socialism and it’s kindred forms governing  –

“Socialism is a wonderful idea. It is only as a reality that it has been disastrous. Among people of every race, color, and creed, all around the world, socialism has led to hunger in countries that used to have surplus food to export…. Nevertheless, for many of those who deal primarily in ideas, socialism remains an attractive idea — in fact, seductive. Its every failure is explained away as due to the inadequacies of particular leaders. ”                           ― Thomas Sowell

empty shelves venezuela

Empty store shelves in Venezuela. The reality of the socialist dream. History tells us over and over again that government-imposed price controls lead to scarcity every time.

“Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in constraint and servitude.” – Alexis de Tocqueville

“There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make them equal. While the first is the condition of a free society, the second means as de Tocqueville describes it, ‘a new form of servitude.’” – Friedrich von Hayek

“No government of the left has done as much for the poor as capitalism has. Even when it comes to the redistribution of income, the left talks the talk but the free market walks the walk. What do the poor most need? They need to stop being poor. And how can that be done, on a mass scale, except by an economy that creates vastly more wealth? Yet the political left has long had a remarkable lack of interest in how wealth is created. As far as they are concerned, wealth exists somehow and the only interesting question is how to redistribute it.” ― Thomas Sowell, Controversial Essays

“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples’ money.” –Margaret Thatcher

“It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.”   –Thomas Sowell

“Everyone may be called ‘comrade,’ but some comrades have the power of life and death over other comrades.” ― Thomas Sowell, Knowledge And Decisions

Ludwig von Mises:

“The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.”

“The state can be and has often been in the course of history the main source of mischief and disaster.”

Mises correctly identified a temptation that many people find too hard to resist – “the illusion that socialism will make them richer.”

Frederic Bastiat:

“Government is the great fiction through which everyone attempts to live at the expense of everyone else.”

Venezuela in my thoughts and prayers today.

Posted on by
Reply

Today is the swearing in of a new National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela. Violence in the streets is possible. The socialist revolution has been a dismal failure – it has obliterated the economy of Venezuela, once the wealthiest nation in Latin America. The voters rejected the socialist catastrophe by electing a supermajority of opposition members to the Assembly, but President Maduro is using his allies on the Supreme Court to prevent three members from being sworn in, claiming voter fraud. A crisis is looming large in Venezuela today.

The people of Venezuela desperately need relief from the socialist nightmare. Hopefully this will be a turning point. Meanwhile in America, approximately 40% to 50% of the voters favor more socialism and will vote for the Democratic candidate for President this year.

One Maria Isabel Sanchez  reporting for AFP news has written one of the most ridiculous reports about the crisis in Venezuela. This reporter is either ignorant of the socialist policies that have led to this crisis or she is a socialist partisan masquerading as a journalist.

Junius

The Price of Oil and World Peace

Posted on by
Reply

ALI AKBAR DAREINI of the Associated Press reported this today:

“TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that the sharp fall in global oil prices is the result of ‘treachery,’ in an apparent reference to regional rival Saudi Arabia, which opposed production cuts.

“Oil prices have plunged by more than 40 percent since June to around $65 a barrel, placing severe strain on Iran’s economy, which is already hobbled by international sanctions imposed over its nuclear program. An OPEC meeting last month failed to reach agreement on production curbs, mainly because of Saudi opposition.

“Rouhani told a Cabinet meeting Wednesday that the fall in prices is at least partly ‘politically motivated,’ the result of a ‘conspiracy against the interests of the region, the Muslim people and the Muslim world.’ His comments reflect concerns among Saudi Arabia’s rivals that the kingdom is capable of withstanding the revenue losses and is forcing lower oil prices to damage their economies.

‘Iran and people of the region will not forget such conspiracies, or in other words, treachery against the interests of the Muslim world,’ he said”.

Of course, the fanatical Mullah of Tehran is once again spewing a pile of hateful nonsense. If the West, particularly the American government, with the help of “Big Oil,” wanted to manipulate the price of oil against the interests of the “Muslim world” it would have done so long before now. No Mr. Rouhani, it’s not a conspiracy by non-Muslims against Muslims, it’s called capitalism. Fracking technology has created an oil boom. Entrepreneurs and investors see an opportunity to make money in a free and lawful market and go after it. Maybe you should try it sometime!

If Iran has all of its eggs in one basket, whose choice was that? Who runs things in Iran? I think the Mullahs of Tehran need to self-examine instead of blaming others for their own shortcomings.

The fact is that the oil boom in America has happened in spite of President Obama and the Democrats anti-fossil fuel strategy. Obama has tied up XL Pipeline, and made it harder to obtain permits to drill on federal land. Most of the increase in U. S. oil production has taken place on private land. In other words environmental extremists and their friends in the Obama administration have been propping up the price of oil to the benefit of some of our most notorious antagonists such as the governments in Iran, Venezuela and Russia.

The price of crude oil on the world market has been in a free fall. The price of West Texas crude closed today at $60.94/bbl. (Jan. 2015 delivery), down from a high of $107/bbl. in June. Today alone, the price of crude oil declined 4%.

While most American consumers may enjoy extra spending money as the price of gasoline drops, the precipitous drop in oil prices is shaking up the world, potentially making it a far more dangerous place. The Venezuelan people who were already suffering an economic calamity before the drop in oil prices are worthy of our sympathy and the current Venezuelan government with Maduro at its head, and which relies so heavily on oil to fund its operations probably will not survive.

Iran is under great strain at present and continues to develop its nuclear weapons program. Will the huge revenue loss cause Russia’s Vladimir Putin to do something rash like invade Latvia or Finland?

I’m not an expert on oil markets or international relations, but my survey of the current scene leads me to the two following conclusions – The recent massive drop in oil prices is not helping the prospects for world peace. Also, the petty dictators that rely on oil as their main source of revenue do their people a great disservice as they neglect to diversify their economies.