Posted on 03/03/2007 8:39:09 AM PST by rellimpank
And you know what? What Hugo is trying to do is nothing new. If you go back and look at socialism and communism -- they never work! In the whole history of these forms of government, I have never seen anything good come from them.
But those who don't study their history are doomed to repeat them as the case probably will be here. It is going to really interesting to watch history repeat itself -- starting with fixing prices, taking control of industries and banning the outflow of wealth.
There is a wonderful movie out there called the "The Lost City" by and starring Andy Garcia, about Havana during Castro's takeover. This movie was in the works for many years before it was able to be made. An important story.
It is a must see for anyone interested in this period of Cuban/American history. The reviewers are right - Andy Garcia is a genius.
You are correct in your demographic analysis, but I don't think IQ is the issue, but education, exposure to resources, culture, etc.
Ethnicity is not the issue. Venezuela is as ethnically "diverse" a society as you'll find, and that includes their technical people, who are very talented.
As you say khnyny, its a matter of education and culture. It is a self-selecting group, in a way. The kind of people who work in engineering and oil company management tend to be top-notch anyway; of those, the kind who are willing to put their careers on the line to oppose a very popular dictator are in a league of their own. Brave, a bit stubborn, proud.
This is what has made the Cuban Americans so productive and successful in the US. Not just anyone comes here from Cuba; you have to want to be free badly enough that you're willing to put your life on the line. That natural filter favors a very particular kind of person, and we're the beneficiary of that filter.
Something similar is at work with Venezuelans. They are very proud of their country, they typically love their lives there. Most of them have never considered living anywhere else except maybe to get their post-graduate degree, and then its home to Caracas again. The ones I know are very surprised to find themselves in the situation they are in, but they put a brave face on it and forge ahead.
We're lucky to get them. And SauronOfMordor, you are right; Venezuela is losing the people who know how to get things done, who have the brains and the work ethic.
Excellent post, thanks for the insight.
I happen to think that "the natural filter" of which you speak, is a great term, and has pretty much always existed in this country. This "natural filter" has contributed to so much that makes the US what it is. A country of pioneers - creative, innovative, hard-working and I daresay it, brave.
I strongly disagree. They work GREAT -- for the people in charge. People whose only skills are political intrigue and butt-kissing get to live in lifestyles previously available only to the nobility. Even beyond that -- they get the power to order the deaths of any who displease them
What you have to understand is IT DOES NOT MATTER to the leadership that the regular people live in poverty. The only thing that matters is how the leadership lives
The reason why so many of the over-educated crowd are pro-Communism is that they have the arrogance to assume that THEY will be part of the Planning Class in the New World Order
I would be proud to invite any who would come. We need all of that kind of person that we can get. I would also invite the Rhodesian farmers and the South African middle class
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