[Dan Evans]

Critics say reform has failed to revive Venezuela's agriculture industry, which does not produce enough food to satisfy domestic demand. The government has been forced to import food amid shortages of staples such as meats, milk and sugar.
"If Mr. Chavez really wants to help Venezuela's poor farmers, he must offer them technical assistance and sufficient financing because land doesn't become productive without investment," said opposition leader Alfonzo Marquina. "We're only seeing increasing shortages and more expensive products."

What a surprise. The practise of collectivizing property didn't cause that to happen in the Soviet Union, North Korea or Cuba did it?

[listenhillary]

workers would share profits

What profits? Why would a collective stab it's own citizens by overcharging them to earn profits?

(/sarcasm)

[Pearls Before Swine]

I didn't see this coming. What a surprise!

[M203M4]

...his government fully respects private property, but..."everything I do from now on is going to make you think I don't, so don't worry"

The dreaded but.

[6SJ7]

The government has been forced to import food amid shortages of staples such as meats, milk and sugar.

Ragnar Danneskjöld, where are you?

[GSlob]

well, this idiocy will collapse under its own weight, and pretty soon - unless someone bumps off this pineapple, in which case it will collapse even sooner.

[Zeppo]

Yep, but it doesn't look like that will stop him. Coming soon - forced relocation of both peasants and professionals to collective farms, five-year plans, gulags, and fawning New York Times reporting about the progress made under his benevolent reign... That is, until he gets the full Ceausescu treatment...

[Obie Wan]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm,maybe I'm jumping to conclusions here,but I'm beginning to suspect Chavez is a communist. Nah,he can't be,Joe Kennedy thinks he's great !!!

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Since the reform began five years ago, officials have redistributed over 1.9 million hectares (4.6 million acres) of land that had been classified as unproductive or lacked property documents dating back to 1847, according to a recent government census."

Anyone have any idea if the bar set by this date is too high or is it reasonable?

[randog]

...pledged to replace capitalist ideals with socialist principles on cooperatives such as cattle ranches and farms.

Maybe his buddy Mugabe can train him on his world-class 3-step Farming For Socialists:

1) Drive out or kill everyone that knows how to grow food;
2) Give the farms to people that don't know how to grow food;
3) Drive out or kill the reporters that are writing about the ensuing mass starvation.

[Army Air Corps]

Chavez/Venezuela Ping

Latin American Left Ping

The wank Chavez hurtles headlong into rabid stupidity.

[rlmorel]

[RedStateRocker]

Each generation has to find out the follies of socialism for itself. We've done some unpleasant things in South America but nothing compared to what they are about to do to themselves, I fear.
I really would like the next presidential debate to include a question about the Monroe Doctrine (however I am not so sure I would like the answer)..
just my .02

[The Great RJ]

Venezuela is on its way to the economic success enjoyed in Cuba and Zimbabwe. Watch for a massive exodus of skilled workers and business owners.

[popdonnelly]

The communist bastards are back.

[Fiddlstix]

Communism hasn't worked in the past.....
But.........
What the hell........
Try it one more time........
Geeez!

[popdonnelly]

No wonder the American Left likes Chavez. He's a communist.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

its the 1st annual Hugo Chavez Birthday Party and Share the Wealth Kegger !

[machman]

"Surprise, surprise, surprise!"

[M Kehoe]

Over 70 years of socialism and communism failing, and here comes another Wesley Mooch thinking he can do it better than Lenin, Mao, and Castro (among others). And the democRATs love these failed tyrants.

I guess I'll pop some popcorn and watch Venezuela follow Zimbabwe down the road to oblivion...

5.56mm

[the anti-liberal]

"It's property that belongs to everyone and it's going to benefit everyone.."

I might go down there to visit (for the weather, of course), I'll go to his place and make myself at home.

You don't think he'll mind, do you?