I worked and lived in Venzuela for two years and this was before Chavez. There were never any shortages of food, fuel, or anything.
However, there was rampant corruption. This corruption is what caused the people to vote for Chavez. The public thought they had nothing to lose by voting for Chavez. They were unfortunately very wrong. It should also be noted that Chavez did win his first election honestly and was the will of the people. Chavez did not win the second election as it was stolen just as Maduro’s election was also stolen via vote fraud.
Chavez brought socialism to Venezuela. His reign also elevated corruption to new heights. This corruption will also be what ignites the revolution against Maduro. This revolution will be violent and ugly.
I have great compassion for the people of Venezuela. Most of them are good and just want an honest corrupt free government.
“It should also be noted that Chavez did win his first election honestly . . .”
That was after his failed military take over where he had snipers shoot demonstrators while he was holed up in the Presidential palace. But then the government let him go and look what happened.
“This revolution will be violent and ugly.
I have great compassion for the people of Venezuela. Most of them are good and just want an honest corrupt free government.”
I have none of your quaint views of the peoples of Central/South AMerica. Their culture is a mixture of Spanish culture just after it emerged from 700 years of Muslim slavery. During those centuries, too many of MadMo’s beliefs were absorbed.
Note that what in Muslim societies is called Bak’sheesh is La Mordita in Spanish. Yup - means “bribe”. And now you know why corruption is endemic south of the USA border.
Factor in the incredible brutalities of those Central?South American “indigenous peoples”, from their ceremonial rites to the cannibalism, and then add a bit of Muslim cruelty and one can easily understand why Central/South American sultures are different from America.
We are the final fruition of the Judao-Christian concept of the individual, specifically the responsible individual. They are the result of Europes most ahrsh version of Christianity alloyed with an overdose of Islam, with an admixture of Stone AGe cannibal culture.
Just one small point is soooo telling. Americans have homes with large glass windows. “Latino homes have a well developed tradition of iron bars over all doors and windows. They know each other, and in their cultures, the “other” steals whatever isn’t secured because they are from a culture where security in person or property is unknown.
Theirs is NOT a society derived from English Common Law.
SOrry, but culture is determinative. Venezuela has a culture which assures their present situation will be repeated.
As they will not accept the deficiencies of their “culture” and adopt the American model(the only society which provides such freedom and wealth), they are condemned by their choice to being Venezuelan. And Venezuelans with sore butts from nasty TP substitutes, too.
Culture really does count. Theirs is very different from American culture.
Their nation is accordingly different - and will remain so.
We have friends stuck in Venezuela. So corrupt it would make a RAT blush. Food deliveries are robbed along the roads, vendors have just about disappeared, Jews have had their property stolen, dissidents have lost their jobs/pensions and you cannot take more than $250 out of the country.
Some of the gov elites have been more successful in getting money out. Some were able to get out a few years ago...live in S. Florida and Colombia.
Rumors are rampant that 0bama will cancel their visas and deport them back to that hell hole.
And now it's here in the US.
“I have great compassion for the people of Venezuela. Most of them are good and just want an honest corrupt free government.”
I don’t think that is the case anymore. I think that most of the good and honest folks have escaped. There may be some that are left, but I’d wager most that could have left.