Posted on 10/30/2019 6:19:13 PM PDT by Libloather
CARACAS, Venezuela — Motorists in socialist Venezuela have long enjoyed the world’s cheapest gasoline, with fuel so heavily subsidized that a full tank these days costs a tiny fraction of a U.S. penny. But the economy is in such shambles that drivers are now paying for fill-ups with a little food, a candy bar or just a cigarette.
Bartering at the pump has taken off as hyperinflation makes Venezuela’s paper currency, the bolivar, hard to find and renders some denominations all but worthless, so that nobody will accept them.
Without cash in their wallets, drivers often hand gas station attendants a bag of rice, cooking oil or whatever is within reach.
“You can pay with a cigarette,” said Orlando Molina, filling up his subcompact Ford Ka in Caracas. “Heck, it’s no secret to anyone that it goes for nothing.”
Gas is so dirt-cheap that station attendants don’t even know the price. Emptyhanded drivers get waved through, paying nothing at all.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehawkeye.com ...
Yeah, if it wasn’t accompanied by starvation, little electricity, no toilet paper and medical facilities closing down.
If you pay for your gas with a cigarette, just make sure it’s an unlit cigarette. Otherwise, there could be a flammable combustion of consequence.
What can be wrong with a country where gas is virtually free!
Socialism.
So what does the gas station owner pay his supplier—the government—with? Cigaretts?
Yeah, with a little ingenuity, you can become your own virtual barter mill in a Socialist paradise. A broker of reallocated surplus inventory. Savvy?[/sarc]
I may vote for Fauxcahontas if she promises free petrol. Oh heck yeah.
It’s free gas if you can find a gas station that has any.
Indigo Traveler is a youtube channel by a guy from New Zealand who travels to third world hell holes and provides a non-political look at the everyday lives of the people.
Good stuff. Here is a link to the first of a dozen videos he made on a two week stay there this past summer.
INSIDE VENEZUELA - JUNE 2019 (Surreal experience)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN5LZR4ejkg&list=PLN0FlxE6vY5DStG-4au_6WRpE27l31rNR
A nation whose voters expect virtually free gas is not ready for self-governance.
Yeah but when you go inside for a Slurpee...$3500!
Even if the gov supplies the fuel for nothing...
how does he support his family, his employees?
But their money is so worthless gas stations won’t take it.
Gas was incredibly cheap in Baghdad (if you could get it). Life was cheaper than the gas.
And free health care too?
It is 425 pennies per gallon here in the San Fernando valley.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.