Brian Posted April 30, 2014 Anyone noticed what appears to be a slow-motion trainwreak currently underway in Venezuela? Any Bums there, from there or with close connections there? I'm wondering what the insider's perspective is... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Owledge Posted May 5, 2014 (edited) Forget the insiders perspective. If you encounter a very vocal Venezuelan internet-active person ranting about the evil government, it's just a sheeple. Well, I can give you a rich and concise answer, but it takes some time on your part. Since you seem inquisitive though, here you go: current events http://www.venezuelanalysis.com Starting with this one might be a good idea though: http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/10533 past events (for better understanding of current events) ("The Revolution Will Not Be Televised") The USA fucking everything up, as usual. Edited March 17, 2017 by Owledge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted March 17, 2017 Venezuela has a bread shortage. The government has decided bakers are the problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiverSnake Posted March 17, 2017 It's been happening for awhile now. People have been eating there pets for sustenance. https://www.facebook.com/TheFlama/videos/1017655304996872/ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Owledge Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) Venezuela has a bread shortage. The government has decided bakers are the problem. For comparison: https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/12986 The topic that's left open is whether those bakeries did it because they had trouble surviving financially (and if so, due to own fault?) or because they are capitalist-minded, so to speak. (A bakery having plenty of flour stocked sounds fishy, though.) It's interesting (and totally predictable) that the US press article completely ignores the fact the thing was initiated by customer complaints. that wouldn't fit the evil-government narrative. And of course the headline is deceptive. After all, to the masses, anything below headline is fine print. Edited March 17, 2017 by Owledge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted March 17, 2017 The beatings will continue until morale improves... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mig Posted March 17, 2017 they talked about them because is a strategic area as it is Ecuador, nobody talks about Bolivia or Central America countries, they are less important though they are having similar or worst problems. As for Central America countries, still old banana republics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelerner Posted March 17, 2017 Probably the only ones remaining are capitalist minded (ie make a profit). I assume ones run by the government went under years ago. The Marxist model of artificial price controls inevitably leads to shortages. Human nature plus the law of supply and demand are working against the Venezuelan government. Two forces that cannot be held back by bureaucrats or wishes. Marxism/Communism leads to financial ruin. Price controls sound like magical solutions and they work for a bit, then inevitably they back fire and create shortages. There are so many examples of Marxist and Fascist countries that have taken over land, factories/production and seen surplus's reverse themselves within a few years. It happens so regularly and predictably that this is Economics 101. That's not saying Unimpeded Capitalism is without problems, but Marxism is a quick guarantee of ruin. That's why the two largest communist countries, China and Russia, after literally creating conditions that starved millions of there own people turned to Capitalism, and saw life expectancies increase and dire poverty go way down. Brians OP request (for an honest answer from a normal citizen) would be dangerous for someone living there to answer honestly. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted March 17, 2017 Anyone notice the size of the government-mandated standard loaf, or what horrible thing they were using the misappropriated government flour for? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelerner Posted March 17, 2017 Anyone notice the size of the government-mandated standard loaf, or what horrible thing they were using the misappropriated government flour for? article in Owledge link said a standard Ven. loaf was mandated at 180 grams or 6.35 ounces. Kind of like a large roll. In the U.S a loaf of white bread is typically 16 to 22 oz. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiverSnake Posted March 20, 2017 https://www.facebook.com/thevalc/videos/592811137582228/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiverSnake Posted March 23, 2017 Meme money....wow. Surreal. http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/venezuelan-currency-slowly-getting-replaced-pepe-memes/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted March 23, 2017 Meme money....wow. Surreal. http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/venezuelan-currency-slowly-getting-replaced-pepe-memes/ An inflation rate like they are experiencing is essentially a flame-out; the only real question is how steep the glidepath is. Think of economies like the Weimar Republic or Zimbabwe... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted March 31, 2017 Venezuela's Maduro decried as 'dictator' after Congress annulled Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted April 20, 2017 For those who haven't been paying attention... The government just seized the General Motors factory. Protestors are being shot in the streets. After years of confiscating guns from the citizenry, the President has now promised to arm his supporters to help stop the opposition. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apech Posted April 20, 2017 For those who haven't been paying attention... The government just seized the General Motors factory. Protestors are being shot in the streets. After years of confiscating guns from the citizenry, the President has now promised to arm his supporters to help stop the opposition. That's crazy why didn't they go for Ford? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted April 20, 2017 That's crazy why didn't they go for Ford? Ford ceased operations in Venezuela last year and took an $800M pre-tax charge in its fourth-quarter, resulting in a billion dollar loss for Ford in Venezuela in 2014. Not long after that, Ford stopped accepting bolivars for cars and would only take dollars. GM ceased production in 2015, actually, but still have 79 dealerships there. (A side note: total production nationwide last year was less than 3000 cars, down from over 170000 in 2007.) GM has had a lawsuit stuck in the courts there for nearly 20 years. The government claims GM owes a dealership over $600M and this week they seized GM assets. GM had been Venezuela's #1 brand for the last 35 years. There's a whole list of companies which have pulled operations out of Venezuela in the last decade, as well as a bunch which have been seized by the government (which has also taken over much of the food production in the country -- hence the long lines for things like bread & milk). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted May 5, 2017 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/amp/venezuela-video-shows-armored-vehicle-rolling-over-protesters-n754891 Meanwhile, President Maduro declares everyone is happy and everyone must learn to dance: http://www.venezuelaaldia.com/2017/04/26/maduro-asegura-todos-estamos-felices-ordeno-bailar-video/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
