Are you? Because their biggest customer sanctioning their oil only had minor effects right? This is what we do to countries who want to use their resources for themselves, rather than be exploited for pennies on the dollar by our corporations. Its why we invaded Grenada, it's why we supported the Mujahideen in the middle east. Economic control.
Listen buddy, I'm no fan of the US government, check my comment history if you're not convinced. But what's going on in Venezuela is entirely self-inflicted. The Chavez period saw the largest oil revenue in the entire history of the country, and although some of the social programs created by Chavez were good, there was essentially zero investment in infrastructure and capacity building. Every time anyone started a successful enterprise they were either appropriated by the government or bullied out of the country.
It is ridiculous that Venezuela is now experiencing an energy crisis. They have the largest oil reserves in the world, but they need to invest in the oil industry and create opportunities for professionals in order to do anything with it. Instead, they've managed to get the people most prepared to do that to leave the country. It's even more ridiculous to have food shortages. This is not fucking Greenland, it's a tropical country. You drop a mango seed on the floor anywhere in Venezuela and next year you have a mango tree. It doesn't take that much effort, but you need to invest in it if you want it. Venezuela not only has oil, they have crazy mineral resources, the best cocoa and coffee in the world, magnificent beaches and tropical landscapes that could produce billions in tourist revenue. Why didn't the government invest in that?
I'm happy to blame the US government for a lot of things, but has nothing to do with it. It's the result of stupid policies. It happened with AD and COPEI, and Chavez was supposed to be the solution. Instead, they ended up doing much more of the same bullshit, and now they're exactly in the same place they were in 1989. Actually worse.
Don't come to me quoting Chavista propaganda and pretending that the blame is on somewhere else. Every time a government fails in Venezuela they blame the US. They need to take responsibility for what they've done if they want to get out of this cycle of misery.
They do indeed,but I doubt they will. I wonder if those at the top of this mess plan to just gut their bank accounts and say:"Tata" leaving the place to fester and rot?
Of course! If they weren't crooks they wouldn't have driven the country to where it's now.
The sad thing is, they got so much money while oil was expensive that even if they stole 80% of it and invested the remaining 20% judiciously, the country would be doing fine. But greed has no limits. Funny how they call themselves "socialists" but are the first to hoard all the money they can in their bank accounts.
I'm not defending Venezuela. Chavez is a false socialist and revisionist swine. They are in a system of state capitalism and by no means are looking out for their people's best interests. But we must recognize the negative influence our hostile actions take. The instability we create in these countries allow for the will of the people to be silenced in the name of security. Latin America is in shambles largely because of us. Sponsoring cartels, coups, and right wing military gangs, ousting democratically elected leaders and rewarding illegal coups with government seats. Fueling the drug trade, sending violent gangs back in mass to under developed countries. And it's the same in Asia and the middle east. We need to stop with the imperialism.
As I said, I'm no fan of the US government. Their interventions have completely destroyed El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. The "war on drugs" has created dystopias like Michoacan without solving any real problem. Cartels are actually alive and well in Venezuela, since that's where they ran when Alvaro Uribe was fighting them with the help of the US army. Yet, in the case of Venezuela, the vast majority of the blame is with the Venezuelan government. Americans will buy the cheapest oil they can get, just like everyone else, and Venezuela is much closer than the Middle East and Russia (and despite all the rhetorical bullshit, still much friendlier). If Venezuela played this right, they would be a major emerging economy. Instead people are killing each other on the streets for food. I know people who have died because they couldn't get trivial things like blood pressure medication or insulin. I cannot have a fucking Facebook account because criminals trace people in my friends/family lists who are still there to kidnap them. It's happened twice. I can go on with the list but you get the point. The country is so fucked up that even if by some miracle competent people got to power, it would still take decades to bring the country back to any semblance of modern life. And this is not gonna happen because there aren't any competent people left in the country, and the ones who have left have no good reason to come back.
I'm sorry, but I get really angry whenever I see anything that can be remotely be interpreted as an excuse for the Venezuelan government. I'm not religious, but if there was ever anyone who deserved to be in hell, it would be them.
Don't be sorry. I'm angry as well and I'm watching this from the USA..The lack of empathy for humans by other humans can be just staggering. Only money matters.
Are you? Because their biggest customer sanctioning their oil only had minor effects right? This is what we do to countries who want to use their resources for themselves, rather than be exploited for pennies on the dollar by our corporations. Its why we invaded Grenada, it's why we supported the Mujahideen in the middle east. Economic control.
Listen buddy, I'm no fan of the US government, check my comment history if you're not convinced. But what's going on in Venezuela is entirely self-inflicted. The Chavez period saw the largest oil revenue in the entire history of the country, and although some of the social programs created by Chavez were good, there was essentially zero investment in infrastructure and capacity building. Every time anyone started a successful enterprise they were either appropriated by the government or bullied out of the country.
It is ridiculous that Venezuela is now experiencing an energy crisis. They have the largest oil reserves in the world, but they need to invest in the oil industry and create opportunities for professionals in order to do anything with it. Instead, they've managed to get the people most prepared to do that to leave the country. It's even more ridiculous to have food shortages. This is not fucking Greenland, it's a tropical country. You drop a mango seed on the floor anywhere in Venezuela and next year you have a mango tree. It doesn't take that much effort, but you need to invest in it if you want it. Venezuela not only has oil, they have crazy mineral resources, the best cocoa and coffee in the world, magnificent beaches and tropical landscapes that could produce billions in tourist revenue. Why didn't the government invest in that?
I'm happy to blame the US government for a lot of things, but has nothing to do with it. It's the result of stupid policies. It happened with AD and COPEI, and Chavez was supposed to be the solution. Instead, they ended up doing much more of the same bullshit, and now they're exactly in the same place they were in 1989. Actually worse.
Don't come to me quoting Chavista propaganda and pretending that the blame is on somewhere else. Every time a government fails in Venezuela they blame the US. They need to take responsibility for what they've done if they want to get out of this cycle of misery.
You have done some homework on this. Well done.
I grew up there.
I hope the best for you and your family and the land of your birth.
Thanks! I hope they finally learn the lesson. Venezuela is an amazing country, but it has been destroyed by demagogues and collective stupidity.
They do indeed,but I doubt they will. I wonder if those at the top of this mess plan to just gut their bank accounts and say:"Tata" leaving the place to fester and rot?
Of course! If they weren't crooks they wouldn't have driven the country to where it's now.
The sad thing is, they got so much money while oil was expensive that even if they stole 80% of it and invested the remaining 20% judiciously, the country would be doing fine. But greed has no limits. Funny how they call themselves "socialists" but are the first to hoard all the money they can in their bank accounts.
Oh so true leweb..It's really hard to watch and I feel sorry for the people who are having to live through this.
I'm not defending Venezuela. Chavez is a false socialist and revisionist swine. They are in a system of state capitalism and by no means are looking out for their people's best interests. But we must recognize the negative influence our hostile actions take. The instability we create in these countries allow for the will of the people to be silenced in the name of security. Latin America is in shambles largely because of us. Sponsoring cartels, coups, and right wing military gangs, ousting democratically elected leaders and rewarding illegal coups with government seats. Fueling the drug trade, sending violent gangs back in mass to under developed countries. And it's the same in Asia and the middle east. We need to stop with the imperialism.
As I said, I'm no fan of the US government. Their interventions have completely destroyed El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. The "war on drugs" has created dystopias like Michoacan without solving any real problem. Cartels are actually alive and well in Venezuela, since that's where they ran when Alvaro Uribe was fighting them with the help of the US army. Yet, in the case of Venezuela, the vast majority of the blame is with the Venezuelan government. Americans will buy the cheapest oil they can get, just like everyone else, and Venezuela is much closer than the Middle East and Russia (and despite all the rhetorical bullshit, still much friendlier). If Venezuela played this right, they would be a major emerging economy. Instead people are killing each other on the streets for food. I know people who have died because they couldn't get trivial things like blood pressure medication or insulin. I cannot have a fucking Facebook account because criminals trace people in my friends/family lists who are still there to kidnap them. It's happened twice. I can go on with the list but you get the point. The country is so fucked up that even if by some miracle competent people got to power, it would still take decades to bring the country back to any semblance of modern life. And this is not gonna happen because there aren't any competent people left in the country, and the ones who have left have no good reason to come back.
I'm sorry, but I get really angry whenever I see anything that can be remotely be interpreted as an excuse for the Venezuelan government. I'm not religious, but if there was ever anyone who deserved to be in hell, it would be them.
Don't be sorry. I'm angry as well and I'm watching this from the USA..The lack of empathy for humans by other humans can be just staggering. Only money matters.