In Venezuela, Protest Ranks Grow Broader

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

SAN CRISTÓBAL, Venezuela — As dawn broke, the residents of a quiet neighborhood here readied for battle. Some piled rocks to be used as projectiles. Others built barricades. A pair of teenagers made firebombs as the adults looked on.

These were not your ordinary urban guerrillas. They included a manicurist, a medical supplies saleswoman, a schoolteacher, a businessman and a hardware store worker.

As the National Guard roared around the corner on motorcycles and in an armored riot vehicle, the people in this tightly knit middle-class neighborhood, who on any other Monday morning would have been heading to work or taking their children to school, rushed into the street, hurling rocks and shouting obscenities. The guardsmen responded with tear gas and shotgun fire, leaving a man bleeding in a doorway.

...snip...

Behind the outpouring is more than the litany of problems that have long bedeviled Venezuela, a country with the world’s largest oil reserves but also one of the highest inflation rates. Adding to the perennial frustrations over violent crime and chronic shortages of basic goods like milk and toilet paper, the outrage is being fueled by President Nicolás Maduro’s aggressive response to public dissent, including deploying hundreds of soldiers here and sending fighter jets to make low, threatening passes over the city.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/world/americas/in-venezuela-middle-class-joins-protests.html?hpw&rref=world&_r=0

[fasttense]

1. Boy the NY Times certainly has a hate on for Venezuela's socialist government.

But sometimes, if you read between the lines, you get to find out what is really going on there.

"A student, his face covered with a cloth, kicked angrily at a house where a pro-government family lives, shouting at them to join the protest. Other residents rushed in to stop him."

Road blocks everywhere. We Americans should take up that protest strategy. It makes your group look bigger than what it really is. It's something teabaggers like to do - look bigger than what they are.

[springchick]

2. You don't think these protesters have a legitimate beef?

High inflation, food shortages, high crime rate, govt. corruption?

[fasttense]

4. My favorite stalker back again?

(You have to post every time I do? It's like you just can't get enough of my opinion because you know how correct I am. Try some of your other screen names. This one is getting old.)

Those complaints can be said of our country too.

In fact our country is paying to fund those protests. There is a line item in Obama's budget to fund these exact opposition groups AND our uber rich have bee funneling money to them cause they really, really despise all socialist governments. What they did to Chile for Pinochet they are trying to do to Venezuela.

[springchick]

6. Funny how you failed to answer a perfectly reasonable question.

Stalker? Don't flatter youself.
Maybe you can show me that line item in the budget, it is a matter of public record and I can't seem to find it, so a link would be helpful.

This isn't about our country, it's about Venezuela, try to stay on track, ok?

[springchick]

34. I have other screen names?

Perhaps you would like to point them out to me?
You really, really sound paranoid.
You still have yet to answer a perfectly reasonable question, why is that?

[Bacchus4.0]

57. I know some of your other names

rational, thoughtful, truthful, realistic. There might be more. You can't fool me or that other person.

[bitchkitty]

13. Probably not assigned to stalk you personally.

Probably just the Venezuela threads...

[springchick]

14. No, just countering, which is something I was lead to believe is allowed here on DU.

Just to make it perfectly clear, I don't support a coup in Venezuela, I support free and transparent elections and what the citizens of Venezuela want.
I don't believe this is a CIA or US inspired protest against the govt., what I believe it is, is frustration with President Maduro's lack of action to address the problems, things like the high inflation rate, the food and goods shortages, the high crime rate and the corruption within the govt.

[TBF]

42. lol

[springchick]

43. Glad you find the social ills in Venezuela funny.

[EX500rider]

33. "Probably not assigned to stalk you personally"

Gosh, why don't you tell us which nefarious group is paying people to respond to posts about Venz. on this message board...

Should make for some nice light fiction...

[leftynyc]

15. Why can't you answer the question?

I'm not a stalker - have been here much longer than you have so you have zero excuse not to answer a very simple question. Is it your position that ridiculous inflation and rampant crime are not worthy to protest over? What has this clown Maduro done that has helped his country in the slightest?

[EX500rider]

35. "Those complaints can be said of our country too."

Which complaints, the 56% inflation, the shortages of electricity and basic necessities, or the murder rate that is 10x times the US rate?

[freshwest]

51. You say this over and over, please give us a link to this claim:

There is a line item in Obama's budget...

Are you talking about a CR?

There are thousands of things in one of them, it's sign them all or risk default.

Are you talking about a defense bill?

Pretty much the same thing.

I'd like to see where this comes from because the language of 'line item in Obama's budget' sounds very specific.

Most of us have not seen the actual bills, and also know that Obama does not have a line item veto power.

It's all or nothing with these bills. I'm not saying there isn't one, it's the language you use.

TIA.

[Zorra]

24. The protests would be much more credible if 1% RW extremists

like Lopez and Capriles were not leading them, and spurring them on.

As it stands, these protests appear to be just one more of many US backed RW coup attempts in Latin America.

[springchick]

25. So why are more and more of the working class getting involved in these protest?

The poor and working class that are the backbone of the govt.
Can you answer that?

[Zorra]

26. There are always some RWers among the working class. Just look at all the republicans

on food stamps in the US who vote against their own interests.

Do you deny that the protests are being led by Venezuela's RW opposition?

[springchick]

30. The protests are being fueled by frustration of the lack of govt.

response to 56% inflation rate, shortaged of food and goods, high crime rate, govt corruption.
This is frustrating to both sides of the political spectrum.

[Zorra]

47. Bwaahaahaa! NO, THEY ARE FUELED BY FASCIST PLANTS JUST LIKE YOU!!!

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[freshwest]

52. OMG! And 2 hidden posts in less than a week on DU. They'll be back... again... n/t

[Ash_F]

63. That's great but they still need real leaders.

And Capriles is definitely not one, that discussion has been had on this site.

As for López, this is his District:



It has one fifth the poverty rate of my city here in the US. This is not a man to be representing the whole of Vz.

[TBF]

44. They are involved because

it is affecting their day to day lives - as the opposition fully intends.

Same recipe in Ukraine.

I remember when it was El Salvador in the title ...

I also remember when it was Las Malvinas in the title ...

And soon it will be various African countries in the title as "development" proceeds.

Imperalism doesn't rest. Different locations, same story. They keep doing it because it works.

[springchick]

45. Yeah, the Venezuelan govt is totally inept and has really messed up the economy.

There's no evidence that this is anything other than mismanagement of the govt.

[TBF]

46. Yes, I've read your comments and

understand your position on Venezuela quite well.

Simply providing some historical data in addition, although you will find many on this site are over 40 and have good memories. But carry on by all means ...

[EX500rider]

59. "I also remember when it was Las Malvinas"

Yes we all remember Argentina's "Imperial" and "fascist" attempt to seize land that they did not own or have any Argentinian's living there.

[TBF]

60. And we know when Britain "discovers" something

they own it. Similar to the average two year old ...

[EX500rider]

61. No, more if they find & claim it and populate it and hold on to it for 181 years.

"And we know when Britain "discovers" something they own it." Like most countries that did exploring you mean?
The first recorded landing on the Falklands is attributed to English captain John Strong while on a voyage to the coast of Chile and Peru in 1690.
The 1st human settlements were French in 1764 and British in 1766. The French gave their claim to the Spaniards in 1766.
Argentina wasn't a independent country until 1810-1820ish.
In 1840, the Falklands became a Crown colony, and "a governor and a few Scotsmen arrived to establish a British pastoral settlement".

[TBF]

66. Please educate yourself --

we know what Britain did in many areas to the indigenous populations with their "claiming", or rather cleansing ...

In regard to Las Malvinas specifically -

The first buildings in Las Malvinas – or the Falklands as the British call the islands in the South Atlantic – were houses made of stone and were built by Argentinean hands.

It was in 1831 when forty men – led by Luis Vernet, the first Argentinean commander in Las Malvinas – settled here. Along with him came his wife, María who gave birth a girl who was christened Malvinas. The Argentinean settlement in this merciless land didn’t last long though.

In 1833 the British colonial power invaded Las Mavinas, and what happen afterwards is now called “ethnic cleansing” – hundreds of English settlers were artificially introduced while all Argentineans were expelled ...

Much more here: http://theconversation.com/las-malvinas-or-falkland-islands-british-or-argentinean-6106

[EX500rider]

67. Sorry, that's pure BS..

Who ever wrote that hoped nobody would fact check, that's for sure.

The 1st settlers certainly weren't Argentinian by any stretch of the imagination.

"The Spanish name for the archipelago, Islas Malvinas, is drawn from the French Îles Malouines, the name given to the islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville in 1764. Bougainville, who founded the islands' first settlement, named the area after the port of Saint-Malo, the point of departure for his ships and colonists."

"The Falklands remained uninhabited until the 1764 establishment of Port Louis on East Falkland by French captain Louis Antoine de Bougainville and the 1766 foundation of Port Egmont on Saunders Island by British captain John MacBride."

Or did the Argentinian's maybe go back in time?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands

I should please educate myself? lol, good one.

[TBF]

70. Did you write that yourself -

Wikipedia is a great source. lol

[EX500rider]

72. Oh I see...so...

....those earlier English and French settlements are just a big lie, nobody was ever there before Argentina.
Good one! Your own private version's of history, that must be neat.

And yes, Wikipedia is a great source, I agree. In a study it was found to have no more margin of error then any printed encyclopedia.

[EX500rider]

68. "we know what Britain did in many areas to the indigenous populations with their "claiming"...

.....or rather cleansing .."

Right, things were so much better under the Spanish Crown, I mean, who wouldn't want to be worked to death in a Peruvian silver mine?

[TBF]

71. FYI - False equivalence

False equivalence is a logical fallacy where there appears to be a logical equivalence between two opposing arguments, but when in fact there is none. Journalists use a form of this logical fallacy when comparing two sides of a scientific debate in an attempt to provide a balance between a scientific and denialist point of view. However, there is no equivalence between the two sides, when one is supported by evidence, and the other side with little or no evidence, of which most is of low quality. In other words, in false equivalence, someone will state that the opposing arguments have a passing similarity in support, when, on close examination, there is large difference between the quality of evidence

[EX500rider]

73. if you say so...

.....I got it:

land discovered and claimed by England: BAD

land discovered and claimed by Spain: GOOD

[TBF]

74. Not at all -

I feel "claiming" lands (particularly those already inhabited) is an outdated concept. With the condition this planet is in it is time to work together to manage dwindling resources and focus less on "owning". YMMV.

[EX500rider]

75. yeah i feel the same way.

That's why it's nice that the islands were uninhabited till discovered by a English sea captain.

[EX500rider]

76. I don't think you could have found a worse source if you tried..

...I mean when a article has lies in the 1st sentence and then its all down hill from there.

1st buildings were Argentinian and in 1831?

Here's the 1st french settlement in 1764

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Louis,_Falkland_Islands

here's the 1st British one in 1765

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Egmont

I did love this part though:

"The current push by Argentina to recover Las Malvinas, encapsulated by the energetic diplomatic offensive of the Argentinean president Cristina Kirchner, is today not only genuine but also legitimate. President Kirchner has described the recovery of Las Malvinas as a “struggle against colonisation"."

Lol, I see the descendants of Spanish colonists want to pull the "colonisation card". Good one.

[El_Johns]

83. Exactly the same game plan as in Chile, too.

[Pterodactyl]

81. There was a Venezuelan supermarket that had legitimate beef... but they ran out!

According to the government, there will be plenty of beef next Tuesday and price controls will make sure there is some for everyone.

[springchick]

3. Someone from within President Maduro's party needs to challenge

him for the presidency in the next election, preferably a reformer who will address the many problems the country faces and fix them.

[fasttense]

5. Yeah, stalker like maybe they can find

a neoliberal who worships "free" markets and can keep those pesky poor people in their place. You know someone just like Pinochet.

[springchick]

7. There's that word stalker again.

Are you paranoid?
So you're ok with the problems of food shortages, govt. corruption, high inflation, high crime rate because Mr. Maduro fits your idea of an ideal leader?

[EX500rider]

38. "Are you paranoid?"

I think that is self-evident to all.....lol

Agent 007a @
US/Mobil Oil division of fascist coup plotters-BBS poster Dept.-sub Dept. DU Venz. squad

[springchick]

39. He seems to think there's some grand conspiracy going on against him

from us and we.

[springchick]

10. How about someone like this person?

President Ollanta Moisés Humala Tasso.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Peru

[Bacchus4.0]

17. Peru has made the greatest progress in the region over the past decade

It was once one of the poorer countries and has really surged. Humala and his predecessor are left and center-left. Humala would have been elected during the previous cycle if it weren't for Chavez injecting himself into the Peruvian election and telling Peruvians they should vote for Humala. It backfired.

[Zorra]

40. I like Prez Humala, But Peru's population below poverty level is only 4% less than Venezuela's.

Peru

Although they have provided substantial revenue, self-sustained growth and a more egalitarian distribution of income have proven elusive.[63] According to 2010 data, 31.3% of its total population is poor, including 9.8% that lives in poverty.[64]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru#Economy

Peru
Population
below poverty line 27.8% (2011), 25.8% (2012)[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Peru

Venezuela
Population
below poverty line 31.6% (2012 est.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Venezuela

Venezuela made enormous inroads on poverty since Chavez was elected and a socialist system was instituted.

Income and Poverty

During the past decade under Chavez, the income poverty rate in Venezuela dropped by more than half, from 54% of households below poverty level in the first half of 2003, down to 26% at the end of 2008. "Extreme poverty" fell even more - by 72%. Further, "these poverty rates measure only cash income, and doesn't take into account increased access to health care or education."[9][77]

Datos reports real income grew by 137% between 2003 and Q1 2006.[78] Official poverty figures dropped by 10%.[79] However, the World Bank estimates that 31.9% are below the poverty line.[80]

Some social scientists and economists claim that the government's reported income poverty figures did not fall in proportion to the country's vast petroleum revenues in the last two years, much of which was directed to social spending to decrease the cost of living.[81]

Venezuela's infant mortality rate fell by 18.2% between 1998 and 2006.[82][83]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_policy_of_the_Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez_government

If you believe everything you read in the US MSM, you could end up knowing less than nothing.

[Bacchus4.0]

41. your info makes Peru's gains even more strking compared to Ven, since Ven has been a modern

fairly well developed country for decades now due to oil while Peru has traditionally been quite poor (along with Bolivia and Paraguay among the Spanish speaking countries) with a plurality of indigenous population who have historically been the poorest in the entire continent. Venezuela's indigenous population is quite small in comparison. If those numbers are correct that Peru has LESS people proportionally in poverty than a historical high-middle income country like Venezuela, its quite incredible actually.



and Peru doesn't have the extent of the social ills that Ven has with the crime and the the economic problems. And they've done that recently without being a US hater.

[Zorra]

49. uh-huh

[Bacchus4.0]

79. looks like you got some reading to do n/t

[EX500rider]

93. Ah, the "I lost" come back....nice! n/t

[ChangoLoa]

50. You're right. Fueled by oil $, for half century Venezuela was the richest country in the region.

And one of the most equal too... the second lowest Gini after Uruguay, I remember.

Until the late 1980's neoliberal reforms turned the country upside down.

[Bacchus4.0]

78. yep, not too distant history Ven was pretty well off until the oil bust n/t

[El_Johns]

84. I don't remember that. When was that?

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the lowest rate of income inequality – the smallest gap between the rich and the poor – of all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to a report published Tuesday by UN-HABITAT, the United Nations Human Settlements Program.

The report, called “The State of Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean 2012,” uses the Gini coefficient to measure inequality, and finds that Venezuela has the region’s lowest figure of 0.41, followed by Uruguay. Its rate of inequality has fallen significantly since 1990.

http://venezuela-us.org/2012/08/22/un-says-venezuela-has-the-lowest-inequality-in-the-region/

[EX500rider]

82. Yeah-i don't think Venezuela got the level of improvement....

.....a 100 billion dollars worth of petro money should have bought. I suspect it's the "Oil Disease" that's is common in 3rd world countries who get a lot of petro $'s like Nigeria-the billions get poorly spent or looted and corruption climbs as the lure of billions in the bank corrupts those it can.

[Bacchus4.0]

8. they need to clean house frankly, look at where they are after 15 years of chavismo

the bottom of South America.

[springchick]

9. Couldn't agree more.

I want to see the Bolivarian revolution continue, but with real reforms that will move the country forward and benefit all citizens, the potential is there, but with inept people at the helm, people like President Maduro, it ain't gonna happen.

I'm amazed at the people here who would like to see the status quo continue in Venezuela despite the overwhelmingly evidence of mismanagement of the country.

[Bacchus4.0]

11. some will support regimes no matter how corrupt and inept as long as they bash the US

That's the conclusion I've reached. No other country is following the Venezuela model for economic and social progress thats for sure.

[springchick]

12. The bash the USA seems to be the driving factor for the almost god like support

of this govt. from certain people here.

[leftynyc]

16. Great post

And the unvarnished truth. They're a detriment to Democrats and to the people in Venezuela having to deal with the problems not being addressed by this clown.

[Bacchus4.0]

18. lots of armchair revolutionaries for sure n/t

[springchick]

19. I like to call them Cafe Revolutionaries.

They sip their latte's while quoting Che and Castro.

[Zorra]

22. I see that you joined DU just 5 days ago.

Account status: Active
Member since: Thu Feb 20, 2014, 10:59 AM
Number of posts: 123
Number of posts, last 90 days: 123
Favorite forum: Latest Breaking News, 48 posts in the last 90 days (39% of total posts)
Favorite group: Latin America, 58 posts in the last 90 days (47% of total posts)
Last post: Tue Feb 25, 2014, 09:45 AM

Interesting.

For your information, I was involved in direct actions in several cities with Occupy from the beginning, have protested every war since Vietnam, was involved in the first WTO protest in Seattle, and the WTO protest in Cancun as well. etc

I suspect that you were watching me on TV at some point, cheering the cops on, and hoping they would arrest me and my "Cafe Revolutionary" compatriots, so that the world could once again be safe for Wall St exploitation.

[springchick]

23. Hardly cheering the cops on.

And for your information, my husband served 3 tours in Vietnam, I was a nurse at a field hospital in Vietnam where I met my hubby when he brought in a wounded comrade of his, when I went home, I was out there protesting the war and he supported me in every way.

I applaud your activism and participation in issues you believe in, on this issue, we disagree.

[Bacchus4.0]

28. welcome aboard springchick. You'll find alot of people who need a hug here n/t

[springchick]

32. Thank you for the welcome.

Glad to be aboard.

[Zorra]

48. Friend of yours?

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[EX500rider]

36. "I see that you joined DU just 5 days ago"

Which is pertinent to what exactly? Who cares when she joined and why?

[springchick]

37. I think it's supposed to be some sort of a backhanded slap at me,

as if I'm not allowed to criticize long standing members posts here because of my short timers status.

[Zorra]

20. I, for one, welcome this fascist takeover of Venezuela by our glorious plutarchs!

Last edited Tue Feb 25, 2014, 02:04 PM - Edit history (2)

[springchick]

21. Who's taken over the govt.?

Was there a coup? Did I miss it?

[fasttense]

29. So, when are you going to slip again and use the plural when referring to yourself?

How many are there of you? when are you going to identify all the WE's and US's.

[springchick]

31. When are you going to answer the questions I put forward to you in another post?

You really sound paranoid.

[freshwest]

53. SAN CRISTÓBAL... That's the place josh cryer talks about. Maybe he'll chime in with some news. nt

[Zorra]

56. Can't wait! nt

[freshwest]

69. From his comments, I believe he has family there and is concerned. BTW, I am not in favor of coups.

In both this case and Ukraine, the issues could have been dealt with politically.

A parliamentary system could have changed the situation in Ukraine. Although it appears that the Fatherland party is more socialist than would first appear by this description of their platform which includes reversing privatization. They don't appear to as far right as the Svoboda group, who are a horrorible party.

Venezuela elected Maduro, but at this time he is using the wrong methods to maintain power, like the Ukrainian guy.

I have Russian and Ukrainian friends and family in my extended group, and from Latin America - well, let me amend that - Mexico - but they have very, very strong opinions. The Russians I know are extremely emotional and fearful now.

They, like me, want a peaceful resolution and for all sides to work together.

It's likely some of the most fevered posts here have family there or in Venezuela, which I think josh cryer has.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

54. The poor dialogue here is depressing.

First, I want to hear who here has actually been to Venezuela. I have on multiple times. I've seen the changes brought in by Chavez, and some, not all, but some of them were pretty good. Other things he did were counter-productive, even damaging and dangerous. The poverty rate used to be 50%, he cut it in half. When he fired 20,000 expert oil engineers, he kind screwed the pooch for the foreseeable future. Most of them emigrated, as did almost all of the upper middle class. I never knew anyone in the "upper class" but I suspect they left in droves, too.

Maduro has a small, dedicated group supporting him, along with, unfortunately, the military. More and more people are getting completely disenfranchised and upset with him. He has caused a lot of pain and suffering. Instead of trying to address problems his policies have caused, he sends in troops.

Maduro has made a couple of things clear. He is a horrible administrator and leader. He is reactionary, has a bad temper, strikes out at perceived enemies, and allows no contrary opinions or advice. He knows best, especially about issues that he knows nothing about. He also has no clue about basic economics, intending to rule by decree, hope, and a prayer, instead.

While I do not doubt that we were involved in lots of monkey business while Chavez was alive, other than some conspiracy lovers who only wish that were the case, there is no proof or even a hint of evidence that the US has caused or contributed to the mess there now. Crime is out of control, and rapes, murders, robberies are routine. It was not like that before.

Maduro has done a pretty good job destroying what non-oil industry Venezuela used to have and there are no efforts to fix his mistakes. Chavez had some (as the CIA called it) unorthodox economic policies. Maduro made them far worse. Despite being an oil rich country, its electrical generation is worse now than in the past 20 years. Hydro-electricity once contributed something like 30-45% of the power needed for the entire country. A lack of maintenance, a failure to operate the systems properly have destroyed that capacity. Roads, already limited, are falling apart, and many bridges are becoming deathtraps. Rail, never a big part of the country, is getting worse by the day.

[Bacchus4.0]

58. yep, agreed. Been there several times but not for a decade since things have gone real bad

Beautiful country but it lost its appeal with all the problems and with the currency situation it doesn't even make sense to go back.

[Zorra]

62. Just curious, what were you doing in Venezuela, at different times over the course

of 3 or more Venezuelan Presidential administrations, that caused you to draw these conclusions, relevant to your experience there?

Based on your eyewitness accounts, if you don't mind enlightening us.

¿Habla usted español con fluidez?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

65. Comprendo, pero no hablo.

Tengo cuatro amigos i amigas alli. Dos todavía de ellos vivos allí.

I attended a wedding there after about 2 years of Chavez' rule. Do you know that mountainside that faces Caracas? Filled with tin shacks, disease, death, and no power and water? Illiterate, deadly, disgusting? That is where I saw the biggest changes immediately.

One of my friends hated Chavez, because of what her dad had to go through (a cool architect, he donated bunches of his time rebuilding ancient collapsed or disused church structures) but even she agreed, under protest, that he really helped out the poorest of the poor, and increased literacy. But her dad was targeted by some Chavez supporters, and left the country almost overnight about a year after that wedding. She stayed on for a couple of more years.

[Zorra]

80. Thanks. Your Spanish was honest.Just making sure you were not a nurse who met wife or hubby

on a third tour with Simon Bolivar in the struggles for independence.

No, I don't know the mountainside you speak of because I have never been to Caracas, but it could describe many places in Latin America. Violence, crime, and corruption are a big problem in most countries down there, no one is denying that.

And of course the people of Venezuela have legitimate concerns, just like people do everywhere.

But Venezuela is a socialist country, and such is the nature of capitalism that wealthy capitalists are greedy and want it all. It is hard to know to what degree the problems in Venezuela are homegrown, and to what degree they are assisted by outside forces, ie the US Govt. covertly intervening on behalf of multinational capitalism, and multinational capitalists intervening economically in order to foment problems on different fronts in order to bring about the collapse of the State so that they can get their greedy hands on the resources.

Capitalist imperialists are like rats, you can't ever really get rid of them, you can only try to keep them under control the best you can in order to keep them from destroying your shit and eating you out of house and home. But they are always there somewhere, in the walls, in the sewers, in the vacant house down the block, waiting to get into your bread and cheese, and crap all over your house at the first possible opportunity.

President Maduro may not be the best fit for the leadership of Venezuela, but if he did not have to spend so much time and effort keeping the rats out of Venezuela's resources, things might be much different in Venezuela. And the entire history of Euro-US relations in Latin America is one of imperialist outsiders killing indigenous peoples and exploiting indigenous peoples and subsequent mixed race folks, raping the land, and taking the resources for themselves, leaving the people in hopeless poverty.

If you believe that this process has somehow magically ended recently, and multinational capitalist rats are not still gnawing through the walls and foundations trying desperately to get into the cupboard of Venezuela's resources 24/7, I might have a possibility of selling you that land I have 100 due west of San Francisco.

The people of Venezuela need to solve these problems for themselves, but outside forces are not going to let them do it.

[Judi Lynn]

86. Right-wing trolls NEVER acknowledge the truth as you've just revealed. NEVER.

That's because the truth reflects upon their position in life which wildly supports genocide, slavery, torture, and complete exploitation of people, their lives, degradation, rape of the natural resources of other people's countries, the destruction of our environment and everything when might stand between them and the accumulation of as much stupid trash as they can grab before they die. They expect the militaries to protect them and their trash from the poor of the world, even when they've stolen everything from the poor of the world.

Eeeeyup! They never have anything to say about the truth as in the excellent material you wrote in the previous post.

You can tell them a mile away. Their values have an unearthly stench. We all have their number.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

96. are you suggesting that I am a RW troll?

[Bill76]

98. Don't worry about it.

Some people in this forum say "RW troll" about anyone who has the slightest disagreement with the DU party line. They even say this about people who are obviously to the left of DU.

[Zorra]

97. Well said; I get it, and couldn't agree more.

And, with respect to the recent revelations that have come to light by way of Glenn Greenwald, we know that there are more of them than many folks previously suspected.

DU is just naturally exactly the type of place they target to spread their poison.

[EX500rider]

95. "It is hard to know to what degree the problems in Venezuela are homegrown"

Is it?

Well, lets work that out....which of these are self-inflicted do you think?

Firing all the oil engineers resulting in declining oil product....

Government income almost entirely oil dependent...

Rising murder rate-worst in all of South America...

Hyper-inflation due to poorly thought out currency and price controls...

Lack of government investment in infrastructure-esp. electric....

Lack of basic necessities in stores due to price controls coupled with rampant inflation...

Brain drain due to those who can flee the violence and massive inflation....

Government arming pro-government militias...

Wasting billions of dollar on Russian weapons systems that will sit around and rust away..


In my opinion those all seem self-inflicted.

[ChangoLoa]

99. "Venezuela is a socialist country"

Amusing...

[MindMover]

77. thank you for your assessment and knowledge ... sadly Venezuela leadership ...

Is using strong arm techniques to squash political action ... and people get trampled while conspiracy theorists sell there bullshit ...true or false

[rollin74]

64. 56% inflation rate

holy shit! no wonder people are pissed

[El_Johns]

85. and before chavez took power it was as high as 100%.

Venezuela has *never* had what we'd consider "normal" inflation.

[joshcryer]

87. Your graph ends in 2007.

Fortunately you have posted the other years so people can see the current rates.

And, naturally, they don't include the black market rate, because, well, we can't believe the black market exists in Venezuela. Only what the government reports.

edit: corrected to 2007, or 7 years ago.

[El_Johns]

88. It ends in '07. And as you can see, there is nothing exceptional about inflation rates under Chavez

and Maduro.

[joshcryer]

89. Oops, I typoed, I meant 2007. It's now far beyond that. Far.

Anyone can see the inflation rate has skyrocketed to beyond the 1997 rate.

[El_Johns]

90. it's 56%. which is less than 103%.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/11/venezuela-economy-inflation-idUSL2N0LG23F20140211

Realizing the failure of interventionist policies the CALDERA administration embarked on a comprehensive economic reform program which included negotiation of a stand-by agreement with the IMF in 1996 elimination of price and exchange controls and revitalization of Venezuela's stalled privatization program. The influx of foreign capital and the currency depreciation that followed exchange liberalization led to 103% inflation in 1996 the highest in Venezuelan history. The government stepped in toward the end of 1996 propping up the Bolivar by using a stable nominal exchange rate as a restraint on inflation—which fell in 1997 to 99%.

http://www.world66.com/southamerica/venezuela/economy

[joshcryer]

91. cumulatively it adds up

[El_Johns]

92. no idea what you're talking about. cumulatively from 1980, or just during regimes the US doesn't

like?