A while ago I called for the cancellation of the Summer Olympics in Brazil due to the Zika epidemic. Since then all sorts of additional evidence has arisen that the country is in chaos politically and economically. Certainly no country in South America is in more trouble than Brazil right?
Wrong. Theres our good friend Venezuela. You know the one that called our president El Diablo" (The Devil)?
Once a wealthy and modern nation a popular socialist movement (think Bernie Sanders on steroids) led by Hugo Chavez caused Venezuelas miraculous transformation into well Cuba. Despite this dubious plan for future prosperity Chavez remained popular until his death in 2013. The country is now run by his hand-picked successor Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela controls huge oil reserves and counted upon high prices to prop up its socialist revolution. It worked for a while with a trillion dollars going into the countrys coffers. Despite this windfall socialist mismanagement was causing shortages in food and other important items. Now with oil prices floundering government offices are closed much of the week due to of all things efforts to save electricity.
Ever wonder how successful socialism is? Well just look at Venezuela and youll find out. In almost any other country food shopping is a pretty routine part of life. You go to the supermarket; you buy as much food as you need. Pretty standard stuff.
But in Venezuela the economy is running over a cliff at high speed. Fox News reports that food shopping has become a mission sometimes perilous and not a guaranteed success. It may be hours before you can even get in the door of a supermarket. Shelves are empty. Meat and toilet paper are rare or extinct commodities. People are so desperate for food that fights break out in the aisles. Theres a black market in flour for Petes sake.
Recently groups of women have crashed the border with Colombia an illegal act not to seek asylum (yet) but to buy groceries.
This is now part and parcel of life in Venezuela. There is looting galore in Caracas not from jewelry or electronics stores but from supermarkets. Sometimes the trucks bringing the food are waylaid before they even get to the market.
If you go to the meat department of any state-run grocery store you might find vinegar instead. Lets face it how much vinegar do you need in a healthy diet?
Venezuelas crisis is not only about the distribution of food; Venezuela is just not producing much food or really anything. Fox News reports that since the glorious socialist revolution began 8000 businesses have closed their doors. 70 of those still in existence report lower production than last year. That makes Venezuela more dependent on imports but the Maduro government recently announced that it would cut them by 46 simply because it doesnt have the dollars to conduct international trade.
So guess what happened? After ten years of casting aspersions at the U.S. President Maduro is now willing to restore diplomatic niceties with America. The Venezuela government sent a cordial congrats to the U.S. on Independence Day and offered to establish respectful bilateral diplomatic relations."
What a surprise! President Maduro has seen the light. Of course like Castro in Cuba he wont let a little thing like widespread poverty and hunger tear down his regime but a little foreign aid from the Great Satan would sure come in handy right about now.
Should we watch as hungry Venezuelans throw their socialist politicians into a cauldron to make stew? I know that were supposed to be the heroes (suckers) in this story. We always are it seems but should we prop up another failed state like President Obama is propping up Cuba? It hasnt changed the political situation there so why should we believe that propping up Maduro will change the situation in Venezuela?
So lets say thanks how about giving us a year or two to think about your generous offer? By then the Venezuelan people will probably be hungry enough to realize the awesome results of socialism as a form of government. Tough love perhaps but America should become a little tougher on the bad actors of the world.
Joe Alton MD is a disaster and epidemic preparedness expert and NYT/Amazon bestselling author whose latest book is The Zika Virus Handbook". He is the host of American Survival Radio in collaboration with Genesis Communications Network.
A while ago I called for the cancellation of the Summer Olympics in Brazil due to the Zika epidemic. Since then all sorts of additional evidence has arisen that the country is in chaos politically and economically. Certainly no country in South America is in more trouble than Brazil right?
Wrong. Theres our good friend Venezuela. You know the one that called our president El Diablo" (The Devil)?
Once a wealthy and modern nation a popular socialist movement (think Bernie Sanders on steroids) led by Hugo Chavez caused Venezuelas miraculous transformation into well Cuba. Despite this dubious plan for future prosperity Chavez remained popular until his death in 2013. The country is now run by his hand-picked successor Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela controls huge oil reserves and counted upon high prices to prop up its socialist revolution. It worked for a while with a trillion dollars going into the countrys coffers. Despite this windfall socialist mismanagement was causing shortages in food and other important items. Now with oil prices floundering government offices are closed much of the week due to of all things efforts to save electricity.
Ever wonder how successful socialism is? Well just look at Venezuela and youll find out. In almost any other country food shopping is a pretty routine part of life. You go to the supermarket; you buy as much food as you need. Pretty standard stuff.
But in Venezuela the economy is running over a cliff at high speed. Fox News reports that food shopping has become a mission sometimes perilous and not a guaranteed success. It may be hours before you can even get in the door of a supermarket. Shelves are empty. Meat and toilet paper are rare or extinct commodities. People are so desperate for food that fights break out in the aisles. Theres a black market in flour for Petes sake.
Recently groups of women have crashed the border with Colombia an illegal act not to seek asylum (yet) but to buy groceries.
This is now part and parcel of life in Venezuela. There is looting galore in Caracas not from jewelry or electronics stores but from supermarkets. Sometimes the trucks bringing the food are waylaid before they even get to the market.
If you go to the meat department of any state-run grocery store you might find vinegar instead. Lets face it how much vinegar do you need in a healthy diet?
Venezuelas crisis is not only about the distribution of food; Venezuela is just not producing much food or really anything. Fox News reports that since the glorious socialist revolution began 8000 businesses have closed their doors. 70 of those still in existence report lower production than last year. That makes Venezuela more dependent on imports but the Maduro government recently announced that it would cut them by 46 simply because it doesnt have the dollars to conduct international trade.
So guess what happened? After ten years of casting aspersions at the U.S. President Maduro is now willing to restore diplomatic niceties with America. The Venezuela government sent a cordial congrats to the U.S. on Independence Day and offered to establish respectful bilateral diplomatic relations."
What a surprise! President Maduro has seen the light. Of course like Castro in Cuba he wont let a little thing like widespread poverty and hunger tear down his regime but a little foreign aid from the Great Satan would sure come in handy right about now.
Should we watch as hungry Venezuelans throw their socialist politicians into a cauldron to make stew? I know that were supposed to be the heroes (suckers) in this story. We always are it seems but should we prop up another failed state like President Obama is propping up Cuba? It hasnt changed the political situation there so why should we believe that propping up Maduro will change the situation in Venezuela?
So lets say thanks how about giving us a year or two to think about your generous offer? By then the Venezuelan people will probably be hungry enough to realize the awesome results of socialism as a form of government. Tough love perhaps but America should become a little tougher on the bad actors of the world.
Joe Alton MD is a disaster and epidemic preparedness expert and NYT/Amazon bestselling author whose latest book is The Zika Virus Handbook". He is the host of American Survival Radio in collaboration with Genesis Communications Network.