Posted on 03/01/2009 6:15:01 AM PST by docbnj
CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chavez on Saturday ordered troops to temporarily seize control of all Venezuelan rice processing plants to ensure they produce at full capacity amid soaring inflation and persisting reports of food shortages.
Mr. Chavez told the National Guard to "take control of and intervene in all of these businesses that process rice in Venezuela," including at least a half-dozen local and foreign private companies.
"This government is here to protect the people, not the bourgeoisie or the rich," Mr. Chavez said, accusing some companies of slowing production to evade price caps that have slashed their profit margins. He did not say what the takeover would involve or how long it would last.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
It calls to mind Obama's attacks on executive pay, and his bellicose (but laughable) excoriation of lobbyists (certain of whom are the backbone of the Democratic Party).
I almost thought this was a parody.
Nothing like a little government micromanagement lesson before breakfast.
Fascism- gotta love it
How dare those capitalist slackers fail to produce at full capacity. They need jackbooted masters with whips to ensure the people’s interests are met
Reality and parody become almost indistinguishable under socialism.
Are you watching America? This is national socialism at work.
Actually, that oil rich country has an oil problem as well. Production has been declining since the nationalization of the oil business and the recent downturn in prices has hurt revenues even more.
We can look forward to similar government intervention here as production drops in certain industries that are politically sensitive. These actions never work but the populist appeal is enormous.
“This government is here to protect the people, not the bourgeoisie or rhe rich”
Is he taking those words from 0?
“The more you tighten your grip, the more systems will slip through your fingers . . .”
Maybe the Cubans will share all those rice cookers that Castro so lovingly gave to his people with the Venezuelans?
Of course, they have no rice, either...it’s the INTENTION that counts, not the end result with the Socialists. American or otherwise.
I just posted an article the other day about there being a huge bumper crop of rice this season. For once, rice producing countries (of which the USA is a biggie, believe it or not) weren’t wiped out in Monsoons this season.
However, the UN has screwed that all up, so no food is getting to the end user, as usual. *Rolleyes*
Chavez will end in ignominy: hanged upside down by the forces who hate him.
So how many times does the socialism experiment have to be done in the world before the ignorant pseudo-intellectuals on the left admit that it doesn’t work? Socialism is the religion of the envious, and a tool of narcissistic politicians.
“I need REVENUE!!! Make them grow MORE ...-NOW!!!!”
Nothing new here. Everything Hugo does goes against the grain.
Mr. Chavez, meet Mr. Smith.
Rice may as well be Cotton and the producers are the slaves.
Chevez recently had the constitution changed so he could be president for life.
There’s talk about the Dems getting the 22nd Amendment amended. See....we might want the messiah for a third and fourth term....just like FDR.
Scary.
The 0ne and Hugo are working off of the same script, no doubt.
It appears that famous statement regarding repeating history should be generally aimed in one direction.
I read in the morning paper, but don’t have the link, that Mugabe has just ordered the last of the white farmers off their land.
I’ll bet that really helps their food situation - NOT.
Venezuela will be out of rice soon.
Lovely. Forced production at gunpoint to "protect the people". Isn't fascism great?
No doubt this is being curiously watched by Hugo’s philosphical brother, Barack Obama, and may be inspired to do similar things if things get really tough here in the USA.
Someone needs to tell Hugo rice is not produced in a factory. Never mind, his minions would not understand.
All good things descend from the Government.
We may be looking at America’s future here.
Read the 5000 year leap. Give it to your friends and family. The founders viewed socialism as UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
“All socialism involves slavery.... That which fundamentally distinguishes the slave is that he labors under coercion to satisfy another’s desires. The relation admits of many gradations. Oppressive taxation is a form of slavery of the individual to the community as a whole. The essential question is - How much is he compelled to labor for benefit other than his own, and how much can he labor for his own benefit?” -Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) British Author, economist, philosopher. Source: The Man Versus the State - 1884
A ‘54 chevy in every pot.
“Actually, that oil rich country has an oil problem as well. Production has been declining since the nationalization of the oil business and the recent downturn in prices has hurt revenues even more.”
That’s an understatement. From $140 to under $40. Hugo may need to start a war with Columbia to distract the people from his failures which are now mounting in rapid order.
Seizing food production hasn’t worked for any communist, ever.
Coming to the USA soon.
Herbert Spencer is great. Ironically, Charles Darwin was the social Darwinist. (And no, I’m not a creationist.)
I keep hoping that the Venezuelan military will turn on Chavez’ ass.
Torture the SOB, then shoot him.
They deserve to have their companies seized by the gummit, they fly corporate jets.
Pray for America and Our Troops
coming to a state near you..........soon.......
O will solve this problem by forcing them to produce and, under the terms of the Omnibus Spending Bill, sell the autos to the Gov’t where the cars will be stored alongside the Katrina trailers. Any losses by the Companies will be made up by sale of Convertible Preferred Stock to the Gov’t.
Seems we are already well down this path.
Totalitarian minds run on the same channel.
Social Darwinism was a made-up term simply used to attack non-socialists. It was largely a straw-man, or a myth, particularly in the US.
I wouldn’t mind that! We used to have a ‘55 and a ‘56. Our coolest car was a ‘66 Chevelle. Fast and fun, fun, fun. :)
One of the first things that Hugo did after nationalizing the oil companies was to replace their staff with his own completely inexperienced political cronies. Things finally got so bad that he went and hired Iranians and Arabs to run the company.
He has also turned over a lot of the productive land, particularly on large cattle ranches, to peasant coops that have not the first idea about agricultural production.
I think we're going to see all of this happen in the US. Bambi is already talking about replacing board members at the banks with his own people, and one of his creepy advisors let slip a few weeks ago that the government might be thinking of appointing new executives, too, not only at the banks, but at the auto companies.
And then, bit by bit, everything grinds to a halt.
“Socialism is the religion of the envious, and a tool of narcissistic politicians.”
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” - Winston Churchill
Venezuela has good oil reserves, but their industry is in shambles. Venezuela has fine climate for rice, but now theyt have a shortage.
It reminds me of an old Eastern-European joke: What happens when socialism takes over the Sahara?
Answer: Nothing for 70 years [lifespan of the USSR], then there is a shortage of sand.
Josef Stalin had a conference of Soviet Leaders at the Kremlin in the mid 1930's. In a cage at the end of the conference table was a single chicken, and none of the other leaders could imagine the point the eccentric, all powerful Stalin was trying to make. After keeping his senior leaders waiting for his arrival the "Man of Steel" Stalin had a quick announcement: "Comrades, I am going to give a demonstration of how to treat the Russian People." With that, Stalin went to the cage and plucked the bird clean while it was alive. The bird hysterically squealed and squirmed as Stalin plucked its feathers away and let them fall to the floor. He began a tirade of complaints against each of his ministers as he did this which left each man scared to death for his own survival. The leaders could not believe their eyes although none of them were strangers to cruelty, that the bird could long survive this. Once plucked, Stalin released the bloodied, fear ridden animal, reached into his greatcoat and threw a few kernels of corn on the floor that the bird slowly and quietly ate at the feet of its torturer. Stalin proceeded to the rest of his demands of his leaders. Frequently he stood and paced as he walked describing which food rations would be cut, the number of people who were to be arrested in his purges, and the instructions how they were to be slaughtered, tortured, or merely sent to Siberia to be worked to death. As he walked, following him closely was the chicken. The message was clear. Strip people of all health, prosperity, security, humanity and keep them fearful, and they will follow you.
Yes, and the unfortunate thing is that despite his so called great Harvard education, Barry will ignore the course he took in Economics 101, and choose implement his real true love, populist socialism with a hint of fascism.
Chavez Seizes Venezuelan Rice Plants...while Obama seizes U.S. banks and automobile companies! Next will be our guns and radio stations.
Thanks! He really had a way with words.
Nor am I a creationist. It’s too bad that the “Intelligent Design” label was merely a repackaging of the selfsame idea. As a modern Deist, I see intelligent designing still going on within each organism, and a root intelligence evidenced at the start of it all, however long ago that was.
What, do you suppose is the usefullness of the liberal mutation? To further evolve into the socialist? Thereafter perishing through illogical and suicidal behaviors, making the genus of man stronger through its demise?
This is your future with Obama; not nice little Edens covered with green, green grass and pestiside free flowers.
Outstanding Story!
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