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Postmortem (Venezuela)
PJ Media ^ | 2-13-2014 | Richard Fernandez

Posted on 02/14/2014 7:25:02 AM PST by Sir Napsalot

The suddenness of Venezuela’s collapse should have come as no surprise because downfalls are inherently abrupt. Collapse is a phase change. One moment something is sailing along fat, dumb and happy and the next moment it is sinking beneath the waves. The change from two to one is a loss of 50%; but the change from one to zero is binary.

(snip)

Think of not being able to buy soap, rice or toilet paper or order a cup of coffee, where ,a href="http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2014/02/13/postmortem/theglobeandmail.com/news/world/venezuelas-economy-on-the-edge-of-the-apocalypse/article16845406/">even the rich are feeling poor. ......"In the grocery stores, both state-run shops and expensive delicatessens, customers barter information: I saw soap here, that store has rice today. ....”

Imagine there’s no money to keep up the sovereign bond payments, the only source of money to keep power plants going.

Welcome to Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela, a country with the fifth largest oil reserves in the world and absolutely broke. It’s a remarkable achievement for Chavismo. A just-wow moment. Socialism is useless at everything except for smashing things in record time. There it excels. It’s hard to imagine that as late as the 1980s Venezuela had the highest standard of living in Latin America. But then in 1960 Detroit was the richest city in the world in per capita income. Now it’s well … Detroit.

James Eccleton remarked on how the mighty have fallen. “Brazil is becoming Argentina, Argentina is becoming Venezuela, and Venezuela is becoming Zimbabwe.” The question that always puzzles historians about the fall of great and rich countries is: ‘why didn’t they say it coming?’ How did they let disaster sneak up on them?

(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...


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To: F15Eagle

That’s a BIG Question. I can tell you what they will do they will run it right up to the edge and then over and never admit anything is wrong, just like they do when anything the government is invovled in fails. You at most will have a couple of days after before everyone realizes what happening and even with ‘tanks’ in the back ground and rolling down the street the spokes people will continue to spew garbage and many is not most won’t even realize its happening.


21 posted on 02/14/2014 8:50:14 AM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: F15Eagle

I’d say it might very well coincide with the event referred to in the verse “no one knows the day or the hour”.

What would cause a total collapse faster than the sudden disappearance of a good portion of those folks that actually work in this economy?


22 posted on 02/14/2014 8:50:50 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

To: Kartographer

Why is this called a “postmortem”?

The collapse and chaos are not “over” by any means.


24 posted on 02/14/2014 8:54:52 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Sir Napsalot

Historians are puzzeled? It takes 0 time to figure out the problem, for 3000+ years politicians have learned you can ride the power wave promising some the fruits of others labor.

Couple that with a governmental or bank ability to free float the money unit and POOF! No more country...


25 posted on 02/14/2014 8:58:57 AM PST by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
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To: MrB
If you read the article you'll find out......it's a good read, worthwhile.
26 posted on 02/14/2014 8:59:24 AM PST by Lakeshark (Mr Reid, tear down this law!)
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To: Sir Napsalot

Good article, thanks for posting.


27 posted on 02/14/2014 8:59:42 AM PST by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
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To: MrB

Not sure ask the poster or the author, but my guess is the coroner in a hurry to get to his BOL.


28 posted on 02/14/2014 9:01:17 AM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: Kartographer

I live in a town of 40,000 and no one is opening any new stores. At least 10 or 15 have went out in the last 2 years plus Sears and K-Mart are closing in a couple of months.


30 posted on 02/14/2014 9:02:59 AM PST by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
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To: MrB
I’d say it might very well coincide with the event referred to in the verse “no one knows the day or the hour”.

What would cause a total collapse faster than the sudden disappearance of a good portion of those folks that actually work in this economy?

If the Rapture happens before the SHTF I hope that some Tribulation Saint finds all my preps and puts them to good use.

31 posted on 02/14/2014 9:03:25 AM PST by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: AU72
Didn't happen in North Korea when Kim il-Jung assumed room temperature. And Castro has been out of power for a few years,

That's because those are Family Dynasties.

32 posted on 02/14/2014 9:06:01 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Sir Napsalot

>>The question that always puzzles historians about the fall of great and rich countries is: ‘why didn’t they say it coming?’ How did they let disaster sneak up on them?<<

Because man is egotistically stupid.


33 posted on 02/14/2014 9:07:24 AM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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To: Sir Napsalot

Just my personal observation, but it takes four times as long to build something up as it takes to tear it down.


34 posted on 02/14/2014 9:09:09 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Lakeshark

Have to do that later - only so much time waiting on the compiler... :)


35 posted on 02/14/2014 9:12:33 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Sir Napsalot
in 1960 Detroit was the richest city in the world in per capita income.

My in-laws have home movies they shot in 1960, shortly after they moved to Detroit. It surely was a hoppin' happenin' place.

Could not be a starker contrast from today.


36 posted on 02/14/2014 9:16:12 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Sir Napsalot
Detroit was untouched by the war. Not a bomb fell on it. But years of public education worked their magic. It dismantled the culture and social institutions which once built its factories.

Long article but well worth the read.

37 posted on 02/14/2014 9:23:43 AM PST by marron
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To: Sir Napsalot

well done. mr fernandez aptly describes the real “hockey stick,” both figurative and literal. ours, of course, is already well nigh poised to strike.


38 posted on 02/14/2014 9:25:28 AM PST by dadfly
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To: Texas Fossil

Astute fellow, wasn’t he? Sadly prescient as well.


39 posted on 02/14/2014 9:29:55 AM PST by Trod Upon (Every penny given to film and TV media companies goes right into enemy coffers. Starve them out!)
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To: Trod Upon
Yes.

“That Which Is Seen, and That Which Is Not Seen.”

“The others unfold in succession—they are not seen: it is well for us if they are foreseen.”

40 posted on 02/14/2014 9:45:54 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!)
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