I predict we are in for at least 20 years of decline, and that is only if we can regain control of our elections. That is a BEST CASE outcome. It could end in total economic collapse, CWII or both.
Who is John Galt?............................
And going Venezuela one better, they plan to use some of the money to get rid of the interstate system in some locutions to restore ‘picturesque’ black communities.
What can you expect from an economically-ignorant public. A recent “on the street” survey asked people what the minimum wage should be. One person, in all seriousness, said it should be $50/hr. They said: “At that wage, I’d try to find a job.” We are doomed...
The history of humanity is a history of vast numbers of people trying to find health, security and happiness in their families and homes.
These vast numbers are ruled over by a small number of people who use deceit, punishment and promises to gain wealth and to rule over the vast numbers.
Our Republic is a way to protect the vast numbers, but the wealthy few don’t like it.
Chavez was probably really trying to help his country, but one day, he realized that socialism doesn’t work.
Then what?
Protect himself and his family and friends.
Humans always, ALWAYS screw up socialism and then we’re left with dictators telling us they are socialists.
On the upside of the Biden Plan we’ll all soon be millionaires.
Only problem is a roll of toilet paper will cost five million dollars.
“In the early years, things seemed to be going swimmingly, at least if you believed the official statistics put out by Chavez’s government.”
If you round up and eat everybody’s milk cows, it’s steak dinner every night for a time, but eventually there’s no more steak, no more milk, and you’re down to eating grass.
The problem with redistributive economies is simply that whoever does the redistribution becomes a de facto ruling class - Hayek predicted it, Friedman explained it, Djilas chronicled it. The state does not "wither away" pace Marx, it solidifies and the New Boss turns out not to be the same as the Old Boss, but an order of magnitude worse.
An economy the size of the United States has a tremendous surplus on which the parasitical class may feed so it's likely to take a while. But the pattern is clear from Venezuela's: a gradual takeover of the means of production on the part of the state, decrease in production, increasing taxes on the middle class, increasing inflation, increasing corruption, and heavy propaganda efforts where the media will take the place of the church as the Opiate Of The People. Seeds of all of these are visible presently. Stay armed, teach the children, and get ready to ride it out.
"Chavez and then Maduro used the time to change first the election system, and then the constitution, so that removing them from power became almost impossible."
I thought "that sounds familiar." But then I realized "It could never happen here."
Thank Goodness!
And those Venezuelans that voted for Chavez are now coming to the USA in record numbers, and voting the same way.
Biden just recently gave ALL Venezuelans currently living here (estimated at four hundred thousand), a 3 year protection from deportation. In Washington DC. a 3 year moratorium actually means forever.
“If only the right people had been in charge.”
Like I always say, the LEFT does not care if the country is a pile of rubble as long as they are in control.
“Then, starting around 2013, it all started to fall apart.”
Coincidentally, this was immediately after full-blown gun control in 2012. It’s amazing how socialism, which is “for the people”, requires disarming the people to implement.
Free enterprise creates prosperity consistent with natural growth. For example, as a population grows, the demand for land causes its value to increase. Growth almost becomes a kind of intrinsic value tied to all things that can be owned.
Socialism must expand like a cancer in order to continue to exist. When people can no longer afford to prop it up, they become expendable in order for the all-important government to access their resources and reduce their consumption.
"Pretty soon you're talking real money". (Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen)
Methinks the game is afoot and it is time to convert some of the Bank of Serta holdings into precious metals.