Posted on 12/10/2014 6:01:25 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
Packing potatoes at his vegetable stand on a sun-baked street in Caracas's hillside Catia slum, Jesus Jimenez fondly recounts voting for late president Hugo Chavez.
Like millions in Venezuela's poor "barrios," the chatty father of 14 worshipped the larger-than-life Chavez and benefited from his welfare programs, especially Cuban-staffed free health centers and substantial pension rises.
So after Chavez's death last year, Jimenez naturally voted for the leader's hand-picked protege Nicolas Maduro, a former union activist and bus driver who vowed to continue the idiosyncratic brand of socialism known as "Chavismo".
Now, though, he struggles to make ends meet as inflation running at over 60 percent eats into his meager income and he spends hours in lines to buy scarce flour or medicines.
Increasing numbers of low-income Venezuelans are souring on Maduro as they suffer a declining economy, the highest inflation in the Americas, chronic shortages of basic goods and one of the world's highest murder rates.
Marisol Aponte, a community organizer in the roughly 8,000 strong Cacique Tiuna showpiece "socialist city" on a hill overlooking Caracas, is about as "Chavista" as they come - but even she is having doubts.
"When Chavez died I felt like my father had died," says Aponte, a mother of seven. "I was left with an uncle who doesn't listen to me the same way."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Embrace the suck, muchachos!
'RATS need THEM up here to perpetuate their hold on power. Without a large underclass, the 'RAT party would cease to exist.
The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...(cough).....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Anything the Government Gives You, the Government Can Take Away. - Ronald Reagan
Any support a political gangsta, shakedown operation gets from the poor, they’ll lose as soon as they stop delivering.
Let that be a lesson to you, Aponte. This is the natural progression of Socialism. It's a stepping stone to Communism.
Hm. I wonder if that's why they call it "Progressivism".
That’s the problem with the poor buying into a “gimme gimme gimme and make the rich pay for it” culture. Eventually, the Socialist thugs in charge destroy the “rich” and the poor are back to being poor and in even worse shape then they were before. And, unlike before, if they protest the Socialist thugs who are in charge now, the Socialist thugs will have no problem jailing, torturing and killing them.
Who knew?
Commie policies cause shortages and poverty.
That's the great appeal.
You get millions of poor people suddenly fat an happy... at first
But the bad part is they want free stuff forever, and grow dependent on it.
Where they used to be able to depend on themselves, now you get people with no survival abilities starving by the millions. Not a recipe for a happy ending.
These idiots never learn. I remember when Alende in Chile promised to freeze prices and double everyone’s income...which he did by Presidential edict (e.g., sorta like Obozo’s Executive Orders). Inflation and shortages soon followed, leaving Alende scratching his head trying to figure out how to beat Supply and Demand. Alas, he never had the time to figure it out. One day he got in his Mercedes, turned it on, and didn’t get to see the explosion that sent his car over a 15’ high wall surrounding his compound. Hey...Stupid! There’s a message here...
This guy is a loon and a loser. In 2013 he created the Vice Ministry of "Supreme Happiness", to coordinate all the social programs. Really? When CNN covered the protests against his regime, he kicked them out of Venezuela. According to the 2013 Global Misery Index Scores, Venezuela was ranked as the top spot globally with the highest misery index score.
At least he has one advantage as a socialist leader that president Obama doesn't. He knows how to drive a bus.
Like making Ralph Kramden the Mayor of New York.
They voted for it, they got it. Embrace the suck.
Actually, Allende committed suicide during Chile’s military coup sept 11’73. Perhaps you are thinking of someone else.
It does say he died by suicide. I’m looking for the story that I related, but so far, nothing. Sorry ‘bout that.
And Jonathan Gruber thinks Americans are stupid . . .
This is the perfect use case of where socialism does not work. With oil prices falling and OPEC essentially broken, Venezuela will be devastated. I kind of feel sorry for the ignorant and uneducated in Venezuela, but we (USA) are not responsible for their plight. Hopefully, Venezuela will go down as an example to other nations. I am doubtful if it will convert any progressive minds here in America.
Rather like making Ralph Kramden the President of the US.
There I fixed it for you. :-)
Gosh, I sure hope the falling crude oil price doesn’t have any impact. /s
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