At least three women burst into tears when they reached the Colombian side, and a man shouted “Viva Colombia’’. Some cursed Maduro’s administration back home which they blamed for reducing them to the point where to buy products as basic as rice they now need to cross an international frontier.
“We were a nation that was super rich, and now look at us,” said Yorcy Exposito, who said she set out from her home in the city of San Cristobal at 4 a.m. “Our government just needs to go, and not come back. They humiliate us.”
If someone had told me 20 years ago that Venezuela would fall this far even under socialism I don't think I'd have believed them. This was no natural disaster, world economic catastrophe, or warfare, this was pure local political arrogance, corruption, and incompetence. Fortunately for the citizens of that country the natural resources are still there. Unfortunately, so is the government.
HEARTBREAKING
I bet if you followed up with these people most of them would say they wish Chavez was back in power. They are probably incapable of making the connection between socialism and their predicament, thinking instead it’s all the fault of that incompetent bus driver guy. He is indeed a complete failure, but fares worse because he lacks Chavez’s charm and the high oil prices that were buoying up the economy.