Venezuela has the largest oil reserves. In the last three years its economy has collapsed (tr)

New York Times ^ | December 17, 2017 | MERIDITH KOHUT and ISAYEN HERRERA

[EdnaMode]

Kenyerber Aquino Merchán was 17 months old when he starved to death.

His father left before dawn to bring him home from the hospital morgue. He carried Kenyerber’s skeletal frame into the kitchen and handed it to a mortuary worker who makes house calls for Venezuelan families with no money for funerals.

Kenyerber’s spine and rib cage protruded as the embalming chemicals were injected. Aunts shooed away curious young cousins, mourners arrived with wildflowers from the hills, and relatives cut out a pair of cardboard wings from one of the empty white ration boxes that families increasingly depend on amid the food shortages and soaring food prices throttling the nation. They gently placed the tiny wings on top of Kenyerber’s coffin to help his soul reach heaven — a tradition when a baby dies in Venezuela.

When Kenyerber’s body was finally ready for viewing, his father, Carlos Aquino, a 37-year-old construction worker, began to weep uncontrollably. “How can this be?” he cried, hugging the coffin and speaking softly, as if to comfort his son in death. “Your papá will never see you again.”

Hunger has stalked Venezuela for years. Now, it is killing the nation’s children at an alarming rate, doctors in the country’s public hospitals say.

Venezuela has been shuddering since its economy began to collapse in 2014. Riots and protests over the lack of affordable food, excruciating long lines for basic provisions, soldiers posted outside bakeries and angry crowds ransacking grocery stores have rattled cities, providing a telling, public display of the depths of the crisis.

[EdnaMode]

Fantastic idea!

[grundle]

This is so sad.

Communism sucks.

[Nuc 1.1]

They voted for Chavez once. I don’t believe that have had an “election” since then. Once in communists must be removed from office by force of arms.

[rlmorel]

Excellent video by Bill Whittle (about 4 minutes):

Socialism is for Suckers: Venezuela

[EdnaMode]

Thanks for sharing. It was very difficult to watch, but very informative. I wish every socialist loving American could see this.

[rlmorel]

It was sad, wasn’t it? Sigh. Socialism is the political equivalent of a perpetual motion machine. It is impossible, but...the lure is so great that otherwise intelligent people continue to fall for it.

Again. And again. And again.

[Dr. Sivana]

I’ve read that Venezuela’s oil reserves are of some kind of inferior quality that’s not in high demand. IIRC is was something about high sulfur content.

When I was a kid in the '60s, my dad went to Texaco, Gulf, Mobil, but never Citgo. He told me they had inferior gasoline. That was before Venezuela was noted for anything other than being a member of OPEC.

[Nuc 1.1]

Thanks!

[grundle]

Thanks for the link!

[EdnaMode]

Yeah I see a lot of people saying how great socialism is and it’s very frustrating.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Yes, it’s absolutely to DIE for!

[rlmorel]

Most welcome...Bill Whittle is one of the most eloquent conservatives out there...I watch all of his videos. They really resonate with me...

[Chode]

Bill just put socialism in front of the afterburner...

[rlmorel]

I like that visual...:)