[thmiley]

Somewhere I read that capital flight out of Venezuela is now somewhere around $1 billion per day.

Will the last (productive) person out of Venezuela please turn out the lights!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

(October 2000) A Recipe for Economic Collapse in Venezuela: Hugo Chavez's Anti-Capitalist Philosophy--Those productive and wealthy Venezuelans on the receiving end of Chavez' abuse aren't waiting around for his "knockout punch." They appear to be voting with their feet and checkbooks. Capital flight is substantial, estimated to be about US$1 billion per month.

Despite his anti-capitalist rhetoric, Chavez is hoping to raise money from foreign and private investors by partially privatizing the telecommunications and energy industries. So far investors have been distrustful of Chavez' contradictory policies, and incoming investment has slowed, with foreign investors reluctant to invest even in oil ventures, let alone non-export industries.

(Shades of Cubans fleeing Castro?) - New Web Site Helps Venezuelans Emigrate --Opponents of left-leaning President Hugo Chavez say his revolutionary rhetoric and public diatribes against wealthy ''oligarchs'' are fomenting class war in Venezuela, convincing many upper- and middle-class professionals to emigrate.