Posted on 11/11/2007 9:54:01 PM PST by james500
Venezuelan construction worker Gustavo Arteaga has no trouble finding jobs in this OPEC nation's booming economy, but on a recent Monday morning he skipped work as part of a more complicated search -- for milk.
The 37-year-old father-of-two has for months scrambled to find basic products like cooking oil, beef and milk, despite leftist President Hugo Chavez's social program that promises to provide low-cost groceries to the majority poor.
"It takes a miracle to find milk," said Arteaga, who spent two hours in line outside a store in the poor Caracas neighborhood of Eucaliptus. "Don't you see I'm here slaving away to see if I can get even one or two of those (containers)?"
Venezuelan consumers are increasingly facing periodic shortages of basic food products as the economy shows signs of overheating amid record revenues from an oil boom.
The shortages have increased skepticism of Chavez's economic policies and provided a political backdrop to campaigning this month for a referendum on a new constitution that he says is needed to make Venezuela a socialist state.
Businesses say price controls on staple foods are so low they discourage investment and force stores to sell at a loss.
The government says the problem is caused by growing demand by poor citizens who benefit from social programs, exaggerated media hype and food hoarding by unscrupulous businesses.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
She had better get use to waiting if Chavez is in charge. Just ask the Cubans.
It depends upon what your definition of voting is, is.
or
It depends upon what your definition of democracy is, is.
And when the oil revenue dries up for whatever reason, it will be even more difficult to find basic foodstuffs. Yet the people voted for him (in a probably slanted but still probably accurate election). You get what you vote for, and this is just the start.
...and blind hogs too!
Only socialism/liberalism could cause food shortages in such a food growing utopia like Venezuela. Then again, look at the starving-to-death former bread basket of Africa, Zimbabwe.
sounds like another regime i remember from my youth.
such stupid people
I have zero sympathy for Venezuelans. The fools voted for this thug and continue to vote for him, so they get what they deserve. It appears that the Venezuelans who understand capitalism are coming to Florida, where their talent and initiative are welcome.
When you vote for a commie, you starve under communism. The idiots who support Hillary Clinton should pay close attention.
Chavez, bringing the peace and prosperity of the old Soviet Union to his people. I hope they stock up on toilet paper. Things could get tough down there.
Picking up an old 52 Chevy might be a good idea too. I understand from Fidel, they last a long time.
LMAO
Venezuelans, please wake up.
Dude, call Sean Penn and tell him to stop off and grab a gallon of milk the next time he comes down.
I find the follwing two statements extremely funny:
Supermarket shelves remain stocked with aged whiskey and imported wine, but for up to 25 percent of staple food products this year supplies have been irregular, according to public opinion and economic research group Datanalisis.
Now the combination of the controls and unprecedented consumer spending ...struggling to find ingredients it needs.
So the shelves remain "stocked with aged whiskey and imported wine". I guess all of the "unprecedented prosperity" goes to purchasing staples.
Do these people even realize what idiots they sound like?
Gee, sounds like the thinking in 99.99% of American colleges; let me call then “institutions of lower learning”.
This type of thinking is totally true at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) - the liberal school of liberal schools; don’t think anything but socialist thoughts there or they will silence you on way or the other!
Good one. It’s funny because it’s true.
“Venezuelan consumers are increasingly facing periodic shortages of basic food products as the economy shows signs of overheating amid record revenues from an oil boom.”
This is what happens when 60% of your population is dirt poor.
The government will just buy your vote. I bet for the truly poor their life’s are much better than before.
Before Chavez (I spit on you) , all the oil money was leaving the country now at least some of it goes to the people.
They just traded freedom for food but for many that is a better deal than what they had.
I am waiting for Mr. Chavez to say, "Let them drink oil!"
If the middle class can’t get milk, sugar, flour and meat what exactly are the poor eating?
Looks to me like they traded freedom for bullets to the head when they finally get enough of Chavez.
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