The Venezuela masses are poor, but the government takes very aggressive good care of them. The US propaganda about starvation and oppression was never true. All crap.
There was an earthquake in Caracas a few years ago and video appeared online. I watched as people streamed out of buildings into the streets. Videos appeared from all over the city of this happening. People pouring outside.
Then there were videos of the people crossing the border to get out.
You know what I saw? Those people coming out of the buildings and houses all over Caracas looked just fine. No emaciated, starving skeletons. They looked like a US lunchtime crowd emerging from McDs. Perfectly normal.
Those desperately poor people at the border being interviewed about leaving? The women held a hand up before the interview started, reached into their purses and put on lipstick and eyeliner. The men were not skinny. They were wearing Nike and UnderArmour teeshirts.
Chavez and Maduro win elections because they make damn sure their base is happy. The people who are the opposition are the capitalists whose businesses cannot grow.
That’s what the people want. So too damn bad they can’t grow business. Voters got bribed, just like in the US.
Have not been in country since ‘97 or so.
Loved Venezuela and working there.