Are Venezuelans at the Breaking Point?

[Zorro]

There was a time when the word “Venezuela” conjured up oil wealth, beauty queens, and baseball players. Today all those things are overshadowed by flag-themed tracksuits, histrionically ranting leaders, and, above all else, lines, lines, lines. The dramatic collapse of the economy, thanks to chronic mismanagement and plunging oil prices, has made queues — las colas, as they are locally known — the most visible symptom of the country’s failed revolution. And they’ve gotten far worse under President Nicolás Maduro.

Since coming under government control in 2014, Ultimas Noticias, one of Venezuela’s highest circulating national newspapers, has become a wellspring of rosy observations. Last week, it published an article that succinctly sums up the tragic surrealism of everyday life in what was once South America’s wealthiest country. Noting that waiting in long lines has become an unavoidable part of everyday life (“whatever the reason”), and duly asserting that “life wasn’t made solely to satisfy our tastes, wants and preferences,” the author offered a series of helpful tips to make the best of queue-standing:

“Try to stay cheerful, friendly, and make fun conversation with those next to you in line as well as behind and ahead; read; make sure to bring an umbrella and a snack; do breathing exercises; meditate and focus creative energy on the general good…”

And if those suggestions weren’t uplifting enough, the author added a bit of advice on how to improve one’s relationship with the supernatural: “For those who are religious or philosophical, it’s a marvelous moment to take stock and gauge the advancement of your spirituality.”

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelans-breaking-point-221434859.html

[Bacchus4.0]

1. its getting close for sure. Reports of food stores being raided recently nt

[COLGATE4]

2. I agree. The horrific economic decline which has

done nothing but accelerate under Maduro seems to be gaining momentum. There will eventually be a point of no return, resulting in some type of rioting which, given the Chavistas fondness for harsh repression could well trigger an event that nobody wants. Maduro seems to be totally incapable of addressing any of the root causes of this disaster, preferring instead to rearrange deck chairs on the Chavista Titanic with a series of too little-too late, timid half measures. Well, at least he dumped his Economics Minister (the one who said that 'there was no such thing as inflation').