Inflation is running 1000% per year. The price of food is doubling every month. The agrarian land reform program is a complete disaster with total collapse. The nationalized telephone system is in collapse, the once thriving steel mills are all shut down, only a handful of airlines will even attempt at service, the people are starving and over 2.5 million have fled the country.
Virtually every industry is out of business. We know a young lady who is a summa mag grad studying for her doctorate who will be forced to return to this disaster or migrate to Panama as many of her family have done just to survive. She has relatives that have been forced into virtual slave labor in the country's south that are being run by criminals. It has been a magnificent success. Venezuela was one of the most successful countries in world and was a magnet for numerous multinational companies and a banking center of South America.
Schools are over half deserted, the once successful health system is devastated and only tiny elite have enough to eat. Malarial, measles and a host of diseases are rampant. Yes, the nation had serious problems brought on by the rapid decline in oil revenues. Chavis seized the opportunity and with demagoguery convinced the people that he had a solution.
Remember that Chavis was a member of the Communist Party and attempted to overthrow the government in 1992. When Chavis came to power, promising a return to the days when Venezuela when it was the richest country in South America with an economy with a GDP higher than Spain, Greece and only 13% lower than the United Kingdom. When he came to power the economy was stagnate as was many countries who had relied on oil revenues. He promised to return them to their former state with appeals that were nothing but pipe dreams. He led them into disaster, a disaster that is accelerating under his hand picked successor, Maduro. The elections are following the same scenario as those of every authoritarian state. A total sham. The citizens are begging for the United States to intervene militarily to restore order.
Social programs can be god sent for the people if properly implement and administered. Every where were they resulted in the massive nationalization of industries and services it has resulted in unmitigated disaster unless people believe that the deaths of millions of humans are a worthy sacrifice to failed promises.
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