- Joined
- May 14, 2009
- Messages
- 10,350
- Reaction score
- 4,989
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Other
Ironic Windfall - for us - from the Chavez Disaster.
Yet another object lesson in political/economic systems.
U.S. Rice Farmers Cash In On Venezuelan Socialism - WSJ.com
U.S. Rice Farmers Cash In On Venezuelan Socialism
U.S. Exporters Benefit as Production Falls in Latin American Country
August 18, 2013
[1.5 min VIDEO within]
Yet another object lesson in political/economic systems.
U.S. Rice Farmers Cash In On Venezuelan Socialism - WSJ.com
U.S. Rice Farmers Cash In On Venezuelan Socialism
U.S. Exporters Benefit as Production Falls in Latin American Country
August 18, 2013
[1.5 min VIDEO within]
STUTTGART, Ark.—Steve Orlicek, a rice farmer here, is living the American dream. He owns a thriving business; he vacations in the Bahamas.
His good fortune springs from many roots, including an unlikely one: He is a prime beneficiary of the socialist economic policies of Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's late president and critic of what he called U.S. "imperialism."
It is a paradoxical legacy of Mr. Chávez's self-styled socialist revolution that his policies became a moneymaker for the capitalist systems he deplored. During his 14 years in power, he nationalized large farms, redistributed land and controlled food prices as part of a strategy to help the poor.
But these policies turned Venezuela from a net exporter to a net importer of rice—from farmers like Mr. Orlicek. "The rice industry has been very good to us," Mr. Orlicek said, sitting in his newly renovated home, appointed with a baby grand piano played by his wife, Phyllis.
It isn't just rice. Production of steel, sugar and many other goods has fallen in Venezuela, leading to occasional shortages. Until recently, Venezuela was largely self-sufficient in beef and coffee. Now it imports both.
[........]
Last edited: