Venezuela: All you need to know about the crisis in seven charts

[eohrnberger]

Venezuela has turned into a Socialist basket case.

"But wait!" Some will cry. "What about the Nordic Socialist states?"

True, those are Democratic Socialist states, but they have a very productive capitalistic economy feeding and supporting the non-productive leeches that are socialist policies (i.e. North Sea oil production).

This is much different than Venezuela. When Chávez nationalized pretty much every industry, resulting in those industries being run into the ground, and cutting off the money supply the socialism depended on (other people's money, as the saying goes).

Now Venezuela has turned into a simple dictatorship buying off the military to remain in power while the people suffer under the boot of Socialism / Communism and are eating their dogs and cats.

Now, the US Democrats have elected a raft of Democratic Socialists proposing the most typical of Democratic Socialist of all policies:
Get everyone else's money;
The government can spend your money better than you can, so fork it over - :roll:

Continuing on this trajectory, how long before the US is in Venezuela's present state? Oh, maybe 10 years.

 

[HumblePi]

Unfortunately, the US history WRT the internal affairs of Latin American countries has been deplorable. We seem to have a habit of supporting brutal right wing dictatorships such as the one in Chile under Pinochet and the one in Argentina during their Dirty War. I fear that trump would send in our troops to replace Maduro (whose political demise I would not mourn) with some right wing despot just as evil as Pinochet was, who would make human rights nonexistent, but who wouldn’t do squat to improve the lives of the Venezuelan people.

My son lives in Colombia and the city he lives in has been flooded with millions fleeing Venezuela. He has been telling me for years how many Russians have been a presence there en route to Venezuela. He also told me that the military in Venezuela has gone absolutely out of control and they're raping women at will and capturing people attempting to flee and torturing and murdering them, and stealing whatever they can get their hands on. Some of the most recent deaths were Venezuelan women who had fled as part of the continuing exodus that has become so massive that the United Nations has branded it “a monumental crisis.”

 

[Trippy Trekker]

Abrams, who served in the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations, is a well-known and somewhat controversial figure in U.S. foreign policy circles.

He has often expressed hawkish views and is fiercely pro-Israel, but he also has written and spoken eloquently about the need to support human rights around the world.

Abrams was deputy national security adviser in the George W. Bush administration and was instrumental in Middle East policy at the time, including supporting the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

There were also allegations that he supported a military coup attempt in Venezuela in 2002, damaging the U.S. relationship with the government there after the plot ultimately failed.

Abrams held multiple positions at the State Department under President Ronald Reagan, including assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

He was one of the Reagan administration’s fiercest advocates of armed support for Nicaraguan rebels and thus becae caught up in the Iran-Contra scandal.

In 1991, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress about secret efforts to aid the rebels. President George H.W. Bush pardoned him the next year.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/25/elliott-abrams-envoy-venezuela-1128562

With Elliott Abrams, a well-known NeoCon, back in a Real Power Seat, I expect fireworks! This guy loves to pour gas on fires. Gandhi-like, he ain't!

 

[apdst]

Venezuela is a federal presidential republic. The chief executive is the President of Venezuela who is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the President. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly. The United Socialist Party is in power now. There are regular presidential elections in Venezuela but Maduro faced international condemnation and allegations of vote buying and electoral fraud.

Guaido, the guy who is trying to seize power is a memver of the Poular Will party.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_Will

Popular will is part of Socialist International.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_International

 

[Fenton]

I thought I would start this thread for two purposes, to give everyone some valuable insight into the crisis in Venezuela and also to try to explain why Venezuela is the real crisis south of our U.S. border. It's not illegal caravans coming from Honduras or Nicaragua, it's Venezuela.

This article by the BBC is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the 'why, where and how' this is a vitally important issue and why it should matter to everyone, not only the U.S.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-46999668

Venezuela: All you need to know about the crisis in seven charts

Growing discontent in Venezuela, fuelled by hyperinflation, power cuts and food and medicine shortages, has led to a political crisis.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó has declared himself interim president following large protests, galvanising opponents of current socialist President Nicolás Maduro.

Some 26 people were reportedly killed in demonstrations last week and the UN has warned that the situation could spiral out of control.

More than three million Venezuelans have fled their country over recent years, blaming hunger, lack of medical care, rising unemployment and violent crime.

Here are seven charts that try to explain what's going on. (read more)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(mine)

Maduro is simply a very bad guy. He's an authoritarian who has wrecked the country and created mayhem including everything from food shortages to massive immigration pouring out of the country. But what can the U.S. and other Western democracies do about Maduro? The U.S. (for once) isn't alone in our opposition to Maduro.

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru—as well as the EU are opposed to Maduro's illegitimate presidency. What can be done constructively to help democracy take place without it being seen that we are selecting the leadership of the Venezuelan people? Here's where it gets difficult because Trump has zero credibility in the world right now. (flashback to the United Nations and the stunning 'America First' and hyper-nationalistic speech).

It's reported that there's Russian mercenaries on the ground, and Russia does not want the U.S. to put troops in Venezuela, that goes without saying. We'll see whether Trump follows Putin's marching orders or will he stand up to the Russians and push forward and carry this through. Russia has already put out a statement, the Russian ambassador said 'Venezuela doesn't represent a threat to peace and security, if anything does, it's the shameless and aggressive action by the U.S. and their allies aimed at ousting the legitimately elected president".

There's such a deep void of experience and competence in this administration that they had to go outside to find someone competent enough to deal with this situation. After being advised to do it, Trump appointed Elliott Abram as Deputy Secretary of State. He was 'almost' Deputy Secretary of State under Rex Tillerson but Trump stopped his appointment because Abrams had written a negative piece about Trump before the election. The important thing is that the U.S. has designated a special envoy to deal with the Venezuela situation because it has escalated. Abrams is one of those regime-change architects going way back to the Contra takeover in Nicaragua during their revolution. If nothing else, the U.S. appears to have someone with experience handling things for the U.S.

:roll:

Starting a thread on the crisis in Venezuela to own Trump..

Trump's not alone in his support for Gaiudo.

EU gives Maduro an 8 day ultimatum
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019...ela-maduro-day-ultimatum-190126115807947.html

 

[Roadvirus]

When Maduro's end gets closer, that dirty ****er is going to enact a scorched earth policy. You watch.

 

[Objective Voice]

I thought I would start this thread for two purposes, to give everyone some valuable insight into the crisis in Venezuela and also to try to explain why Venezuela is the real crisis south of our U.S. border. It's not illegal caravans coming from Honduras or Nicaragua, it's Venezuela.

This article by the BBC is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the 'why, where and how' this is a vitally important issue and why it should matter to everyone, not only the U.S.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-46999668

Venezuela: All you need to know about the crisis in seven charts

Growing discontent in Venezuela, fuelled by hyperinflation, power cuts and food and medicine shortages, has led to a political crisis.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó has declared himself interim president following large protests, galvanising opponents of current socialist President Nicolás Maduro.

Some 26 people were reportedly killed in demonstrations last week and the UN has warned that the situation could spiral out of control.

More than three million Venezuelans have fled their country over recent years, blaming hunger, lack of medical care, rising unemployment and violent crime.

Here are seven charts that try to explain what's going on. (read more)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(mine)

Maduro is simply a very bad guy. He's an authoritarian who has wrecked the country and created mayhem including everything from food shortages to massive immigration pouring out of the country. But what can the U.S. and other Western democracies do about Maduro? The U.S. (for once) isn't alone in our opposition to Maduro.

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru—as well as the EU are opposed to Maduro's illegitimate presidency. What can be done constructively to help democracy take place without it being seen that we are selecting the leadership of the Venezuelan people? Here's where it gets difficult because Trump has zero credibility in the world right now. (flashback to the United Nations and the stunning 'America First' and hyper-nationalistic speech).

It's reported that there's Russian mercenaries on the ground, and Russia does not want the U.S. to put troops in Venezuela, that goes without saying. We'll see whether Trump follows Putin's marching orders or will he stand up to the Russians and push forward and carry this through. Russia has already put out a statement, the Russian ambassador said 'Venezuela doesn't represent a threat to peace and security, if anything does, it's the shameless and aggressive action by the U.S. and their allies aimed at ousting the legitimately elected president".

There's such a deep void of experience and competence in this administration that they had to go outside to find someone competent enough to deal with this situation. After being advised to do it, Trump appointed Elliott Abram as Deputy Secretary of State. He was 'almost' Deputy Secretary of State under Rex Tillerson but Trump stopped his appointment because Abrams had written a negative piece about Trump before the election. The important thing is that the U.S. has designated a special envoy to deal with the Venezuela situation because it has escalated. Abrams is one of those regime-change architects going way back to the Contra takeover in Nicaragua during their revolution. If nothing else, the U.S. appears to have someone with experience handling things for the U.S.

So, is the U.S. concerned about Venezuela because it fears mass migration north-ward or does it fear a civil war in the southern half of the Western hemisphere? If the former, an immigration reform bill along with whatever enhanced border security measures comes out of these current Congressional negotiations should resolved that (assuming no poison pill is added to the works a deal can be reached). If the latter, seems that's a problem for the U.N., not the U.S.

 

[Objective Voice]

So...are you saying that, if Trump doesn't put American troops on the ground in Venezuela, that means Trump is following Putin's marching orders?

If so, I'd say that's a supremely stupid thing to say.

Why? Didn't we once fear the spread of Communism so much we enacted a blockade around Cuba just to force Russia from installing more missiles there? We won't even talk about the Korean or Vietnam Wars. Are we no longer concerned about Western nations being unduly influenced by Communist regimes?

 

[holbritter]

I feel so awful for the people who have to turn to soup kitchens to get fed.

Why are human economic systems so screwed up.

Lots of them right here in the U.S.
I feel awful for them too.

 

[Objective Voice]

Six of one, half dozen of another.

Communism can only exist in a one party state. If the people are allowed to vote against a communist system, they usually will.

Communism nationalizes industry. Socialism allows government to control what goes out into society. But when you think about it, but are aspects of governmental control. So...

Six of one, half dozen of another is apt.

 

[Mycroft]

Why? Didn't we once fear the spread of Communism so much we enacted a blockade around Cuba just to force Russia from installing more missiles there? We won't even talk about the Korean or Vietnam Wars. Are we no longer concerned about Western nations being unduly influenced by Communist regimes?

Venezuela isn't communist.

 

[Objective Voice]

Venezuela isn't communist.

Read that last sentence of mine...the one that speaks of "unduly influence" and get back to me. Don't get caught up in what type of government runs Venezuela. Be more concerned at how easily their government can be control with the right foreign "pressure".

 

[Mycroft]

Read that last sentence of mine...the one that speaks of "unduly influence" and get back to me. Don't get caught up in what type of government runs Venezuela. Be more concerned at how easily their government can be control with the right foreign "pressure".

shrug...

I think we've gotten past the Cold War, especially when Trump is involved.

 

[HumblePi]

So, is the U.S. concerned about Venezuela because it fears mass migration north-ward or does it fear a civil war in the southern half of the Western hemisphere? If the former, an immigration reform bill along with whatever enhanced border security measures comes out of these current Congressional negotiations should resolved that (assuming no poison pill is added to the works a deal can be reached). If the latter, seems that's a problem for the U.N., not the U.S.

Probably neither is the main concern, the primary reason the U.S. gives a crap about Venezuela is because of their oil.

 

[Objective Voice]

shrug...

I think we've gotten past the Cold War, especially when Trump is involved.

I'm certain the Cold War isn't the era Trump is reaching for.