I think the majority of people are too stupid today to understand the concept of spending more than they take in.
The presidents new politically motivated plan of two years “free” college is a classic example. People have no concept or worry of where the government gets their money from. It’s being offered, it’s “free” and it’s a right.
Stucky
January 9, 2015 3:41 pm
Venezuelans line up for MILES in an effort to acquire food.
[img[/img]
Ho Lee Chit
Administrator
Author
January 9, 2015 4:23 pm
Forget Cuba Opening Up To The US, Watch Out For Venezuela
Submitted by Simon Black via Sovereign Man blog,
When the Soviet Union was dying out and privatization schemes and free market measures were being implemented, it was like the Wild West out there.
With a bit of street smarts, insights, the right contacts, information, and access to capital, you could grab or build a fortune.
That’s how most Russian billionaire tycoons amassed their wealth. By being in the right place at the right time and taking action.
This recent bit of history came to mind when news broke out that the Obama administration plans to normalize relations with Cuba and start loosening its long-standing economic embargo on the country.
As I predicted 4 years ago Obama has been saving this move as his ace in the hole.
His approval ratings are at an all time low and we can see this as political maneuvering to win over voters for his party in the upcoming presidential election.
But while this move is a step in the right direction, things in Cuba itself won’t fundamentally change much. Lifting the 54-year old embargo will do little to improve the situation and prospects for regular Cubans.
Those in charge and the politically well connected will be the major benefactors.
But until the government takes more serious steps to reduce its control over the economy I don’t see much changing for regular people in Cuba.
I visited the island a few years back. While the place is nice, with rich culture and history, it’s certainly a bit depressing. People don’t really have many chances to progress and improve their lives. The government controls practically everything.
Without private employment, private business and private ownership it’s just too risky for investors to put their money in the country as well.
So while this development will now mean that more Americans will have the opportunity to smoke cigars, drink rum and dance salsa, most Cubans won’t experience much benefit from it.
A more interesting country that I’m keeping my eye on in the meantime is Venezuela.
Think about it—it has a massive population and tremendous natural resources.
And yet, the place is a real mess… Years of mismanagement and utopian socialist policies mean that the country is facing shortages of basic necessities such as food and toilet paper.
Heck, even with some of the largest reserves of oil in the world they have to import the stuff themselves!
You have to imagine that when a place is in such turmoil, significant regime change isn’t far off. In fact, this year’s parliamentary elections will be an important indicator of what will happen in Venezuela.
Peacefully or not, things in Venezuela simply have to change. The country is reaching its day of reckoning.
And when the pendulum finally swings the other way, there will be massive opportunity up for grabs for those prepared.
* * *
Meanwhile, things are getting worse in Venezuela… (as Bloomberg reports)…
Shoppers thronged grocery stores across Caracas today as deepening shortages led the government to put Venezuela’s food distribution under military protection.
Long lines, some stretching for blocks, formed outside grocery stores in the South American country’s capital as citizens search for scarce basic items such as detergent and chicken.
“I’ve visited six stores already today looking for detergent — I can’t find it anywhere,” said Lisbeth Elsa, a 27-year-old janitor, waiting in line outside a supermarket in eastern Caracas. “We’re wearing our dirty clothes again because we can’t find it. At this point I’ll buy whatever I can find.”
A dearth of foreign currency exacerbated by collapsing oil prices has led to shortages of imports from toilet paper to car batteries, and helped push annual inflation to 64 percent in November.
…
Interior Minister Carmen Melendez said yesterday that security forces would be sent to food stores and distribution centers to protect shoppers.
“Don’t fall into desperation — we have the capacity and products for everyone, with calmness and patience. The stores are full,” she said on state television.
…
“This is the worst its ever been — I’ve seen lines thousands of people long,” Greisly Jarpe, a 42-year-old data analyst, said as she waited for dish soap in eastern Caracas. “People are so desperate they’re sleeping in the lines.”
* * *
Dutchman
January 9, 2015 4:28 pm
They are having a race with Greece.
Dutchman
January 9, 2015 4:31 pm
What’s even worse is OPEC has drastically cut the price of oil 48% – a double wammy on Venezuela.
Golden Oxen
January 9, 2015 5:21 pm
What a shame, could have been such a wonderful country, all those oil riches squandered as well.
Could there be a better monument of the Left and all they stand for??
Kill Bill
January 9, 2015 11:59 pm
I was there. Military with machine guns in the airport. AIDS, they called it Sida, was rampant, 90% of the populace was in severe poverty.Dive into the waters and you might well come up with a diaper upon you. The 1% controlled the oil. So they revolted against the ruling crowd. Not so much different today in America,
So Chavez came into power in Venezuela.. Nothing really changed. Lower oil prices only furthered the collapse and disease did not take a vacation. Panama, which I don’t hear much about, was way worse. Shacks of cardboard, people with atrocius disease bars that legally prostituted the all nude dancers. I was hated, Rico Americano the kids would shout at me but others loved me when I tipped them well at restaurants.
There is no easy solution,…just the same as ever…repeat, rinse, repeat again.
Kill Bill
January 10, 2015 12:09 am
And do not think, for a moment, that these people were atheist, they were not, they were fervently religious, and really pissed off. Socialism? Think disparity. They were angry, perhaps rightly so, for their government had become one that favored wealth and did not concern itself with masses.
I wonder when someone will stand up and yell
“I won’t take this any more” and mean it.
MA
I think the majority of people are too stupid today to understand the concept of spending more than they take in.
The presidents new politically motivated plan of two years “free” college is a classic example. People have no concept or worry of where the government gets their money from. It’s being offered, it’s “free” and it’s a right.
Venezuelans line up for MILES in an effort to acquire food.
[img
[/img]
Ho Lee Chit
Forget Cuba Opening Up To The US, Watch Out For Venezuela
Submitted by Simon Black via Sovereign Man blog,
When the Soviet Union was dying out and privatization schemes and free market measures were being implemented, it was like the Wild West out there.
With a bit of street smarts, insights, the right contacts, information, and access to capital, you could grab or build a fortune.
That’s how most Russian billionaire tycoons amassed their wealth. By being in the right place at the right time and taking action.
This recent bit of history came to mind when news broke out that the Obama administration plans to normalize relations with Cuba and start loosening its long-standing economic embargo on the country.
As I predicted 4 years ago Obama has been saving this move as his ace in the hole.
His approval ratings are at an all time low and we can see this as political maneuvering to win over voters for his party in the upcoming presidential election.
But while this move is a step in the right direction, things in Cuba itself won’t fundamentally change much. Lifting the 54-year old embargo will do little to improve the situation and prospects for regular Cubans.
Those in charge and the politically well connected will be the major benefactors.
But until the government takes more serious steps to reduce its control over the economy I don’t see much changing for regular people in Cuba.
I visited the island a few years back. While the place is nice, with rich culture and history, it’s certainly a bit depressing. People don’t really have many chances to progress and improve their lives. The government controls practically everything.
Without private employment, private business and private ownership it’s just too risky for investors to put their money in the country as well.
So while this development will now mean that more Americans will have the opportunity to smoke cigars, drink rum and dance salsa, most Cubans won’t experience much benefit from it.
A more interesting country that I’m keeping my eye on in the meantime is Venezuela.
Think about it—it has a massive population and tremendous natural resources.
And yet, the place is a real mess… Years of mismanagement and utopian socialist policies mean that the country is facing shortages of basic necessities such as food and toilet paper.
Heck, even with some of the largest reserves of oil in the world they have to import the stuff themselves!
You have to imagine that when a place is in such turmoil, significant regime change isn’t far off. In fact, this year’s parliamentary elections will be an important indicator of what will happen in Venezuela.
Peacefully or not, things in Venezuela simply have to change. The country is reaching its day of reckoning.
And when the pendulum finally swings the other way, there will be massive opportunity up for grabs for those prepared.
* * *
Meanwhile, things are getting worse in Venezuela… (as Bloomberg reports)…
Shoppers thronged grocery stores across Caracas today as deepening shortages led the government to put Venezuela’s food distribution under military protection.
Long lines, some stretching for blocks, formed outside grocery stores in the South American country’s capital as citizens search for scarce basic items such as detergent and chicken.
“I’ve visited six stores already today looking for detergent — I can’t find it anywhere,” said Lisbeth Elsa, a 27-year-old janitor, waiting in line outside a supermarket in eastern Caracas. “We’re wearing our dirty clothes again because we can’t find it. At this point I’ll buy whatever I can find.”
A dearth of foreign currency exacerbated by collapsing oil prices has led to shortages of imports from toilet paper to car batteries, and helped push annual inflation to 64 percent in November.
…
Interior Minister Carmen Melendez said yesterday that security forces would be sent to food stores and distribution centers to protect shoppers.
“Don’t fall into desperation — we have the capacity and products for everyone, with calmness and patience. The stores are full,” she said on state television.
…
“This is the worst its ever been — I’ve seen lines thousands of people long,” Greisly Jarpe, a 42-year-old data analyst, said as she waited for dish soap in eastern Caracas. “People are so desperate they’re sleeping in the lines.”
* * *
They are having a race with Greece.
What’s even worse is OPEC has drastically cut the price of oil 48% – a double wammy on Venezuela.
What a shame, could have been such a wonderful country, all those oil riches squandered as well.
Could there be a better monument of the Left and all they stand for??
I was there. Military with machine guns in the airport. AIDS, they called it Sida, was rampant, 90% of the populace was in severe poverty.Dive into the waters and you might well come up with a diaper upon you. The 1% controlled the oil. So they revolted against the ruling crowd. Not so much different today in America,
So Chavez came into power in Venezuela.. Nothing really changed. Lower oil prices only furthered the collapse and disease did not take a vacation. Panama, which I don’t hear much about, was way worse. Shacks of cardboard, people with atrocius disease bars that legally prostituted the all nude dancers. I was hated, Rico Americano the kids would shout at me but others loved me when I tipped them well at restaurants.
There is no easy solution,…just the same as ever…repeat, rinse, repeat again.
And do not think, for a moment, that these people were atheist, they were not, they were fervently religious, and really pissed off. Socialism? Think disparity. They were angry, perhaps rightly so, for their government had become one that favored wealth and did not concern itself with masses.