I really don’t think that after 10 years of this so-called Revolution anyone who is a thinking person can really think that Chavez is doing what is going to be the best for the country. What Chavez himself thinks is a completely different story; I think he’s psychologically so screwed up that in a very twisted way he thinks that his actions are benefiting the country, but interestingly only views the country (el pueblo) as those who support him, particularly if they were marginalized in la Cuarta.

It may be easier, on some level, to import everything, but that presupposes that there is the money with which to import. Based on the complete mismanagement of PDVSA, particularly after the purge following the strike in 2002-2003, and consequently despite the highest oil prices coming after 2003, Venezuela’s money is running out much more quickly than expected. Endogenous production is virtually nonexistent. Even the collectives started by Chavez have been, by and large, abject failures.

You and I certainly agree on one point: it is up to Venezuelans, and Venezuelans alone, to decide what the course their country will take will be.

The Venezuela I knew had very few industrialists who were obviously extremely rich. Some of their products had shoddy quality. The middle class Venezuelans loved high quality, but it was easier to import EVERYTHING. They snnobbily shunned local products, unless they had a foreign feel. There were many, many immigrants who “invaded” the country looking for jobs, just like the Mexicans and the USA. The nationalization effort seems to be geared to very large enterprises. The core of an economy is based on small entrepreneurs. I don’t know what they’re doing about it now. Dishonesty and corruption run rampart everywhere, so it’s very discouraging. That’s why crime is elevated: it’s easier. Look at Mexico. So Chavez is doing what he thinks is best. Again, is up to the Venezuelans to decide the course of their lives.

Venezuela is not my country. When Chavez lets Venezuelans produce, then yes, maybe it will change. He has taken much of the producing capacity out of regular Venezuelans’ hands, either vis-a-vis expropriation of private property –don’t listen to what the PSFs say, my uncle and his family lost everything– or by regulating prices to the extent that it’s more profitable not to produce.

(Queridos camaradas comunistas, tengo muchos conocimientos relativa a la situación alli – y America del Sur en general – porque he vivido alli.)

I had lived in So. America so I have lots of knowledge about it.

Your belief is shared by another poster on this forum, therefore it is proven. You have defeated me with your sound logic.

Sorry your dreams died.

And your assumptions about me are WAY OFF track.

Sorry your country is in such a mess. I lived there in the 80′s and nothing has changed. Maybe different politically, but not much else. Some day it’ll change, hopefully for the better. Like when people learn how to produce their own food.

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Well, they’re *getting* “change”. (just “change” for the worse). they also voted for “hope”. How’s that working out?