Liberalism, Or: How to totally destroy a country...

[dogtag]

The hole Venezuela is sinking into doesn't appear
to have a bottom. It's inflation rate has gone higher
than a kite, and it's principal money getter, the
Oil Company is been looted while it's employees flee,
probably joining the millions that have already fled
to neighboring Colombia. The country is close to
total collapse if not already there.

https://www.wral.com/workers-flee-and-thieves-loot-venezuela-s-reeling-oil-giant/17628941/

If you like the looks of Venezuela, vote for Bernie Sanders.



.

[S.A. Boggs]

National Socialism at it's finest when you pay people not to work and take from those who do. When the national treasury is looted to buy votes, unfortunately in the U.S. this was done by both factions of each political party. Venezuela is reaching the bottom, only a matter of time...hopefully my country will pay attention. The previous administration was gleefully happy that so many people were placed on the food stamp role. Now after less then 24 month the reverse is true, lowest employment in decades, many employers unable to find people able to fill jobs. @ the local Wal-Mart management has placed a sign outside stating help is wanted, every restaurant has open employment application time. @ McDonalds my buddy states he can't find enough qualified workers and hope the kiosk will help with production. Menards just bought a large tract of land in the east of town to build a HUGE business and the labor pool will shrink more. Wages are going up to secure more workers with better perks, what is going on is truly amazing!
Sam

[togor]

DT spelled Venezuela correctly, which is pretty cool. But in fact it was more liberal before the leftist takeover. Boggs is a little bit correct in that it was a populist regime that put the whims of one man over the rule of law that led to the downward spiral. But to be fair the objective observer would find more in common with Trumpism in the USA than anything the Democratic party is doing these days. The focus on exercise of Executive power, the counter-productive economic policies designed to appease the populist class. Hugo Chavez would heartily approve. True, Trump hasn't nationalized anything (yet), having taken a page from Putin and preferring to invest economic power in an oligarchy of ultra-rich supporters. So the USA is not Venezuela, not yet. But there are more similarities than I like between the respective regimes.

Addendum: Trump did try to get the FERC to use its emergency power to force utilities to keep buying coal to make electricity. Emergency decrees are one of the favorite tools of populist autocratic-minded rulers, and Trump is no exception.

[dryheat]

Great. More refugees. Let's import a lot of people who know how to wreck a country.

[dogtag]

togor says Hugo Chavez and Maduro are just like Trump in their policies.

Well, so much for togor.

[togor]

togor says Hugo Chavez and Maduro are just like Trump in their policies.

Well, so much for togor.

Well if the policy is to use emergency decrees to enact policies that favor their supporters at the expense of others, then yes. Trump doesn't engage in Socialist smoke-and-mirrors rhetoric but then again his ideas of taxing trade and having government decide who are the winners and losers in the economy (again, via emergency decree) are a little bit socialist. And you'll notice Trump hasn't said anything bad about the NK economy in awhile.

Well, so much for DT.

[Vern Humphrey]

togor says Hugo Chavez and Maduro are just like Trump in their policies.

Well, so much for togor.

You see why I never find it necessary to respond to these guys?

[Roadkingtrax]

"He's the head of the country," Trump said of Kim Friday during a live interview on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "And I mean he's the strong head. Don't let anyone think anything different."

"He speaks and his people sit up at attention," the President added. "I want my people to do the same."

[Mike-B]

Venezuela is feeling the 'bern. When chavez died he left a personal fortune of $1 to $4 BILLION ( depending who you believe ). Cuba's castro left only $900 Million. socialism is terrible for the people but great for the corrupt politicians.

[togor]

You see why I never find it necessary to respond to these guys?

Nah that's not it. We'd just work you too hard.

[togor]

No doubt Venezuela is an economic disaster. But objectively it has more to do with rule by man over rule by law than specific economic policies. Quick, who was Norway's PM 10 years ago? Answer: it scarley matters because in Norway (another oil rich small state with socialized policies) laws are paramount over the whims of rulers and corruption is low. Is that sore on a guy's member a friction burn or VD? Correct diagnosis and treatment matter for dick sores and failed states alike.

[Sandpebble]

Well.... ten years ago our economy hit the skids and Venezuela was reading about my local county laying off firemen , emt's and closing the local airport .

They also read about how the lucky few here scored jobs at WallMart and McDonalds .....

And now they read how gratful we are here in the US that a "saviour" has come and got us a all a bonus and pay raise .... at our Wallmart and McDonlds jobs .....

[S.A. Boggs]

You see why I never find it necessary to respond to these guys?

Look on the bright side Vern, you didn't have them in you company so rejoice! Very strong possibility that by the fall there will be at least one or more new conservative Supreme Court Justices who will follow Constitutional law.
Sam

[Vern Humphrey]

Look on the bright side Vern, you didn't have them in you company so rejoice! Very strong possibility that by the fall there will be at least one or more new conservative Supreme Court Justices who will follow Constitutional law.
Sam

Let us hope. In the meantime, let us hope the Supreme Court asks itself the critical question, "If the Court will not uphold the Constitution, what will uphold the Court?"

[togor]

People say "uphold the Constitution" meaning rule it their way. For some here that means state's rights when Obama is the president, the primacy of the Federal Executive when it's Trump. Totally transparent.