Post: #501

I wonder what these scumbags know that we don't.

If Maduro called me up and asked if I wanted to chip in fifty bucks on the premise that I'd get a hundred back at a later date I'd laugh at the idea.

Yet apparently GS is betting on Maduro (unless there's something about this I don't get).

Post: #502

When everyone waves their hands in abandon it's time to invest.

Post: #503

(05-31-2017 04:16 AM)Leonard D Neubache Wrote:  I wonder what these scumbags know that we don't.

If Maduro called me up and asked if I wanted to chip in fifty bucks on the premise that I'd get a hundred back at a later date I'd laugh at the idea.

Yet apparently GS is betting on Maduro (unless there's something about this I don't get).

They're not betting on Maduro, they're betting on the Venezuelan government. The opposition -- who are not right wingers, they're all centrists or centre-lefters like Maduro says he is, New Coke vs. Classic -- says they "may" not honour those bonds, but the reality is that they will, because even if they take over tomorrow the country will still be just as fucked then as it is now and they will still need shitloads of currency that isn't based on bananas and bolivars. You can't teach an old SouthAm dog new tricks.

God save us from people who mean well. -storm

Post: #504

Idiot with violin plays for both sides at protests.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the...b62f10b817

Quote:CARACAS, Venezuela — Playing amid clouds of tear gas and flurries of rubber bullets, a young violinist bedecked in the bright colors of Venezuela’s flag serenades anti-government protesters and police alike with a somber rendition of the national anthem, a song that translates as “Glory to the Brave People.”

It’s been a familiar scene during more than two months of almost daily demonstrations in Venezuela’s capital, where Wuilly Arteaga has become a symbol of peaceful protest largely overshadowed by frequent clashes between rock-throwing youths and heavily armed security forces. Protests across the country demanding socialist President Nicolas Maduro’s removal have resulted in at least 65 deaths and more than 1,100 injured.

Appearances by the 23-year-old almost ended two weeks ago when he and his instrument were dragged to the ground by a national guardsman on a motorcycle. Videos of Areaga crying over his broken violin spread on social media, garnering an outpouring of sympathy. People donated cash to have the instrument repaired, others gave him old violins and Colombian pop star Shakira signed her autograph on a violin dedicated to the virtuoso.

Meanwhile, in the West, the powers that be are trying to spin Venezuela's collapse as due to populism (read: Trumpism) rather than socialism:

https://www.theatlantic.com/internationa...il/525321/

Quote:What’s the problem with populism? Why, in some circles, has the term acquired such a negative connotation? After all, you could argue that populism is simply the promotion of popular ideas with which elites disagree. You could think of it as a movement to uproot a political establishment that has become unresponsive to the public. But populism can also be described as a political logic by which politicians claim to exclusively represent the righteous people in a struggle against the corrupt elite. And the hazards of adhering to that logic are on display right now in Venezuela.

It's the Atlantic, i.e. the paper that thinks Hilary Clinton was too smart to win the Presidency, so laugh at it and ignore.

In more real news, the airlines into and out of Venezuela are starting to pull out as the regime fails to pay its debts to them:

http://fortune.com/2017/06/05/venezuela-...isis-iata/

Quote:CANCUN, Mexico — Venezuela is withholding billions of dollars from global airlines as a deepening crisis distracts from talks, an industry representative said on Sunday, a day after United Airlines announced the end of daily service to the country.

Peter Cerda, vice president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said Venezuela owes airlines "more than $3.8 billion" after years of failing to reimburse companies in hard currency for ticket sales in local currency. Last year IATA said airlines were owed $3.78 billion.

"I still think it will probably get worse before it gets better," Cerda told journalists on the sidelines of IATA's general meeting. "The government's main priority is not aviation ... We know what's happening in Venezuela with the uncertainty and violent demonstrations."

Unrest prompted by a crackdown on the political opposition and food shortages has resulted in the deaths of at least 65 people since April. On Saturday, United said it was halting its route between Caracas and Houston, citing weak demand rather than the ongoing currency dispute.

Airlines from Lufthansa to Air Canada have pulled out of Venezuela in recent years, citing everything from the payment dispute to safety concerns.

Government representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment

"The industry is trying to be sympathetic. The airlines don't want to pull out of Venezuela, but we are getting to a point where airlines need to take business decisions," Cerda said.

Which, ironically, is going to hurt Maduro's temporary allies more than his enemies: less planes out means less seats for the 0.001% of the population who have currency in US dollars when the revolution finally succeeds.

God save us from people who mean well. -storm

Post: #505

I see that Zerohedge has obtained a substantial, riveting, first-hand report from Venezuela on life there during the decline...or civil war...or maybe both, from a reader.

They package the following with an introduction including a table of historic landmarks in this civil and economic decline. (I'll omit it - this sort of recitation is already familiar to those of us on this thread.)

Here goes from one "Daisy:"

Quote:So, what is day-to-day life like for the average Venezuelan?

A reader from Venezuela took the time to comment and tell us what life is really like there. You can find her story below. (I’ve edited for spacing to make them easier to read, but please keep in mind that English is a second language.)

Daisy Thank you so much for this content.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I’m a venezuelan mom of a 1 year old baby. And we are living a war here.

You can’t go outside to buy food or supplies or medication because each activity is a high risk and more with a baby. So I stay home as much as I can. There are a lot people outside trying to live normaly, trying to go to work and buy foods and continue there lives. But when you are working or whatever thing your doing you dont know is you will be able to come back home safe… people continues to work to get whatever miserable pay to buy some food.

Everything is so expensive. Perhaps the beans and rice are affordable but still not cheap and is so hard to find food. options are limited because of the price… you can only buy one item or two of pasta, rice, like I say the less expensive food , and you have to wait in long long lines at your own risk because there are a lot of fights in this store. imagine tones of people wanting to buy the same product. this have being worst since perhaps about 5 years now… because of scarcity.

Malls and big stores are basicly alone because there are places where “colectivos” use to attack, with bombs and there is a group of about 40 men in motorcicles that have been creating chaos in the whole city, every day the take the city they have plenty of arms and the just go through the city shooting building houses, stealing stores, people on the streets, batteries of cars, everything the want… this situation is far worst that we ever imagine. they kill people every day and they are pay mercenaries from the goverment because no one does nothing.

the goverment people is also killing inocents. kids… teenagers, the youth. we are panicking. We bough a land 3 years ago. I got pregnant and we decided to wait. the land is a safe zone but is 5 hours from here. is a very small town 11. 000 people. I live ib a city with about 3 million people. at least for now the town are peaceful but there isnt electricity and the isnt an asfalt road so this doesnt sound lovely for thief that are now looking for biggest fish to cash. according to our neighbours the town is in calm nothing has happen. We need to go as soon as possible. I am scared because what you say is also true. But in the city there are no options at least not now. . what do you thnk we should do? I realize appreciate what you recommend.

I’m sorry for my bad english I’m trying to write this while playing with my baby.

Venezuelan houses are already bunkers. This has being like this ever since I can remember. Perhaps 20 years… Every regular house is made like bunkers. Pure concrete from the botton to the walls to everything. Every house has also 2 to 3 security doors really big and heavy ones and on top of that we have fences and electric fences on top Of BIG GATES. And trust me is not enough to be safe.

The army has damaged gates and has entry to different houses looking for students, or rebels… and also innocents people has died because they were sadly in the middle of this events. I don’t doubt that country land might have problems too. But so far cities are pure anarky and maddness.

There are several groups creating chaos… the army, the mercenaries, the thiefs, and the rebels that want to kill chavismo and politics and whatever on their way. A few days they put a bomb into a propane gas distribution cargo and it blew away and this have being affecting every single thing, they steal cargo transporting food or gas and even fuel… so there is no much to do now.

Communities in the city are not organize since they really need to find food and basic resources so each indivual is waiting in long lines to buy a bread or a medicine or whatever they need… and people doesnt want to organize they dont see this could go like this for years… I assume that we got used to live in some sort of chaos and violence.

But the true is most people is praying and just wishing this will pass soon. that this will pass as the moment a new presindent arrive.

And what if it doesnt? Let’s be clear that we have so many resources, and Canadá and USA are pulling all of the gold and all minerals now so no country really matters what we are suffering as long as they can get they way.

We really feel hopeless.

LINK
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-06-05...se-society

A-MAZING.

The title of the piece is what "Life in a really like in a post-collapse society." I guess so: such utter civic decline and social and criminal mayhem.

If it is really like this, would any reader here like to visit? Even if to meet with people among the privileged (still rich) upper class?

While I'm sure there will be a reversal and reinvention someday, it's utterly amazing that "life" goes on there. Such complete civilizational destruction is what it sounds like.

Post: #506

(05-31-2017 08:37 PM)Off The Reservation Wrote:  When everyone waves their hands in abandon it's time to invest.

True. But only if you can safely hold on to an asset. Given the report I've just shared from "Daisy" ABOVE, can anyone imagine how this "safety" can be maintained in Venezuela today?

HIGH, HIGH RISK, as a revolution, war, thugs and roving gangs, and famine all compete to become the next Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Post: #507

Journalists are now receiving death threats from the right wing Opposition for daring to report the truth.




There is definitely a concerted campaign by the globalists to topple the democratically elected Government of Venezuela. This follows on from the US Senate approving additional funding for the Opposition and last week, the NY Times openly calling for 'regime change' in Caracas.

Venezuela coincidentally, is also a staunch ally of Russia, Iran, China and Syria.

Post: #508

(06-08-2017 09:44 AM)Traktor Wrote:  Journalists are now receiving death threats from the right wing Opposition for daring to report the truth.




There is definitely a concerted campaign by the globalists to topple the democratically elected Government of Venezuela.

Yes, a concerted campaign by the globalists to topple the democratically elected Government of Venezuela in favour of ... another democratically elected Government of Venezuela that will basically do the same policies as Maduro et. al., just a bit slower. Unless there's a far right candidate standing in the wings ready to take power you'd like to nominate as the puppet of the Illuminati?

God save us from people who mean well. -storm

Post: #509

(06-08-2017 09:44 AM)Traktor Wrote:  Journalists are now receiving death threats from the right wing Opposition for daring to report the truth.

If you think it is true, then we know it is false. You're on of the best contrarian indicators on the forum.

More like the people hate their "democratically" elected government (the one that banned Congress for creating laws) because it has nothing to do with democracy, and they attack journalists for being lying scum shills.