I have always found incredible how politicians can destroy countries that are so rich and with so many natural resources, how they could crash the economy when they have the largest reserves of oil in the world? An effective politician could even find a way to run a small government just based on the oil profits and tourism.
Corruption. If the highest positioned politicians are in it, which they are in countries such as Venezuela, it happens almost as if it is natural. You either choose to participate or pay a hefty price for not participating.
The government there is one of the highest paying employers by far, so what is the alternative? Not many are brave enough to go against Maduro even if they don't agree with his way of "leading" the country.
In the western world you have so much more wealth and freedom available that it's hard to imagine someone would do that, but in these countries it's just the way it is. People are and will remain stuck in a shitty situation.