Quote from: stompix on May 03, 2021, 10:16:22 PM

Quote from: Cnut237 on May 03, 2021, 07:09:47 AM

US sanctions certainly do have an effect.

These evil Americans, how could they sanction this country, such greedy level capitalist.
Funny how despite all those soc called sanctions...

If you read my post, I'm saying that Chavez is partly to blame. I'm also saying Maduro is partly to blame. I'm not an apologist for the far-left. But I'm also saying that sanctions have an effect. Surely that's not so controversial? Also I don't have a particular problem with America. America behaves as the powerful have always behaved, throughout history. Britain, France, Spain, etc... back to antiquity.

Quote from: stompix on May 03, 2021, 10:16:22 PM

Quote from: Cnut237 on May 03, 2021, 10:47:56 AM

In the '70s, when oil prices were high, the capitalist-run country was thriving.

Caldera was a capitalist? Seriously? Seriousllllllllyyyy? Who the fuck nationalized the petroleum industry in Venezuela in the '70? The Martians?
Talking about the disease, this is also a socialism disease, rewriting history!

COPEI is certainly not left-wing, neither was Caldera. And Venezuelan oil was nationalised not by Caldera, but by Perez, his successor. Perez was probably centre-left? Certainly not a communist. And in any case, nationalisation of a country's primary industry is by no means incompatible with a capitalist framework. Just as a person who buys house insurance (which is obviously a form of socialised risk) shouldn't be hunted down by a McCarthyist mob and extradited to Russia.

The thread title is 'Enjoy communism'. The current situation in Venezuela is not a result of communism.
It is in large part a result of Maduro, and also of Chavez, yes... but not communism. It is also due in part to oil, sanctions, the US, previous administrations, etc. I don't see why this should be such an outrageous and controversial idea.

I should also point out, before someone alleges something to the contrary, that I personally am not a fan of communism. History demonstrates quite clearly that it is prone to corruption, and that it is unworkable. But I take issue with the popular belief that anything to the left of the hard-right libertarian laissez-faire ideal should be decried as communist.