Is there some way to provide financial or medical help to the young girl Anailin in the story? That photo is absolutely heartbreaking and I'd love to know if there is a way to help.
153
@Matt, Thank you for your comment, and thank you to all of those who also were moved by this report and want to help. Caritas, a humanitarian aid organization, is working to provide food and medicine to Venezuela's most vulnerable communities. Please visit https://www.caritas.org/donation/venezuela/ for more information. The New York Times is not affiliated with Caritas, but is passing along this information as a courtesy to our readers.
72
Similar situation I see in every country where Putin's Russia step in - Chechnya, Georgia, Moldova, Syria and Ukraine.
How long we gonna look to this without action?
26
“You can’t produce if there’s no law,” said Rómulo Romero, a local rancher.
^^
The most chilling statement in the article, in my view.
And here in America, we watch as a lawless, unchecked criminal gang wreaks havoc on countless levels: judicial, congressional, environmental, racial, economic, social, political, moral, female, suppression of the vote, corrupting the census; and finally, on the spiritual level. Every day the list goes on, tweeted endlessly. The purpose is to numb, to dispirit.
Venezuela's collapse started with corruption and misguided policies. That has a familiar whiff.
2020 can't come soon enough, and people must vote. Laws should be enacted to require all eligible voters to vote. Or pay a hefty non-voters fine. Then use those fees to alleviate student loan debt.
A majority can't sit this next one out and then wonder what went wrong when our collapse accelerates to its logical end.
45
As a Venezuelan human rights advocate, I urge anyone who cares about our suffering to please put partisan politics aside and focus on two goals: 1) Help us get the humanitarian support that is desperately needed into the country 2) Support international efforts to get free, transparent and clean elections so that we can have a peaceful power transition. This is what local human rights NGO's are rallying around. I beg you to not let partisan US politics get in the way of doing what is right. When in doubt, please ask a Venezuelan.
43
The crux is not only authorities' incompetence but the sabotage from powers and companies.
6
Too many comments blaming socialism or sanctions. Decades of rampant corruption and an overdependence on the oil economy seem more likely culprits.
28
What kind of world do we live in?
How would you explain man’s inhumanity on Earth to an intelligent being from another galaxy?
This week, someone paid 91.1 million dollars for Jeff Koons’ 1986 “Rabbit,” a precise stainless steel copy of a plastic inflatable toy. At the same time, 2-year-old year Anailin Nava is wasting away from malnutrition and treatable muscular paralysis in a shack near an empty hospital on Toas Island, Venezuela, after its last patient died without care.
58
At least we haven't intervened militarily. That never seems to go well. I`m for a more isolated policy. We need to mind our own business.
7
It is inconceivable that USA citizens still have not got a clue about what Socialism is.
Social Security is Socialism. Would you like to end it? You could join the Republicans if your answer is yes.
Tax Breaks for the Rich and for Corporations are Socialist policies. Would you like to end socialist tax policies that favor the wealthy and large corporations? If you do join Democrats.
Socialism is just about policies that help every citizen, not just a few.
Socialism is prevalent all over Europe. Germany, France, UK, Spain and Portugal, just to name a few, have very strong socialist policies and are very successful and advanced Capitalist allies of the USA.
I will vote for the candidate and policies that will favor the largest number of citizens rather than inhumane Republican policies determined to create a dystopian country where the workers suffer and are exploited without health care or retirement benefits.
28
Trump sanctions push the population of an entire country towards starvation. Whatever your view of Chavez and Maduro, Trump 's policy is genocidal.
41
I just don't understand us humans. Meanwhile we outlaw abortion and just look at the children in this world.....where is the help for them....Alabama?
46
Where is assistance from the U.N.?
24
Is there any way to send money to Anailin Navas mother to help her get to Colombia for treatment?
11
@Sarah
No there isn’t. That would require use of the evil American dollar and capitalist financial intermediaries—this’d disputable products of capitalism that actually function.
8
Why does the UN exist? After Russia and Iran’s bombing of Syria , apartheid in the Congo, and now Venezuela have to wonder if UN should be shut down.
26
This is a slow and painful death for the Venezuelans .
Dictator Maduro has grown fat and happy in his sadistic world.
Sickening.
34
VoodDoo USA foreign policy is to blame.
10
I woke up this morning thinking about the people living in Venezuela. How can rich countries pretend that this is all about failed leadership? This is about people dying because we no longer see humanity as a collective worth saving. Abandoning them in a country that has become a concentration camp because there is no single villain to fight is appalling. The villain is our greed and apathy.
24
@JW: Yes, but it’s not ‘we’ who, as you put it so well, “no longer see humanity as a collective worth saving.” It’s our current administration.
13
No, this is Maduro's responsibility.
19
What’s the point of having the United Nations if they can’t intervene here? It’s mind boggling that China and Russia would support this starvation campaign against all common sense. I hope democracy and free market are restored swiftly in Venezuela. It would be Trumps biggest achievement if he got rid of Maduro regime and restored normalcy.
23
It would be even more apocalyptic if Venezuela were to become an American client state.
8
The picture reminds me of inner cities I have seen in the United States.
The picture reminds me of Native American reservations in the United States.
The photo reminds me of Appalachia and Missouri and the deep south in the United States.
The photo reminds me of immigration "shelters" where children are separated from their parents and placed in cages.
31
Let's be clear, what ever Venezuela's problems, the U.S. is not involved out of concern for the people of Venezuela.
The U.S. has caused a run on Venezuela's currency by manipulating exchange rates. That has financially destabilized the country.
Now the U.S. is blaming Maduro for the financial troubles they helped create.
The ultimate goal is to install a U.S. educated stooge (Guaido) who will make Venezuela friendly to U.S. oil companies.
The United States has overthrown democratically elected leaders, rigged elections, and staged coups over 50 times in South America. This is what it looks like.
Shamefully, the Times is going along with the plot against Venezuela.
19
“It’s really hard to think of a human tragedy of this scale outside civil war”. Perhaps there is one, The Great Leap Forward campaign, an economic and social campaign by Communist Party of China (CPC) from 1958 to 1962 that kills around 30 million Chinese.
26
Humanitarian intervention is desperately needed, not sanctions or armies. Our current policy is anti-human and shames us all.
12
See what socialism brings? Will we learn?
26
This isn't caused by socialism, it's the result of rampant corruption and willful disregard for the lives of Venezuelans.
24
Socialism is not characterized by bad economics or by thugs taking power.
The question is will the USA ever understand that proving quality healthcare, programs to reduce poverty and to intervene in the lives of children through quality day care, parental support is not communism or socialism. It is caring which turns out to save billions.
The USA ranks 31 among developed countries in the quality of healthcare services according to a WHO study. Other studies like the Commonwealth Study show similar results. YET, you pay more in administration costs than any other developed country...with lower health outcomes.
Maybe read a bit about Sweden, Australia, Canada, Uk, Norway, Germany, France....learn about why it is important to consider social development is the other side of the coin to economic development.
16
Sanctions are a brutal way of undermining a government. These suffering people had hopes of a better future by sharing in the vast oil wealth of Venezuela. But oil is both a blessing and a curse. Like any other wealth it becomes the target of the greedy.
And too often leads to war.
17
it all start with corruption in the government, isn't it ?
beware of the Trump Administration.
12
Whoever replaces Maduro should enter office in an orange jumpsuit with shackles around their wrists and ankles because in all likelihood they will be serving a prison term after serving presidential term, for corruption.
3
Writer Anatoly Kurmanaev informed us yesterday that
Venezuela's collapse us the worst in decades.
Instead of meat, their people can only afford fat shavings or cow hooves.
Instead of the United States and Russia, taking sides in this devastating dispute, they (and others) can turn this tragedy into a world victory.
Here's how---Let's go back to year 1988 --Operation Breakthrough.
1988 Some whales in Alaska were trapped in ice so a more sympathetic world(at that time) thought up a way to save them with operation-- "Breakthrough"
Within a short period, ships from The U.S.A. and the Soviet Union(our enemy) were on their way to save the three whales
named Bonnet, Crossbeak and Bone.
The Soviet ship Admiral Makarov finally cleared a path for the three whales and the world celebrated.
Now back to today--and Venezuela,U.S.A, Russia.
Instead of our usual thoughtless disputes between these three countries,why doesn't it occur to us that the starving people of Venezuela are as deserving as three whales that were trapped by Alaskan ice in 1988.
Venezuela is calling out for help, not our usual disputes !
Hopefully, the people of Venezuela can have a little more to eat than fat shavings or cow hooves
Time for PERSPECTIVE-- "The capacity to view things in their true relations and relative importance" (M. Webster)
United States, Russia and the others---Get Going !
NOW is a time for OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH Venezuela.
( Sent to N.Y. Times 5/17/19)
14
We should stop squeezing Venezuela. We should help the people of that country by leaving them alone, free to make their own mistakes and success.
16
Nobody mentions over-population. The fate of Venezuela awaits us all as the Trumpian oligarchs seize the wealth of the earth country and it gets overwhelmed by destitution and environmental calamity.
17
How did you manage to write an entire article about the devastating effects of socialism without once using the word socialism?
22
This isn't the fault of socialism - socialism does not equal the profound corruption and brutality of the Maduro regime. I say this as someone who sees pure socialism as a system that doesn't work.
4
Maybe because socialism is not the root cause of the problem?
7
@Steve Crisp
Because socialism has nothing to do with it. The tragedy in Venezuela is of US making. We have starved that country with punishing sanctions and and embargo for years and that policy is killing people.
4
No where in this article does it talk about the interference the US government has had on Venezuelan governments that lies at the heart of the current economic debacle there. The NYTimes would do us all a favour by doing some real investigative journalism into US meddling in the affairs of the states of South America.
19
I also lived there ... from 2005 to 2007... It is important in my opinion for all good heart people and descent to spend some time reflecting how such a vibrant, diverse, rich in human and natural resources county ends like that. This is a crisis that should serve at least to open our eyes, not to puts even more in shadows because of personal political views or ideological beliefs.
9
Well, I guess socialism does not work. So all you starry eyed college kids with no dirt under your fingernails but so much gosh darn experience with life-look at what happens when the state decides who gets what-kind of like unions today with all of the disabilities allowed. Kinda wandered there. Stick with me .
14
Sounds like when the crisis ends it will be a good place for Trump to build a tower for himself.
5
"The crisis has been compounded by American sanctions," you write, but the “recession” began long before that according to “most independent economists.” Do your independent economists also say with or without sanctions the recession would have inevitably collapsed into the images on display? And what exactly is an independent economist, one who does not agree with Columbia University’s world renowned economist, Jeffrey Sachs, whose recent report argues US sanctions have devastated Venezuela and killed over 40,000 since 2017. What are your economists independent from?
7
Amazing in all these months of coverage to see people sitting around or picking through trash. Its like they are waiting for our $$ to flow in and save them. Either you gang up and fight or walk out of the country if you have to. What are you leaving behind?
2
It is time for the USA to invade Venezuela under the Monroe Doctrine and right this disaster. It would be short, sweet and the vast majority of natives would relish it.
7
Whoever replaces Masturdo should probably enter office in an orange jumpsuit with shackles around their wrists, waist, and ankles, because they will likely be serving a prison sentence for corruption after they have served as president.
Who cares. They democratically elected Chavez. Now they pay the price. Let them solve their own problems.
7
Confession: it was so few months ago we saw the famous Yemem photos, that my compassion is tapped out. At least momentarily. But now, late at night, in the quiet and comfort of my living room, sipping a glass of wine ....... the tears fall. Whether it is Venezuela, Yemen, or the massage parlors in Florida and New York, the Times is bringing these tragedies into the open. If it was a foreign newspaper, I would suspect the pictures were staged. But this is the New York Times. No out for us. This is real. Either we fight against this as fellow human beings or we just give up and admit we are no different from any other beasts of the jungle.
14
Response from Cindy Sheehan to this economy/gov't form she once promoted as a world savior? Nothing. As innocent children starve to death.
4
What happens to prisons in such chaos? Are murderers and rapists just set lose on the population? How terrifying.
4
The fruits of socialism.
14
What a sad situation, to blame Trump for this is just a sickness of the mind.
The USA is not even close to being one of these countries at this stage in its development. Maybe in its formative years but we are past that now. So forget the hysterical arguments on this topic as they are just a distraction.
This all started with corruption at the higher levels. Very typical in certain countries where an elite class of businessmen and corrupt politicians rob the country and a middle class does not arise.
This gave rise to Chavez, a leftist ideologue who I do not believe started out as a crook, but was incompetent and did manage to destroy the country. Then with all the chaos a new elite group of crooks emerged that were even worse than the last.
The people that backed Chavez and Maduro from the left should be the first to acknowledge their mistake as this will help to maybe remove Maduro from power. This is what adults do, learn from there mistakes and evolve.
These criminals that I consider worse than Pablo Escobar will never release power unless by force. The concept that a nice conversation with them and maybe a nice bottle of Bordeaux wine will dislodge them is infantile and naive.
Its time for the final decisive push to expel these criminals.
A combination of Brazil, Colombia and USA militaries in a precision operation is all that’s needed to finish these pigs off.
14
While people in this country are using government time and spending millions of dollars protecting collections of cells in the abortion wars, the children of Venezuela are starving to death. How is that Christian?
12
Don’t forget the effect of the fracking revolution.
“A decade ago, in the summer of 2008, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was racing toward $150 a barrel… It is hard to overstate the consequences of the fracking revolution, because the U.S. oil production surge broke OPEC's stranglehold on global oil prices. Every country in the world would likely have paid much higher oil prices over the past decade if the new oil boom in the U.S. hadn't happened…”
“How The Fracking Revolution Broke OPEC's Hold On Oil Prices.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2018/07/22/how-the-fracking-revolution-broke-opecs-hold-on-oil-prices/#2e07a5f848ef
PDVSA’s average crude oil, per barrel sale price fell from $100 in 2011 to $35 in 2016.
Revenues, net of purchases of crude oil and products, tumbled from $85 billion to $24 billion in 2016.
Overall PDVSA debt exceeded $41 billion in 2016.
Profit before contributions for social development and taxes dropped from $53 billion ($1,500 per year per capita) to less than $7 billion ($200 per year per capita) in 2016.
PDVSA Consolidated Financial Statements December 31, 2016, pp. 10, 11 and 105.
http://www.pdvsa.com/images/pdf/estado_financiero/pdvsa_ef_ingles_16.pdf
https://settysoutham.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/pdvsa-2013.pdf
2
By happenstance, I happened to chose to read this article about the economic disaster in Venezuela and a totally unrelated article about the use of anti-bacterial drugs to combat a pest infestation impacting citrus crops. Totally unrelated subjects. But what was common in each article was the excellence of journalism - informative, offering different perspectives, and trusting the reader to make a judgement about a complex topic. These articles reflect the type of journalism that makes the NY Times special.
7
Politicians allowed this to happen.
Humans are caretakers of Gaia and have failed.
Venezuela is a silent war against humanity by power brokers.
USA could have been uplifting this country instead we Trumpify and McConalize our responses to all crisis .
Vote 2020. Start treating our southern friends as well as you treat the Sauds and Israel. Of course trumpism allows them to decimate the Middle East. While trump decimates our continent. No more winning for the USA.
3
On February 8 of this year, This same author , Anatoly Kurmanaev explained that the United States placed sanctions on Venezuela's oil and that it's citizens may suffer first because of these sanctions.
Now please take one more look at the New York Times picture that is included with yesterdays(May 17) article by N.Y. Times writer Anatoly Kurmanaev.
Enough said.
One thing about our country. You are allowed to vote for anyone you choose for president in 2020
5
Venezuela’s tragedy is something I see every day where I live, near the Colombian border, where refugees continue poring in. It is a tragic situation that seems to offer no good alternatives.
While the refugees I talk to would be more than happy for the US to intervene to oust the universally loathed Maduro, the US doesn’t exactly have a good track record with regime change, so it’s hard to argue for that. The alternative of sanctions end up hurting primarily those people that don’t have the resources to leave the country. I cannot think of any alternative other than wishing Guaido and his grassroots movement good luck in dealing with a nearly impossible situation.
In the meantime, nobody should blame “socialism” for Venezuela’s decline, as the R’s have been trying to do. It is actually a patronage state that has relied on oil and political handouts ever since Chavez, and is now facing the consequences of venal leadership. Sound familiar?
735
@Michael This comment simply does not square with reality. Do you know who runs Venezuela The United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Chavez was an ardent follower of socialism’s handbook — which Madura continues to this day. Chavismo itself was “democratic socialism,” as his Western elite defenders so often liked to tell us. Madura continues to this day. Know why Venezuelans are starving? The socialist economic planners forced farmers to sell food at low prices, meaning enormous losses. Now productive farmland is abandoned by bankrupt food producers. Welcome to socialism.
70
@Michael
Yes it sounds familiar. it will be the 68th overthrow of a sovereign government by the United States.
21
@Jack I lived in India and can tell you that all socialists states eventually devolve into patronage states. When the market does not determine the allocation of a nation's bounty, bureaucrats do.
41
Looks like the Bolton plan is working. Make them suffer 'until we get what we want.......total oil control.
45
Sure. What's happening in Venezuela is Trump's fault and has nothing to do with the Marxist Socialist policies that country has been following for two decades.
Maybe Bernie can "fix everything" by imposing the same policies in the US.
18
@will segen This was happening while Obama was president as well. I blame Trump and his appareathiks like Bolton for many things, but this isn't their fault.
6
@cato
I don't pretend to understand the complexities of the situation in Venezuela. However, you accuse people from the left for "a heartless lack of feeling, empathy and anguish for what the Venezuela are going through right now." The real "heartless lack of feeling, empathy and anguish" I see is the Trump administration imposing strong sanctions on Venezuela when it was on the verge of economic collapse, dooming the country's ability to support any kind of life for its citizens. The sanctions hurt he citizens more than they hurt the Maduro government. It seems to me that empathy would result in policies which would help improve the lives of Venezuela's people, while finding long term solutions to the political situation.
2
I searched the story for the string "socialis" and got zero results. The cause of Venezuela's descent remains a mystery to The Times and many of its readers.
10
@Arundo Donax that's because Venezuela wasn't actually a socialist country. It's a dictatorship. It's a kleptocracy. Full stop.
16
What a human catastrophe. The left blames the US and the right blames the local left. One thing is sure, our president will do nothing to help the Venezuelan people unless there is a great political advantage for him or money for him to make. Only a humanitarian effort by non-governmental or international groups can be trusted to help.
507
@Alan Mass - Unfortunately attempts to provide food and medicinal aid are being blocked by Maduro because he says that the purpose of it is to make it look as if Venezuela needs outside help, to cast doubt on the fitness of its present government.
So aid is blocked from entering.
89
How about the Venezuelans help themselves? Are they incapable of running their own country?
19
@KitKat Did you not read the article? They are not capable of running their own country. That has been the problem for many years. Unfortunately because of this many, many innocent people are suffering terribly. I know it seems terrible to help those who can't help themselves. Maybe you would prefer stepping up sanctions to punish their suffering.
88
Venezuela suffers more due to US sanctions and overt CIA-sponsored operations than it's own internal governance. US corporations want control of Venezuela's resources and the US government is seeking to overthrow the Venezuelan democratically elected government. The CIA & Western petrochemical corps are feeding our media & us misinformation to justify their militaristic policies in service to greed.
18
@Paul Stanford
The long-standing decline of Venezuela has everything to do with dysfunctional (and corrupt) socialism as practiced by Chavez and Maduro and little to nothing to do with the U.S., let alone 'corporations'.
In the short-term, the only reason why Maduro remains in power is because Trump is too weak to call Putin up and tell him to get out of Venezuela.
17
@Paul Stanford
Dear Paul,
Your comment would be more plausible if the Venezuelan authorities would allow humanitarian aid to come into the country. Why are they blocking shipments of food and medicine from Colombia?
7
The US sanctions on Venezuela have cost 40,000 lives since 2017. In 2002 the US tried to overthrow Chavez, for the crime of nationalizing their oil. Increased sanctions were started by Obama in 2015 and then Trump has ramped them up and also froze their banking assets. Sanctions are a form of economic warfare outlawed by the UN.
The US is behind trying to install the right-winger Guaido ( who only 50 out of more than 190 countries recognize), but not for democracy or to help the people, but to control their resources. The US provides military assistance to 73% of the dictators in the world. So certainly we do not care about democracy in Venezuela. We also are supporting the Dictator of Saudi Arabias war in Yemen supplying al Qaeda with weapons and air support, the worlds largest humanitarian disaster, so we do not care about humanitarian help to countries.
Venezuela has the largest reserves of oil in the world. It is heavy crude oil and Trumps backers the Koch Brothers want this heavy oil for their Texas refinery which can only process heavy not light crude oil. It is also about controlling Venezuela oil for the upcoming Iran war, where the US is going to blockade shipments.
Trump just needs to lift the sanctions to relieve hardship.
325
The last sentence is hopelessly optimistic. Chavez started this disaster, Madura made it worse, China is playing debt diplomacy to get access to the reserves. Don’t take it from me, look at the statements from Venezuela’s neighbors.
87
@steve Thousands deaths, millions of refugees, country in tatters,... very simple to blame the US and Koch Bros and reduce it to left x right struggles. What about the perpetrators, the enforcers, the narco military gang surrounding Maduro, his death squads, militia,...
The crisis and refugee flows started long before the sanctions, which at first were very targeted at the Maduro gang. With or without sanctions these guys will continue to steal and plunder the country into oblivion.
134
@steve
Sorry the collapse of Venezuela is the sole result of the Chavez-Maduro absurd economic policies and massive corruption. Sanctions were impossed only recent and mostly to individuals while the economic decline has many years unfolding .
"...Chavez, for the crime of nationalizing their oil. "
This is a very common misconception outside Venezuela. The Venezuelan oil industry was nationalized in the 70's (~20 years before Chavez) during Venezeuela's democratic period. Carlos Andres Perez was the president at the time. After nationalization and until Chavez gutted it, PDVSA was a well run, by Venezuelans , company .
204
Seeing hellish, horrific, devastating babies in torment--makes one think-what can I do to help? Just as climate change--this is a humanity crisis and anyone human has a task--however little, to pitch in.....
4
Yes, of course it could happen here. I am afraid we are not too big too fail. Just overwhelming. When I was there in the early 2000's I noted that it had the feel of what I imagined to be a medieval fiefdom with a good dose of machismo and racism thrown in. The indigenous peoples and the poor, and also Chavez, were held in contempt by the disappearing Middle Class. This is what happens when everywhere becomes the other side of the tracks.
235
@deborah wilson I understand and respect that you were there in the early 2000s. However, the truth is that it was the middle class that voted Chavez in and a good number of rich families supported him as well. National newspapers endorsed the guy, talking heads. He flew around the countries to campaign events on private planes lent to him by oligarchs. The circumstances leading to Chavez's elections and the electoral results are public for all to see. Chavez became president because the middle class lost faith in liberalism and instead took the easy way out of populism.
33
@deborah wilson
Yet AOC, Bernie and Ilhan still support Maduro.
18
Saudia Arabia policy of pumping to much oil lowered the price to almost $20 . Venezuela is a victim of an indirect oil war
6
I’m sorry Omar, but youre wrong. I grew up in a wealthy and prosper Venezuela in the 60s with an oil barrel under $1. It climbed up to over $100 in my lifetime. You can make the price $200 today and the chavista regime would have found ways to squander and steal it all.
10
This is the result of far right neoliberalism, not of socialism.
9
Americans wake up: with the direction our country has taken these last 2-3 years, this could be sooner than one may think.
God, The Force, and our traditional allies help us, and let us help ourselves to effect positive change for all of our and the world's people and especially for our children and grandchildren.
And may we be/come worthy of forgiveness, including our own.
8
It could happen in the USA if you don't do something about the environment as I just read that USA citrus farmers fruit has a fungal disease. Pollution not only causes diseases in humans but also agricultural and meat products. You also need to plow a lot of money into border control so as new diseases and pests don't enter your nation and kill all your crops.
I won't be eating any USA citrus fruit after reading an article on the topic. NZ fruit only.
Your President has too much power in decision making and absolute power corrupts and could collapse your economy. Conservative governments always cut back on necessary government expenditure such as biosecurity and there's always consequences with open borders and globalisation causing new diseases and insects coming into your nation.
9
People need to stop citing Scandinavian countries as poster nations for socialism. They've developed a system they call "enlightened capitalism." If they're socialist, explain publicly traded companies like Volvo, Ikea, Nokia and Electrolux.
55
@HKGuy
Okay, genius or rightwing troll. Having spent time in Scandinavian countries and others such as France and the Netherlands, I'll give you some facts about "democratic socialism" and "enlightened capitalism" are the same things. Both include publicly traded corporate entities you cited. Which corporations, by the way, participate successfully in multiple ways in their home countries without owning the political system like in the US.
How about: basic universal health care vs.private insurance cartels, worker pension systems vs.CEO millions and Wall Street vulture capitalists such as Carl Icahn. Those countries have participation by actual working people in both corporate and government structures; military service and budgets that aren't about invading other countries and endless but profitable for corporations such as Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, et al. Perfect? No. But well beyond the kakistocracy masking as "democracy" we now have in the US since at least Reagan.
25
@HKGuy they are also extremely non-diverse countries and have some of the most strict immigration laws in the word.
7
@HKGuy Then they also need to stop calling people like Sanders and AOC socialist, for exactly the same reason.
7
WE did this with our sanctions. Sanctions always hit the poor. Look what we did to the children of Iraq before we illegally invaded that country. We should immediately lift our sanctions and stay out of Venezuela's politics. This is on us.
352
@Bev That is not true. The sanctions have been against a few high-level politicians. Sanctions with bite were only enacted a few months ago, long after the economy had been destroyed.
118
Food ordered and paid for was Blocked starting in 2017. Also insulin and other medical supplies. Without infant formula many cannot survive. This was long before any sanctions were published.
85
@Pierre Sogol OH NO! Some Sanctions were already in place under Obama such as the ban on venezuelan ships to come to American harbors forcing Venezuela to use foreign shipping companies to transport oil ata much higher cost. Besides I have read that there is ashortage of oil tankers.
Something drastic forced a reduction of oil production and it came from the US!
23
This is an example of Democratic Socialism at work and the resulting failure of their policies!
38
Truly this is NOT in any way democratic socialism. Look at Sweden and Norway, not Venezuela. There is a VAST difference between putting some rules and protections for people around the worst impulses of unregulated capitalism and acting as a society on the knowledge that a community does better with some type of social safety net and investment. There is no serious democratic candidate proposing any type of economic or other public policy that would result in the US looking like Venezuela. Although if we don’t act on some of the impending climate change, there are other roads that lead to the type of devastation that is being ravaged on the Venezuelan people.
156
@The Critic China is also a communist country. Not exactly a failure though. Venezuela is a cautionary lesson about the dangers of populism. Chavez was unquestioned by too many in his country, even as more experienced voices warned about what he was doing. He's a warming about Trump, more than anything.
74
@The Critic This is marxism and not democratic socialism. And hopefully you didn't miss another rather important point in the piece:
"You can't produce if there's no law" said Romulo Romero a local rancher.
Now that's something anti-government, anti-regulation, anti-social, libertarian Republicans, can take to the bank.
11
@talesofgenji.
You are absolutely correct. What started as a real solution for the disenfranchised turned into a nightmare, and it wasn't only Chavez's fault. Bush Jr. and Obama played a big role in setting in motion the debacle we now see. Unfortunately, Americans politicians don't like to recognize that our careless rhetoric and meddling in the internal affairs of Latin American countries seldom turn well for the people in those countries. I would venture to say that most American politicians ignore who Simón Bolivar was, the country's rich literary and historically heritage, and that Venezuela has had six coups d' etat. Many of those overthrows just replaced one despot for another.
2
Worst outside of war? Really? That's because we have done everything to them possible without actually invading. Lift the sanctions and let them decide their government under ordinary circumstances. In fact, enshrine that into international law.
I am afraid this crisis is no longer about power or finances it’s more about humanity.I believe all countries including USA should come up to help this nation. I also fail to understand how a country having the ‘the worlds largest proven oil reserves’ face such misery when we have rich and prosperous oil producing states in the Middle East ? Further considering that oil is a basic commodity which every country requires ! I am awed with grief on the state of the nation .
2
This is what happens when corrupt oligarchs seize control of a country and drive the masses into penury by extracting higher and higher amounts of wealth for themselves and then align themselves with the military in an attempt to keep order. Those who think it could not happen in the US are delusional. We could be participating in the trailer for the next blockbuster movie: "The Decline and Fall of the US".
Maduro and his cronies are still eating well, and stealing what little there is left to take. Show some compassion Mr Trump and lift the sanctions, the regime will eventually collapse under its own weight.
I know Venezuela fairly well and am very sad that a combination of extreme incompetence, divisiveness and corruption has led to this catastrophic decline.
However, I wonder why this article mentions similar decline only in Cuba, the Soviet Union and Zimbabwe. What about the long list of brutally capitalist, US-friendly/client regimes in Latin America, Asia and Africa which also ruined their economies for the very same reasons (plus extreme inequality, money-laundering, armed conflict, injustice and curtailment of freedoms to boot)?
Venezuela has been caught in a pincer movement of bad policies, and they started well before the Chavez/Maduro regime. In the 1970s, Carlos Andres Perez, a previous president, nationalized the nation's energy and heavy industry sectors and began a brutal process of socializing a thriving economy, well before Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro put the final touches on the disaster. Since the government became the primary market paymaster, businessmen stopped responding to consumer sentiment and made their profits directly, and corruptly, from ties to government bureaucrats who had lots of money to throw around.
Instead of eliminating the divide between rich elites and the poor, as Perez intended, it worsened the problem. It opened the door for violent dictators like Chavez and Maduro to line their pockets by peddling their socialist dreamscape in a country with a long tradition of corruption and violence.
Replacing market systems with government bureaucracies seldom turns out well, and oil reserves often are more of a curse than a blessing when they are the target of such nationalization. But as America's newly-minted batch of "democratic socialists" are proving, simplistic solutions to complex problems are easy to sell to small-minded or bitter people.
3
Capitalism is not without its problems but the real reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere in the world where it's been tried isn't because the right people haven't gotten in charge. Note that the "socialist lite"countries of Europe are severely challenged today.
Our Venezuela policy is bring run by regime-change artists like John Bolton and Elliot Abrams, who have learned nothing from the fiascos this approach has wrought over the past 20 years or more. Sanctions won't work; they crush the middle and lower classes, cause the regime to double down, and are a mere nuisance to the rich. Anyone with the means and the talent flees the country -- and don't think they'll return to help us rebuild after the invasion. The administration is apparently trying to provide humanitarian aid -- but this won't work, since the Maduro regime, which we have pledged to eradicate, will never let it get it to those in need. Negligible benefit at best.
And make no mistake -- invasion is where we're headed. Here's the playbook: we divide the army, instigate an insurrection, then help out the freedom fighters with a military intervention. Then we get to try our hand at mitigating the humanitarian catastrophe described here -- and good luck with that when we can't even fix Puerto Rico. Perhaps a bonanza for some ambitious contractors.
I hold no brief for Maduro and his misrule; a former bus driver who did not finish high school, he has no business running a country. His predecessor Chavez was an incompetent demagogue as well -- but he exploited the divisions in Venezuelan society created by the decades-long greed and stupidity of its ruling classes. These are the people now howling for a US rescue from their bolt-holes in Florida and Spain.
1
The suffering of these families is heartbreaking, shocking, and appalling.
1
This collapse has been caused by our sanctions, our oil embargo, and the sabotage of their electrical power grid. It has been caused by us. Did Venezuela have problems before all of our interventions and regime change effort? Yes, but so do many countries, including our own where 40% of our population can not afford a $400 emergency and 50% are poor or low income and the majority live paycheck to paycheck and we have an absolute authoritarian, corrupt leader. Would that give a stronger country than ours, if it existed, the right to do to us what we are doing to Venezuela? This is all about the oil and installing the corrupt oligarchy back into Venezuela where they once had power and ran the country like their own personal piggy bank. The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela is the direct cause of our policies.
Doesn't it seem that all human societies fail eventually, the capitalist style from rampant greed and inequality, and the socialist style, that might share more with the workers, from corruption and lack of enterprise? In the situation of this hemisphere, Central and S. American countries cannot survive because if they do, the capitalist system sees them as a threat and busts a gut to bring them down. It is not the fault of socialism, but US desire for hegemony and control.
Just curious—we still have a State Department—right? Where is the pro-active planning, I mean the planning that results in saving lives and minimimizing the destabilizing effects of a new wave of immigration. Trump is seeking the transfer of $1.5 billion for his wall. A third of that would go a long way toward feeding children who have no responsibility for this tragic mess.
Why are we being so hard nosed? Oil? John Boulton’s ego? Donald Tump’s need to put himself in the same league with the world’s most authoritarian thugs. Venezuela may be stuck with a dictator and inept regime because of her history and economic stressors but at some point we will have to ask ourselves why we allow a man to remain in the Whitehouse who adds to the world’s pain rather than minimizing it.
No one can convince me Madero is blameless, and he is not the man Chavez was. But clearly the collapse of oil and US sanctions have played a very major role.
I was in Venezuela in 1993 and while mismanagement and inequality were frightening the country was cool to visit and strikingly beautiful.
I'd venture that the catastrophe cannot be fully blamed on either rightwing or leftist policy. Norway, Botswana and Saudi Arabia have, overall, managed their wealth even with wildly divergent policies, cultures and world views. Bad leadership, corrupt and incompetent. And lack of a functioning deep state...
I find the amount of blame in these letters for the US, especially the ones from other countries, to be ill-informed. I know the international press is against Trump and I realize that you don’t get a lot of unfiltered information since everyone hates him so much, however this is purely a Venezuelan problem created by Venezuela. They’ve been supported by Cuba and have tried to ride high oil prices and the government collapsed when the oil prices collapsed pure and simple. They should have been investing the oil money in other enterprises but they are corrupt and had no interest in bringing in expertise that could’ve saved their people from this disastrous path. Of course being the most powerful country in the world everyone blames the US for everything, Cuba, Russia, and China of course get a pass but think about what the world will be like if you ever got your wish and the US was brought low and the international order was run by China. You’re gonna really love that.
3
Sad to say, the majority of citizens of this country do not want the US to “interfere”. In fact, significant proportions of the voters there have been keeping these lunatics in power over the years. Even today the opposition would barely win an election, and as soon as the country was somewhat back on its feet it would be Yanqui Go Home all over again. They have the oil and the resources, they should just be left to work it out themselves. It’s the job of the people there to rise up, not have us come in just so we can be hated again six months later.
2
This disaster is the direct result of a us embargo and undermining of the Venezuelan economy. Like the coup we continue to support in Honduras, the results are and will be death, desperation and refugees. While some democrats remain obsessed by the notion that another country tied to influence votes in our election, we continue to wreak physical mayhem and mass death in Venezuela to imposed our chosen, unelected leader on them. Americans should be aghast, ashamed and outraged at the arrogant criminality and stubborn refusal to learn from history of our own corrupt and aggressive regime.
It's what happens when people clamor for and elect a charismatic leader like Chavez and find out twenty years later they made a huge error in judgement. That's why we, American voters, must cling to our Freedom, our Constitution and the rule of law. This can happen anywhere in the world.
2
Perhaps Venezuela is what the Founders envisioned when writing the 2nd Amendment. Disarming the people was the final step in this sad tale that will only end with outside military intervention.
1
Sanctions? Tariffs? Lawless power-hungry liars and grifters claiming to be working on behalf of the people rob those very people blind and somehow just taking the money is not enough. They feel compelled to impose further cruel and all to usual economic punishment which always hurts the most vulnerable. And for what? What does the U.S. hope to accomplish by exacerbating the problem in Venezuela rather than helping? Oil or, if you like Money. However you state the situation, haven been looted by their own corrupt and incompetent politicians, our corrupt and incompetent politicians are coming to pick the bones of whatever is left. And the people suffer.
Nixon directed the CIA to "make Chile's economy scream" when they elected socialist President Salvador Allende. Do you really think that hasn't happened in Venezuela?
Chile's copper and other mineral deposits are of great interest to big US investors as is Venezuela for it's large oil reserves.
Does the US government really care about the suffering of the Venezuelan people? It didn't make much of a fuss when right-wing regimes in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador and Guatemala were slaughtering thousands of their own people. If you were around in the 60's, 70's, and 80's, you noticed that.
1
There is nothing to gain from the situation. US sanctions are only cripling further the country. Just lift them, the regime is here to stay anyway, you might as well save what can be saved.
1
It is a war. An economic war. The US is trying to hasten the collapse. All those deaths are on the hands of Pompeo and Bolton.
Venezuela is a perfect example of why a constitution based on rule of law is the basis for collective survival; without equality for all citizens that can be enforced with fairness, facts and reason, you will eventually be ruled by the corrupt powerful. Or not ruled as this endgame plays out.
This is why, even though it’s highly advanced, democracy is in great peril in The United States today. The current president represents the entire summation of US history of law, yet he is ignoring the rules that put him there in the first place. He believes he is above it all and can manipulate rules for personal gain.
If there is not enough will to challenge what is happening, the collapse of society is not impossible. How many thought something like this would get as bad as it has so quickly in Venezuela? Why would it not happen to the USA?
1
They have not handed over themselves to the people who are exploiting rest of the world so they are facing this disaster, but if stand against those tyrants they can recover soon. Entire world is standing with them.
Terrible to read how a nation can be destroyed by corruption. Civilisation is only skin deep when it comes to hunger. And as always it’s the guys with the most guns who eat. And this can happen anywhere.
1
We need to lift sanctions immediately and do everything we can to reduce the misery. Why? Because it is the right thing to do and because the population will never forgive us if we don't.
What is happening to the people of this country is obscene. Are we not better than this?
Lots of numbers, but not enough understanding of the human scale of the tragedy. Colombia is full of Venezuelans seeking work. The diaspora has been estimated to be anywhere from 2-8M. Doctors fly from Caracas to Holguin, Cuba to trade for food, cash, and drugs. How sadly ironic given Cuba has been subsidized by Venezuela since the ‘Special Period,’ when the USSR subsidies collapsed. We should be sending aid, not sanctions, but with such a corrupt state, to whom?
1
This disaster is the direct result of a US embargo and undermining of the Venezuelan economy. Like the coup we continue to support in Honduras, the results are and will be death, desperation and refugees. While some democrats remain obsessed by the notion that another country tried to influence votes in our election, we continue to wreak physical mayhem and mass death in Venezuela to imposed our chosen, unelected leader on them. Americans should be aghast, ashamed and outraged at the arrogant criminality and stubborn refusal to learn from history of our own corrupt and aggressive regime
This is your tax dollars at work.
Exxon Mobile was tossed out of Venezuela for ripping off their oil for pennies on the dollar. Since then they have been bribing our politicians to get their nearly free oil reserves back by any and all means possible. They chose cutting off their banking and it is starving them to death. This is our doing. Our bought off corrupt politicians that are starving these people.
Maduro and his administration have no checks on their power, and they have oil. It’s a combination that is bringing massive human misery. We are terrorists with culpability in this crisis. It’s heartbreaking. We are also culpable in Yemen and Iran. Our country’s karma is not good.
Lifting sanctions will have no effect. Any food, money, medicine that comes into Venezuela will be grabbed by and further enrich the corrupt.
1
Country gets rich, leaders get corrupt, people not happy, peasant revolt to vote in new leaders with new cronies but need to share more with the people, economy not sustainable and downward spiral continues till breaking point and the rich leaves, leaving the poor with scraps. Repeat.
Not even a country with the world’s largest proven reserves of oil can escape the destructive power of socialism.
1
Does the UN ever do anything useful of great significance like, say, building an international coalition to restore law and order in Venezuela and see to it that the people don't starve to death?
Presidents Ford and Carter signed executive orders that effectively ended CIA political assassinations. And what a shame they did. Cutting off the head of the snake can change the course of history. Imagine if Chavez were taken out before his corruption and ruinous policies. Now, we're limited to more blunt attempts like sanctions. Bring back 007 and Carrie Matheson.
2
Venezuela was a place where education and very hard work gave you social mobility.
A widow, mother of five, the eldest an 11-year-old, with almost nothing, could go back to school, work, become a Ph.D. and an author, build a home and produce 5 adults with values and carers: 2 engineers, 2 economists and, a dentist.
That was my mother. I was 11.
11
If Bernie Sanders (who loved Daniel Ortega in the 1980s) is the Democratic nominee, Venezuela will be exhibit A in the Republican argument against his "Socialism". It may not be a correct analogy, but it will resonate. And it will resonate strongly in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Senator Sanders carries a lot of ideological political baggage.
Warning.
21
Planet Money has a good series on this issue; the rot in Venezuela is very deep but what really didn't help was the nationalization and price fixing of agriculture. Venezuela has tons of arable, rich land, and should be able to feed itself, at least. The starvation catastrophe is entirely artificial.
10
Very sad to witness that this country (and Argentina too) in total disarray and decline due to bad political leadership or total lack of same.
It put a serious question up front- when is it the international community’s obligation to intervene in a country whose population is suffering from the bad governments action?
If US does it alone by invading it would bad; but how to get the only organization, UN , that could do it on behalf of “the world” to do it in a way that would mean a sound way forward. The US need in this case as in many other to work with its allies and to do its utmost in the UN instead of ruining the relationship with other nations that were developed over decades.
10
A friend went to school at University of Tulsa where he had met many students from Venezuela. Being young and naive he had no idea about Venezuela and was in awe that Venezuela was a member of OPEC, that Venezuelans were quite rich and its citizens were much better off than the Saudis who were also studying the same thing: Petroleum Engineering.
We spoke a few months ago and once again the topic came up and he said, it is incredible, unimaginable to see this devastation.
11
In 1966, being 16 years old, I realized that Venezuela's development wasn't sustainable. The gap between the rich and the poor was abysmal and always grew wider.
In the 19th the country was in a permanent civil war, which created an egalitarian mentality among the poor. They never accepted their fate and resentment run very deep.
Moreover, the population grew 500% from 1960 to 1970. The only other country in the world to have experienced such a growth is Honduras, which is also a disaster.
Like Germany's Weimar Republic, Venezuela's democracy was destroyed by the economic and intellectual elites.
6
I have never been in Latin America. However, Venezuela is remembered one of the most beautiful countries as one of my high school English teachers used to sing a song about Venezuela, which I found one of John Jacob Niles composed, with harmonica. It was too bad for a beautiful country to fall into human failure. All leaders should be held responsible. First of all, it is the political and economic leaders' fault in Venezuela. They are the ultimate decision maker of their future. Second, Trump is the most irresponsible leader to blast off ad-hoc comments without any strategy. His underlings such as VP Pence are simply despicable. Ultimately, it is the lack of determination for the global leaders to disregard the reality of Venezuela. How to change the hopeless situation? First, drop the medicine and food without any conditions. Second, US swears no military invasion, but let the current rulers discuss with the opposition about the way to improve the system such as less corrupt regime, more efficient public service, and political neutrality of the military. Maduro should imprison corrupt politicians and business leaders first to gather political support of the opposition. Finally, neighboring countries should be cooperative of the change Venezuelans want.
12
Why blame Trump?
Venezuela was a disaster before Trump ran for POTUS. Why not blame Obama?
1
I believe it should be an humanitarian requirement to set up an international force to intervene in Venezuela, arrest Maduro and bring back rule of law and an emergency assistance. It's the only hope of venezuelan people. Nations who opposed this intervention are suitable for crime against humanity
16
On a smaller scale it is no different to what happened to the city of Detroit when the automobile and manufacturing factories went to China to do their manufacturing.
Detroit was a very prosperous and safe place to live before it turned into a rust belt and families fled as crime and murders increased over 500% when all the industry was shipped offshore.
23
@David Keys. Unfortunately there is not one single answer to your important question. And you are absolutely correct, it's not socialism. Part of any explanation to the Venezuelan dilemma is the fact that Chavez's Revolución Bolivariana placed its social structuring goals on an economy dependent on oil prices, which are artificially controlled by the OPEC and the US that manipulate the prices of the supply and demand. Chavez, in order to keep political power, promised too much, too fast to the historically disadvantaged sectors of Venezuelan society on whom his popularity and support depended. The rapacious monied class of Venezuela got in bed with him and took advantage of Chavez's investment on certain sectors of the economy, but did not focus on strengthening Venezuela 's agricultural sector, thinking that it would be cheaper to buy abroad what they needed as long as they could sell their oil. Tragically, the once strong Venezuelan ranching and farming took a back seat to the folly of rapid industrialization fueled by oil. Once the oil prices fell and the subsidies to the monied class began to falter, the rich Venezuelans took the money to the US. Add the animus of the Bush and Obama administrations and you have the recipe for a failed nation. Maduro inherited a country already in a path to disaster, and the Trump-Pence cabal (including Guaidó) see an opportunity to gain political popularity at the expense of a country and its people that has suffered way too much already.
18
@George Hawkeye
Best comment about this article, well done.
1
I am in my sixties and have been a faithful reader of the Times since my early twenties. I cannot remember a photograph more painful to look at than the one of young Anailin. I do not mean to moralize, but to look at that little girl’s suffering and not question the greed that led to it means we have lost our way. Policies and politics that value anything more that human life are a shame on all of us. I hope that little girl achieves a respite from her pain as soon as possible.
49
I am afraid Venezuela represents a very possible scenario for the USA. For decades people moved to Venezuela for better life. Unfortunately, the exploitation and abuse of natural resources and wealth of the nation by privileged favorites lead this country to "spread the wealth" slightly too thin. The privileged happened to also be very careless and incapable. No one keeps them accountable, and those that try to bring accountability are banished. Let's watch out.. this country may also get there..
24
Sadly, I think Trump and his friends would revelminndoingnthis to the US.
My heart breaks for these people but my heart also breaks for the asualt the GOP is now making on the life’s of every American. Trump supports are too blind to see but it’s happening. It’s happening.
16
Trump?!
These people are suffering beyond imagination and you want to make it about your struggle with our President? Who came to office long after this process was underway?
Does the blind hatred for Trump know no bounds?
I’m trying to understand the logic of the sanctions. Supposedly this was a legitimate way of forcing Masuro out, whereas military action was not. But with things this bad, using the military to effect regime change starts looking like the better option.
Starve the people until they topple their own government, so we can claim we didn’t do anything? Not so logical, and it’s taking a big toll.
7
Much as we don’t want to admit it, the truth is that the situation in Venezuela could continue for a very long time (years, if not decades) unless there’s a shock to the power structure of the system because there’s a good deal of stability to the situation. Maduro has the loyalty of the generals, the generals have the loyalty of their soldiers and have enough resources to stay content, no lawful entity other than the army is well-armed, and outside countries are content to either commit to Maduro (China, Cuba, and Russia, in particular) or to remain unengaged.
18
Venezuela had long had corruption on a massive scale. The "Chavez Govt" abandoned price mechanisms and forced central planning prices on many industries (including agriculture). Furthermore, they alienated intl capital. Venezuela's oil reserves are primarily extra heavy crude. Require massive amounts of capital to produce and process for market. Capital is not available on the required scale if you alienate it. I could go on, but failure to respect market pricing and the fact that intl capital requires proper law pretty much sums up the failure.
13
Wouldn't you think that the anti-abortionists would lift their eyes and stop their obsession with pregnant women to try to staunch and ameliorate the horror and great suffering in the world. These are living, breathing humans, babies starving. How narrow Americans can be. Nothing exists unless it happens in the US. Nothing matters but the political maelstrom. Shame on the religious and political right. They have blinded too many to how a truly religious person lives.
56
@Tulipano So you want to send funds to Venezuela, which will go through the government channels and will get appropriated to prolong the rule of the existing power structure without reaching the masses. Your hope is that the Venezuel's government is benevolent and cares about the citizenry. The evidence speaks otherwise.
2
This article brought tears to my eyes. No human being should have to suffer like this. Where is the humanity? I feel displaced.
22
Caused by corruption, economic mismanagement, and
UNDEMOCRATIC governance.
Laws regulate society and without them a society reverts back to tribalism and the gangs take over. You can't live on ideology forever because at some stage the bills have to be paid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_in_Venezuela
7
I'm a retired retired, Big Pharma engineer who grew up with a Father who voraciously studied history, global politics, and current events -- he taught we kids the same. Ask me sometime about what we, the USA, did and continues to do, to South America. Oh, so you think we helped?
32
Shameful that U.S. policy is to kick Venezuela when it's down rather than offer help! The U.S. is blinded by its hate of socialism for fear that another country may show a different way and challenge the 1%. Venezuela's bungled economy was hardly a threat, but the U.S. stepped in anyway, oblivious to its odious history of backing corrupt Latin American dictatorships, strengthening government support rather than undermining it.
29
People keep calling this another failed socialist state. That’s a fundamental misdiagnosis. The failure of the previous capitalist system brought about the socialism, as is usually the case. If someone goes to the hospital with a gunshot wound and later dies of heart failure, and later when asked about the cause of death you only stated heart failure and talked about the need for better cardiac treatment to prevent this. It would be very misleading.
26
What can be done to help these people? This is heart-breaking.
18
United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur, Alfred de Zayas, recommended, just a few days ago, that the International Criminal Court investigate economic sanctions against Venezuela as a possible crime against humanity perpetrated by America.
43
Venezuela was a very wealthy country just a decade ago, but a Trump-style autocracy, obsessed with maintaining family business power and dictatorial popularity, drove the country into the ground by lying 10,000 times to its own populace, and ripping them off in a national pyramid scheme of deception. 'Murica, your time is nigh. Trump, Cheney, Clinton, Hussain, Maduro, Kim, Putin, bin Salman... no difference. Global feudalism trumps your Constitution, and Trumpolini's uneducated, MAGA folk can't even see it coming. They're too busy obsessing about abortion and legalizing child rape, while waiting for the rapture.
32
Jeesh so many pro-Maduro comments....I am kind of appalled. The Venezualian government started the collapse of the country the second Chavez took power. It was only a matter of time, and Maduro was the straw on the camels back.
Venezuala has been in collapse since Obama, their recession started in 2013. This is Maduros fault, not Trumps or the United States. If you think this is somehow Trumps fault I think you are so blinded by your hatred of Trump such that you live in a false reality. I hate Trump, but not enough to have my hatred of him cloud my vision of reality.
24
Nice to see you can still blame President Obama for Venezuela’s collapse.
12
I believe he was using Obama as a time frame, not as someone to blame, as you could see by reading more carefully.
2
@Bob Bunsen .She said no such thing. She simply dates the beginning of the final stage of the economic decline to 2013 when Obama was president. She doesn't attribute the catastrophe to him; she blames Chavez. Reread the post
2
Cuba, Venezuela and every other joint that has gone full tilt for socialism ends the same way. It's a system that does not work, it goes against the human drive for individualism and looking for themselves. Socialists never learn, they just keep repackaging the stale concept of 'free' everything that the supposed rich will pay for. The ultimate con.
14
The age of individualism is over. And it wasn’t very long lived anyways — a thoroughly modern contrivance that will be crushed as machines make humans less and less relevant.
5
@Evitzee Except Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, England, Italy, Canada and Germany, whose progressive social democratic policies bring universal health care and education, a better infrastructure, child care, worker participation in management, a more equitable distribution of wealth and a stronger middle class.
48
@Tom Miller
Except those nations aren’t socialist. They’re market economies where private businesses predominate. As with other developed nations, they have high levels of taxation, regulation, and social welfare spending. Social spending is kept within budget limits. Deficits and debt levels are managed. The United States is on one end of this continuum with Sweden on the other.
Venezuela is a prototypical socialist economy dominated by the state. Under Chavez and Maduro, numerous successful private businesses were expropriated without compensation. This even included agricultural and food processing facilities they didn’t know how to operate. Even the once independently run, but state owned, oil company has been destroyed by Venezuela’s socialist leaders. Professional managers and engineers were replaced by government officials. Venezuela resorted to printing money and artificial price controls. Inflation surged and the economic collapse continued.
Whenever there is an article about Venezuela or other socialist failures, the far left in America is quick to defend it. They refuse to acknowledge that socialism is a failed economic model. They point to Nordic countries, who will tell you themselves that they’re not socialist. This self delusion is no different that those who deny the existence of evolution, climate change, and safe vaccines.
18
according to Wikipedia it was caused by economic mismanagement, undemocratic practices, and corruption. Blame the people who were in charge and their dumb ideology that doesn't work in practice.
If there are not constitutional laws to regulate society then societies just revert back to tribalism.
You need laws to regulate society and stop corruption. Ideology doesn't have any foundations to prop up a regulated society. Look at the Chinese government - communist in name only but a right wing capitalist society. The next step for China would be to become a Democracy as that is what it has evolved into.
7
Bless God and pray for the release on Earth of the poisonous evilness of Putin, Trump, Mugabe, Maduro, Jong-Un, Salman and all those that serve them.
The Earth could be a paradise if the resources of the world were planned for sustainability, with accountability and responsibility.
The people must rise up and drive out the snakes that infest the garden for people to live, for generations of children to live and flourish.
8
Trump could make believe he has a heart and help Venezuala in the dire straits it finds itself in. Prove everyone wrong, Trump, and feed the hungry. Show those Christian evangelicals that you really are capable of doing the Lord's work and not just your usual divisive, evil stuff. Shock everyone. Go ahead.
7
While the poor can only afford offal and hooves, the anti-Maduro protesters look very nicely fed and dressed.
And somebody, somewhere, believes that the Venezuelan opposition is fighting for food for the poor.
8
True, the most visible anti-Maduro protesters are members of the once middle, professional class. Many of their family members (doctors, teachers, lawyers) have emigrated to countries such as Peru, Chile, and Spain, where they have found some sort of work and from where they send remittances. Not that there’s much to buy with the money in Venezuela, but, yes, they are marginally better-off.
The poorest of the poor are not so fortunate, and many of them have walked into Colombia and Brazil, adding a huge burden to local society. There isn’t much work for them, certainly not enough to send anything home. Those who are left behind are indeed struggling.
Implying that if only the anti-Maduro movement would cease and desist the poor’s lot would improve is magical thinking of the most poisonous kind. If you had read the article carefully, or indeed read any article on the subject, you would see that this situation has been building since Maduro came to power. His criminal mishandling of the economy, corruption, and cooperation with drug cartels have sent things into free-fall. He must go, ideally via a negotiated agreement. If that isn’t possible, the UN should intervene.
5
@Joe43 And somebody named Joe who lives in Sydney apparently believes that the Venezuelan government is fighting for food for the poor.
Or doing the best that it can or some such nonsense.
To anyone who isn't willfully blind it's clear that the Venezuelan government has failed utterly. They claimed they were going to help the poor. Instead they reduced them from meat to offal. They probably didn't eat a lot of meat before, not big thick steaks, so there was room for improvement. But that's not what Chavez and Maduro accomplished.
I don't doubt that Venezuela needed improvement, that inequality was a major problem. But folks who make things worse should be condemned. One shouldn't scape goat all those who do have enough to eat. That leads quite exactly to where Venezuela is today.
1
Do you have even a shred of evidence that the Venezuelan government is fighting for food for the poor?
1
The sanctions should be lifted...It does not make sens to do it to a population and Trump is a criminal no matter what Chavez or Maduro did.The UN shall be involved to give assistance and manage the oil and other ressources under some kind of "protectorat" and keep Trump away.It is a shame...
12
@yves rochette Yes, lift the general sanctions. But how the heck do you propose to set up a UN protectorate? The current government won't even allow aid into the country. A protectorate could only be set up through the use of force.
2
OK, but what caused the problems?
2
Did you read the article, at least? The author laid things out pretty clearly.
Who in their right mind could think socialism is a good idea?
12
Just about everyone in Western Europe. Education, health care...
The horror!
1
@George Orwell
I'd imagine those being repressed and victimized under another "ism'. Usually it has been a failed capitalistic/kleptocratic system previously. As was the case for Venezuela.
ANY ism is only as good as it's leaders and followers.
Thus capitalism can fail, just as socialism can also.
1
@George Orwell What kind of socialism? Ronald Reagan actually did claim that the "socialism" of Medicare would destroy freedom here.
Is Denmark socialist or not? If it's not then don't call proposals to make us more like Denmark socialist.
I think you're playing a game here. Prove me wrong.
In 1933, a terrible famine raged in Ukraine, eventually killing more than a million people. The Soviet leadership denied it was happening and blamed “Western capitalists” for food shortages. A man named Gareth Jones traveled through the famine-stricken land and published articles in Western newspapers about dead babies and empty villages. The liberal press of the time came after him, labeling him a right-wing reactionary, a liar, an ideological traitor. They refused to believe that the cradle of socialism could produce such horrors. Reading some of the comments on this article reminds me of the story of Gareth Jones. The culprit of the hunger in Venezuela is the same one as in the USSR: socialism, the system in which the state owns the means of production and distributes goods at will. Unfortunately, the great-grandchildren of the 1930 liberals seem to be as blinded by their ideology as their forefathers who refused to see what was in plain sight. The press, at least, has learned its historical lessons and reports fairly on the starvation in Venezuela. The dead children of Ukraine did not even have that.
15
@Mor It is a tragedy, indeed. I am reading “Gene” which describes the two monsters of the 20th century, fascism and communism. One extreme believed that the gene pool could be cleansed of inferior specimens. The other extreme believed that genes were meaningless, and in fact, punished Russian scientists who studied them. They insisted that everyone was infinitely malleable, and people who did not conform could be forcibly “re-educated.”
And here we are, seemingly at much the same crossroads as we were 100 years ago, with the re-ascendency of the far-left and the far-right. Heartbreaking.
7
The Holdomor (Death by Hunger), which killed an estimated 30 million Ukrainians, was actually a genocide perpetrated by the Soviets to break Ukraine. I’m not saying that socialism is a sound economic theory. Only that it was not the cause of this famine.
1
Has there been a UN call for massive humanitarian aid for Venezuela? This catastrophe should be uppermost on all our minds, and we should be doing our utmost as a community of nations to help the starving children and those dying for lack of medicine. Is UNHCR making worldwide appeals and bringing in lifesaving aid at this very moment?
10
This is what happens when the U.S. withdraws from the world and we get distracted by trade wars with our allies and investigations into Trump's awful behavior.
Where is the President's call to mobilize the international community to assist Venezuela?
Our top 1% have $40 trillion (40,000 billion; surely they can spare a $1 billion to feed all these kids?)
11
There are parts of India, in fact parts of capital too that resemble this state of human living but Indian middle class prefers helping poor in exchange of moderate labour or via extending food and clothes in personal capacity and extremely wary of contributing to Govt welfare program because of the fear of leakage and diversion of funds to non-social activities.
3
This sad situation in Venezuela is due directly to the U.S. sanctions based on irrational foreign policy. Both political parties support these insane policies in
an effort to unseat a legitimately elected leader of the country. And, sadly this is something that gets repeated again and again over the years and it need to stop.
15
@Mr Robert
Well said, you have described the situation as it is, in a few words.
3
So we, supposedly a Christian nation with supposedly Christian leaders at the helm, stare at that photo of the hospital on Toas Island. Of course Venezuela's economic collapse is largely of its own doing. Of course we tried to send food that was rejected. But let's man up and openly walk away. Let not pious sentiments cover the fact that as this nation lay dying, we stuck a sword in. It may not have been the killing blow, but that's what we chose to do as another nation lay dying.
9
Hey, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Mark Zukerberg, etc.: there are toddlers dying because they can't get food or water. Colonizing Mars sounds nice and all, but if you want to leave a real legacy, how about stepping in and maybe you'll be the "Monroe" in the next Monrovia.
26
Government so small, you could drown it in a bath tub.
10
It's time for women to take control. Women who what it takes to give life and would not treat so casually slaughter of babies for political gain.
1
Aung San Suu Kyi.
2
Bravo, sanctions. Keep killing everyone till the regime capitulates and allows Big Oil back in. If sanctions fail, simply bomb the presidential palace, as did the U.S.-backed coup leaders in Chile.
Keep winning hearts and minds ...
21
The mess in Venezuela is the fault of the US? Um... no. Not yet.
12
So how do you help that starving boy. It's heartbreaking.
14
Re: Economists say
"The United States is a country that has its own currency--can’t run out of cash because we print the money."
Paul Krugman
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/paul-krugman-answers-paul-ryan-debt-crisis-we-can-print-money
So why did this not work in Venezuela ?
5
@John this isn’t really comparable, because the US currency is the dominant currency worldwide. Countries like Greece and Venezuela do not have that luxury.
3
@John Ryan was claiming that the policies of Obama and Bernake would lead to run away inflation. They didn't so he was wrong. Krugman correctly predicted that inflation would not surge. He was right.
But didn't Socialist Sanders say that Venezuela is a successful socialist society?
12
@Brewster Millions Where did you hear that? If he had said that we'd be seeing the clip on the news don't ya think?
Perhaps you should stop listening to Alex Jones.
The U.S. must end economic sanctions now!
6
The sanctions are against Maduro, not Venezuela. The problem is that they used government accounts to launder money so at this moment there is no way to know what money is clean or dirty.
Maduro and his cronies control anything imported to Venezuela.
Venezuela was already ruined when the sanctions started and the tankers with gasoline are still being smuggled daily to Colombia.
7
This poignant story mostly fails in telling the facts. Is Maduro's "power" illegitimate? Explain, and remember, we in the U.S. know what it means to have malcontents attempt to overthrow a duly elected President. Honoring the process for a peaceful transition of power may encourage investment and stability.
2
Maduro's presidential term is over. He called for elections but he selected the candidates allowed to run against him among his close friends and partners... of course the results are not recognized.
Guaido is the president of Congress, by the Venezuelan constitution he becomes interim president in absentia of a president while elections are called for.
4
Yes, both Al Gore and Hilary Clinton won the presidency, which was stolen from them by fraud, the Supreme Court and foreign interference. Speaking of foreign interference Trump and his war mongers can't keep their hands off Venezuela and impose sanctions which destroy innocent people. Shameful.
6
What have we done?
Are those starving children considered justifiable casualties of the sanctions?
A few well placed cruise missiles can bring a swift end to this madness.
That, what you see on the front page, is the promise of socialism. More precisely of full government control and wealth redistribution.
As the incentives are taken away, people stop working. That is even more serious than having the national wealth stolen.
We are one election away from falling for such socialism here. At least in Venezuela they didn't stop oil production, which the New Green Deal promises to do.
We'll see next year whether people here choose a zooming economy and employment or what you see here, a redistribution economy which has nothing left to redistribute.
5
@novoad if your kid was dying of starvation, do you think you'd be such a firm supporter of capitalism?
6
@Tom the kids are dying because of socialism so yes, I would be a firm supporter of capitalism
5
Sorry, Venezuela has been "socialist" for a very long time.
The problem is not socialism but corruption.
19
In America, it is estimated that near $145 billion in food is unwittingly wasted a year. The Humanitarian agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations, with highly trained professional staff, are most likely now on site in Venezuela and are in need of help.
The International Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, Save The Children, UNICEF, and many more like CARE, are fighting to save lives in times where governments are often in conflict with humanitarian needs.
Perhaps this administration would join other countries in the developed world in taking up the challenge of this devastating crisis, where the President might authorize our Military to send troops to secure and ensure that water, food and life essentials reach the children, perishing daily.
We are all responsible ultimately for the actions taken, and better than weeping for Venezuela, our Cities, Communities and Towns across America could launch a hunger poverty drive.
An act of belief in humanity where 'Their' children becomes 'Ours' in the face of the brutality of nations.
17
Sounds great....but how do we get into the country without confronting the Venezuelan army ?
5
@Unhappy JD,
As a leading Democracy, we invite and encourage other kindred countries to join our troops in a multi-global emergency effort to ensure protection for the provisions to reach their destination.
The Venezuelan army can renew its role to protect their president.
2
We never hear what the role of our countries sanctions and blockades and obstruction have done to create this situation. Why? We need to know. Our country has a history of beating up on South American countries when we don't like their politics...
20
It's truly heartbreaking, but it is also the bill coming due after having bought (actively or passively) the snake oil that Chavez & acolytes have been selling. If the Venezuelans can't solve it themselves then they should not gripe about outsiders 'solving' the problem for them. I'm not saying that to justify intervention by the US or anyone else, because it could just as well be Cuban or Russian action that 'stabilizes' the situation. It's time for Venezuelans to step and solve this horrendous problem themselves.
3
@Brendan McCarthy
You obviously have yet to read about Guido and his overwhelming domestic support. Or how his supporters regularly risk their lives, going out on the streets to demonstrate that support. Perhaps you might look into this humanitarian crisis with a little more depth.
3
@DieselEstate I don't about Guido, but Guaidó is pretty impressive. My point was to discourage all external intervention while pointing out that it will take hard choices for those who haven't joined him yet else the driver of Venezuela's future will come from outside its borders, and then we'll forever hear complaints of outside intervention. Perhaps you might read comments with more nuance.
What do you bet that the cover photo is really from Yemen?
2
@cjonsson
Why does it matter when the article is just the latest instalment about one of the worst humanitarian crises the world has seen in the past 45 years?
3
@DieselEstate That's the sad truth.
The arrogance of western thought is just mind boggling. I mean, you start this article with Kenneth Rogoff. The proven liar Rogoff. The neoliberal posterboy and political hack Rogoff. The one who single handedly gave modern economic theory a bad name by manipulating data to make politicaly motivated claims. And then you expect that the rest of the world takes you seriously.
10
What can be done for the children left to die?
12
@Arthur Y Chan
Right on. Can't the UNHCR airlift them out of there?
2
This is a terminal case of Dutch disease. Is the military ready to trade their bullets for bread? I feel like history may be repeating itself:
https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/09/business/international-report-pepsi-will-be-bartered-for-ships-vodka-deal-with-soviets.html
Even if they can establish the rule of law again why would the people ever "vote" to keep them in power? If they have lost control then what is stopping their neighbors like Colombia from entering the country?
1
There are enough good samaritan nations in this world that can together intervene successfully in Venezuela to solve this humanitarian crisis. But it won't happen, just like it didn't during the worst famine in North Korea.
2
Unfortunately, our species is in many ways a wretched one.
8
It’s a surprise that Trump continues an Obama era policy.
2
The cruel refusal of the Trump regime to organize an international effort to alleviate this situation is a function not only of its cruelty but its incompetence. Nobody in the world really trusts this U.S. government to do anything of the kind. At some point, the rest of the world is going to blame the American people for our indifference to the plight and fate of other peoples in their suffering, however intractable, or susceptible to ideological distortions.
14
Are American sanctions appropriate if they aggravate the problems of the average Venezuelan?
6
No, Bob, the sanctions are not justified, the US is responsible for a lot of the suffering. Check out Jeffrey Sacks article from a few weeks ago.
13
This should be a cautionary tale for those who espouse socialism. Venezuela had the fourth highest per capita income in the world in 1950, higher than Canada. Today its economy is in the dumps, despite all the oil. Its GDP is one-fifth of what it was just ten years ago.
10
@RSSF
So dig a little deeper...if they had it sooo good, what was the reason to turn to socialism?!
Under Chavez, unemployment dropped from 14.5% in '99 to 7.6% in '09, GDP more than doubled from $4.105 to $10,810, infant mortality dropped, extreme poverty went from 23.5% to 8.5%.
If this much "good" was achieved under the likes of Chavez, what was actually was sooo good previously?! For whom was it good?! And back to, why did they feel the need to change to socialism?!
2
Could it be that this is what happens when dependence on a single commodity (oil in this case), corruption, and socialism meet?
At least the Saudis are smart enough not to become socialist.
5
True, the Saudi government is authoritarian, much better than socialism,no? Every one--certainly every female--would prefer to live in authoritarian Saudi Arabia than in socialist Denmark or Sweden./s/
3
The UN special rapporteur De Zayas sent to Venezuela concluded in his report that the US and EU sanctions on the Venezuelan economy amounted to "crimes against humanity" under international law, and that the sanctions were "killing civilians". He equated them to a "medieval siege". This was back in 2017. The US sanctions have been strengthened since. If you think this is a "socialist failure" then think again, this is capitalism succeeding: pressure oil producing countries until they agree to sell you their oil for cheap - like Guaido did, which is why the US loves him - and prosper. Even easier with a socialist country because you can drop a few lines in the news equating Venezuela to the USSR and everybody will just blame Communism instead. The delusional boomers will bring up Bernie and AOC, the only Dem threats to the establishment, two birds, one stone.
14
I have observed in many South American and Central American countries, including Mexico, racism is pervasive in the entire region. Light -skinned citizens are the ruling class everywhere. In Mexico, they are called the "white Mexicans." In Brazil, all business and key positions are held by light-skinned Brazilians while others work 14 hour days, which does not include getting to and from work, which can be up to 2-3 hours in each direction. Life is non-existent.
6
@lorenzo212bronx
Your observations are correct.
Central and South America was also colonized by Europeans settlers. The indigenous people’s lands were stolen and plantations took over with white settlers owning them and native peoples laboring them.
Just as was done here in the US, Canada, South Africa and Australia. Nations all colonized by white Europeans.
The light skinned governing classes are those European descendants and the impoverished classes are the descendants of the indigenous peoples.
6
I visited Caracas and several other Venezuelan cities on business for several years during the late 90s and early 2000s. While I was not impressed with Caracas, the other cities and outlying areas seemed friendlier. Yes, I agree that the UN needs to send aid and peace-keeping officials to the country to help the people. With the Repubs so dug in to protect Trump's thievery, I hope we don't fall into the same situation.
7
I grew up in Venezuela in the 80s and 90s. I experienced two Venezuelas, at the time. There was the large middle class, which we were part of. We were well-educated, attended private schools, and generally enjoyed a good life. Then there was the large poor class, which I experienced on weekends when working at my dad's store. They were honest, hard-working yet some were growing resentful. Chavez rose to power by playing on those emotions. When I look back at the most beautiful days of my life, I wonder - could this also happen to the USA? I think it certainly can. Because there are two USA's. And we must do all in our power to be ever-so vigilant. The USA is not only a country - it is an idea we must protect.
53
@Liz A. Caltagirone
"...ever so vigilante."
As in we should be helping those up the ladder and those that have slipped off, back on.?!
America is only as good as it's least citizens.
We can correct the system, or it will be corrected by them; à la Venezuela.
2
The malignant Cuban and Venezuelan regimes call themselves ‘socialist’ so spare us the nonsense about them not being socialist because they aren’t the Norwegian model.
‘Socialismo o Muerte’ is their slogan, not Norway’s.
11
Maduro, whose obtuse policies have caused this crisis, and who refuses to accept humanitarian aid for his people, may be guilty of genocide. When will he UN start looking into his crimes?
10
Cuba had a hand in this disaster. The Castro brothers turned to Venezuela as their next benefactor after the collapse of the Soviet Union. With the assistance of their acolytes Chavez, and Maduro, they bled the country dry like voracious vampires.
12
My heart hurts looking at these desperate, dying babies, knowing there is nothing to be done. Shame on Maduro forever. This was all preventable.
10
It’s so true- Better to die on your feet than on your knees. What are you waiting for Venezuelans!
4
The picture of this young child is an indictment of the human race. Do you mean to tell me that the United States, Russia and China couldn’t combine forces to end this suffering? Where is the world leader who is demanding immediate humanitarian intervention? Is there no one? Forget Washington. We know DC is owned-and-operated. What about the United Nations? US television networks should devote prime time to the tragic plight of this child, instead of the contemptible murder of the week. Sleep well, everyone. That’s unfair. Forgive me. But look at this child!!!
23
@Liberty Apples
Do you mean like the "humanitarian intervention" that bombed Yugoslavia with U.S. and NATO bombs for 78 days in 1999. No, that is not what Venezuela needs, it needs the US to stop stealing its billions in wealth so it can be free to develop.
2
@Gloria La Riva That’s quite a jump. Bombing was not what I had in mind. Why you went there is a mystery.
1
So, what is being done? Are we all going to stand by and just watch people starve to death?
10
@Kris Abrahamson
Yes, we are imposing more sanctions and preventing Venezuela from getting credit and buying badly needed medications. We have frozen their accounts, London has impounded Venezuela's gold and we have confiscated Sitgo's profit. Everything to increase suffering while blaming Maduro. In the meantime, humanitarian aid is arriving from China, Russia and other countries, distributed by the Red Cross. The supermarkets in Caracas' upper class districts look like the ones you see here, full of everything. Inflation is rampant and that affects everyone. Yet, it's the poor and the working class, the one who are suffering the most, who come out by the tens of thousands to support their government, while the well-fed, nicely dressed upper middle class and upper class are the ones screaming the loudest against Maduro. They have not been affected that much by the economic sanctions yet.
4
The USG has the ability to collapse economies of peaceful neighboring states in order to impose its peculiar form of economic religion on foreign peoples. The USG did some good with the Marshall plan but that was long ago. Since then it has been inflicting death and misery on the peoples of Southeast Asia; Africa; Central and South America. There is in fact a new evil empire. The list of USG successes is what? Grenada? China builds. The US bombs. This war on Venezuela shows Trump as truly despicable. All that misery in order to inflict capitalism on a country. Itʻs a joke to think this is about anything other than stealing oil from those who own it. China has Xinjiang and Tibet as its shames and the US everywhere from Vietnam to Libya to Venezuela.
8
This is the system that Bernie Sanders and the Coastal elites would rabidly protect. Think of the magnitude and incompetence that Jimmy Carter had in dealing with Iran, the millions of lives that were lost because of it.
8
@sebastian - Jimmy Carter wasn't President when Britain and the USA conspired to overthrow Mossadegh. That was Eisenhower. Events in Iran were set in motion a lot earlier than Khomeni's -return- to Iran.
The world, and perhaps lives in Venezuela, the Middle East, Russia and elsewhere will be so much more stable when oil stops corrupting everything.
4
Nope. See the comment from Ted in NY.
The oil rich countries of the Arabian Gulf may be criticised for many failings, but look at the relatively generous distribution of their oil wealth among their entire populations and their social programs for ensuring a basic general standard of living that has enabled them to keep the lid on social unrest.
By contrast, Venezuela’s utterly corrupt white elite, sitting on the world’s greatest oil reserves, held its millions of poor people, the vast majority of its population, in medieval contempt, and wilfully kept them in devastating poverty for decades at its peril. Chaves, the incompetent populist demagouge whom the ignorant poor found so seductive when they finally had enough, and everything that followed was simply the inevitable consequence. One percenters take note.
8
Compared to the Gulf states, Venezuela has always produced far less oil, of far lower quality and its population is larger. So how could it act as rich as the Gulf stated?
2
@Steve Ross - the point is they didn’t even try. I’ve worked in both places and the respective elites’ attitudes towards their poor is night and day.
"2-year-old Anailin Nava is wasting away in a nearby hut from malnutrition and treatable muscular paralysis. Her mother, Maibeli Nava, does not have money to take her to Colombia for treatment, she said."
I hope that whoever took the very disturbing photo of this child did not leave her to starve to death, but helped pay for her transport to a functional hospital where she will be given the medical attention that she needs. That would be the humanitarian thing to do.
24
We should stop putting sanctions against them, freezing trade, and borders. Poor people are suffering.
4
And Senator Sanders wants to bring that system HERE?
6
Docialism does works in a lot of places.
I would guess top level corruption plays a bigger role. None of that Here.
2
No, not at all. Please start paying attention.
4
Nope. See the comment from Ted in NY.
3
When Maduro became president with the worsening oil price instead of taking proper economic measure all is about preserving the status quo of money and power by hijacking the people and playing with their necessities for their advantage: Food ( bolsas clap), medicines , basic human right services as water ,electricity, gasoline, gas for cooking etc were became harder and harder to get and to get them you need to have a id card issue by the government. while all this is happening the people are becoming more awake and aware and the political arena more in tune with them.
now the situation is very complex and in many aspect new.
Venezuela need help not political grandstand or academics justifying their long life views or salary WE NEED HELP
2
As a non-american－ I would say this kind of reporting is of course worthy, but..comparing the sudden economical collapse to the fall of past communist regimes is, already immoral and outdated..because the world is more complicated. I hate the cold war mentality.
7
Sanctions usually only hurt people with no power. People are starving-- send food. We're supposed to be a wealthy and powerful nation, but our leaders get into snit-fits (most of them). That's no demonstration of power or our principles. People are starving-- send food. Maduro blocked the Colombian border? Then use planes. If they shoot at our planes? Well, we're really good at stopping that. People are starving--send food.
8
As someone familiar with Venezuela (my relatives left and moved to Germany)
Venezuela had and has the fantastic inequality, with the poor living in favelas, sans services and sewers and helath care, and access to education ,and the better off living like in the West, or better.
The lives of this very poor, by US standards unimaginable poor people DID improve under Chavez - at the cost of the better off, who had not paid any attention to the poor
When inequality exceeds an unbearable level, revolution follows. That was the case in France, and that is the case in Venezuela, and as was the case in France, the revolution is anything but pretty
The attempt to overthrow Maduro fizzled because the offspring of the better off did not join the army - the off spring of the desperately poor did.
And the desperately poor are still better off than before Chavez. As they are in Cuba, before Castro
The US could remove Maduro overnight under a Sanders Presidency because the desperately poor know he cares.
But not under Trump, and even not under Obama, who started the sanctions
8
Regardless of what caused the devastation in Venezuela, if the US cared about the Venezuelan people, as it repeatedly has claimed, the sanctions would be lifted immediately.
14
Would someone like to explain to me how an OPEC nation with billions in oil reserves is turned into a 3rd World disaster overnight because it has a ruling party that is hostile to corporate interests...and please don't tell me it's "socialism." Mr. Kurmanaev didn't succeed in doing this.
6
And the US is largely responsible for this collapse. We've done everything we can to make it happen.
6
It is disgraceful that the neighboring countries are allowing this to happen. Why does the U. S. have to be the actor to stop it?
3
The US could start by taking its boot off their neck.
8
The US isn't stopping it and I don't really think Trump is the type to send any aid... Ya know: brown skin, people who are impoverished...
4
What a terrible tragedy. Let us hope that international aid will be allowed in soon, to save lives in Venezuela.
Everyone should be aware of how corruption at the top can destroy even a rich country, and everyone must be sensitive to the dangers of the expanding gap between the rich and the poor in society. Corruption and inequality in income equal a dysfunctional society.
1
Not long ago most Venezuelans hailed the Revolución Bolivariana as the path to equality and justice for its citizens. In the meantime their equivalent to our 1 percent made millions off the Chavez social programs, and when they no longer could rob Venezuela, they took their money to Miami. As any economics student can tell you, without investment in their infrastructure and internal economy, it is a question of time agriculture and industry stop producing what the people need, and without the subsidies that Chavez /Maduro regime brought to the country, there’s simply no way to reset the economy. There is plenty of blame to go around, but Venezuelans should find a solution without inviting an American led military intervention, which only will bring more misery to Venezuela.
3
This largely the fault of oil prices and oil exports falling (think Obama and oil independence) and US meddling.
4
@Bill Wallace As hard as I try, I can't include oil independence and Obama in the same thought.
@Bill Wallace
Or incompetence, cronyism, and Marxist-Leninist economics.
You know, the Cuban model.
1
Just to be clear: Venezuela’s economic collapse is not due to “socialism “, but autocracy where governmental institutions were systematically destroyed to grab and hold on to power. Much like what Trump is trying to do domestically with the GOP Senate’s help.
21
@Ted So why isn't the US having an economic collapse like Venezuela?
2
@Ted
Right, Ted.
The Republican Senate and Trump want to destroy our nation.
Or maybe they just disagree with you, huh...
1
Never say never, Ambrose!
1
I’d REALLY like to see an end to the suffering of many by the actions of the few.
3
Democracy is strong once it has been established, but quite vulnerable when it is half done; Absolute monarch, like Saudi, would be much better.
1
Not sure if the half of the Saudi population who are women would agree.
5
The doom of Venezuela started with Hugo Chavez tenure. The caudillo curse, faux nationalism + an endless use of populist measure all under the lying mirage of high oils prices soon worsened by the need of power and influence abroad Venezuelan borders all under the direct influence of Cuba advise and technical help. The so called elections ( which couldn't be proved to have been tampered) were at least manipulated to an extreme , the shuffling and re-shuffling of the law and norms, persecution and banning of established opposition leaders to participate in elections and a plethora of lowlife threats influenced them.
Then came Chavez illness and death as oils prices begun to turn down .Maduro comes to power blessed by Chavez himself.
At this point is pertinent to remember that Chavez prior becoming president was the a military guy who he and his people attempted two coups and that after winning the elections most of the post were occupied by his military friends, establishing a government run by people many of which were not prepare to do so, and were mostly preoccupied in becoming rich. corruptions became in all forms and the norm and put to shame any other corruption of anterior governments and the culprit drugs cartels.
5
I hope the suffering in Venezuela ends. The regime needs to go. The article notes the disastrous consequences of the rule of Chavez and Maduro. Let’s not forget that they came to power because prior “democratic regimes” greedily snorted the country’s wealth with obscene levels of opulence, corruption and waste. Yes, some crumbs did trickle down. But why must we always be subjected to a binary model, the debauchery of the corrupted elites or the gross incompetence of the likes of Maduro.
2
Whatever the party, whomever the leader, right, left, or you-name-it, bad government it a terrible thing to have. When such things happen, outside opponents will blame the political theory of those leaders: Socialist, communist, fascist, monarchist, or monetarist.
But examination of what was actually done tends to prove that ideologies were not followed closely, not the cause. Greed, corruption, power madness, and relentless suppression of opposition turn out to be the usual suspects.
4
Imposing sanctions against a nation of starving people that poses zero military threat is immoral and cruel. The leaders of the regime are never going starve just all the regular people.
16
In responding to an article about Venezuela a few months ago, a Venezuelan stated that "only the rich have food."
And the questions that immediately rose up in my mind were:
1. Where are they getting this food?
3. Why aren't they sharing?
To me, this suggests a capital strike of the type that was waged against Chile in 1973, carried to the extremes that were rendered unnecessary by the murder of Salvador Allende and the rise of the right-wing Pinochet dictatorship. This very newspaper reported government troops "liberating" a warehouse full of goods that had disappeared from the retail stores, so I have to wonder how much of this "crisis" is due to a capital strike on the part of Venezuela's upper classes, who after all, tried to overthrow Chavez in 2002 and "restore democracy" by imprisoning the president and his cabinet, dissolving the legislature, and abolishing the supreme court.
It bears consideration.
It is also worth noting that while there have been demonstrations against Maduro (and he does seem to be way out of his depth), there have been equally large demonstrations for Maduro.
So the situation is not as simple as the U.S. press reports.
Whatever the truth is, this crisis is for the Venezuelan people to work out, without U.S. sanctions or military action. Every U.S. foreign intervention in my lifetime has made situations worse rather than better.
9
Very interesting points.
Also, sometimes the simplest of questions can be profound. A question from this post made me think of a thought exercise:
Look at countries around our world. Look at the various systems, ideologies, resources, peoples, histories, cultures, banking systems, ... and wouldn’t it be something if they could be evaluated and held to account by the following simple, fundamental question:
“Why aren’t they sharing?”
Not realistically (or needing of explanation as to why this is not a serious way of analyzing complex economic, demographic, political dynamics etc), just a different way of looking at it.
3
Would Venezuela's economy survive if the United States lifted its sanctions?
The answer is an unequivocal no. It might be a life support for a little longer, but its failed policies are dooming the nation.
6
So why did the US impose sanctions in the first place?
2
By ‘failed policies’ I assume you’re referring to Venezuela’s insistence on standing up to the US and foreign oil companies to take control of, and benefit from, their own natural resources. It’s a clear warning to countries that dare go against the US/Saudi dominance of the world’s oil supply - do what is in the best interest of your own people against selfish US interests and watch your economy be destroyed.
Socialism isn’t the problem, it’s the aggressive response of rival economic interests when a country rejects rapacious capitalism.
4
One quote at the end of this article says much. "You can not produce when there is no law."
If our country loses the rule of law as it threatens to do under the mobster Trump who seems to know only his own rules we can easily go down Venezuela's path. Societies are always on the edge of chaos without effective institutions that maintain a frame work for stable growth and prosperity.
9
AOC and Bernie should heed this event . It is Socialism in full collapse. They should understand that big government often falls into the wrong hands just ours is now. Democratic Capitalism should be our direction which represents a more fair form of Capitalism, not Socialism.
6
@Ron K
But capitalism always leads to unbridled capitalism which creates inequality which in turn fuels demands for socialism. The pendulum keeps swinging.
I think it’s scary how quickly a society can implode.
1
So ... no Social Security, Medicare, police force, fire department, emergency rooms, public schools, roads, bridges. All of these are social programs - all of which we have and we are not a Socialist country. Wanting social programs does not mean wanting Socialism.
If you cannot tell the difference (and sometimes it’s hard), please research this. The hype about Socialism is a misdirection. It’s to make voters assume that anything that doesn’t benefit them ie the politicians (but may very well benefit you and your family) is Socialist. Politicians know the knee-jerk reaction that we all have because of what we leaned in school about communism (which is really what people are thinking when they hear “socialism” and politicians know we’re going to make that connection).
So research what each issue is. Does Social Security means we’re a socialist country? Does having a public school system mean we’re a socialist country? Does having a police force mean we’re a socialist country? Does having a medical insurance system mean that we’re a socialist country?
Politicians - all of them - get 15 secs of our attention, so they lump very complex, important issues, into 15 sec buckets. It’s to our personal benefit to look carefully at the slogans they throw at us, and ask - what is actually being proposed to me? And what do I think about that (not what the politicians are pre-packaging as what they think that I should think)
4
@Ron K
Is it Socialism that destroyed Iraq and Libya?
1
This is horrible.
3
Where are all the pro-life Republicans?
16
At some point, people need to storm the Bastille.
5
By the time this tragedy is over, Venezuela, as a nation state, would have regressed back to the, Stone Age. Life in, Venezuela, would become a perfect example of that insightful, Hobbesian, quote, "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short."
4
I hope the reporter tried to help that poor baby and her mother. I don't think I could have walked away without taking some kind of action.
18
The article describes a very sad situation which could/should be helped by the US as an act of humanitarian intervention. However, the word ‘humanitarian’ somehow does not go with the word ‘Trumps’.
Perhaps POTUS, and his ‘senior advisers’ Ivanka and Kushner, have concluded that intervening in Venezuela might create conflict with their ‘best friend’ in Kremlin whose troops and military gear have already landed in Caracas. The Trumps are ‘in the middle’ of their biggest ever project of building their Moscow Trump Hotel (interrupted only by the Trumps’ 4-year presidency) and have already earned prize in Putin’s eyes by the US embargo on Iranian oil.
US helping Venezuela would result in Venezuelan oil, the largest on Earth, being freely sold on the open market depressing prices of oil – inconvenient phenomena from the Putin and the Saudis’ perspectives.
So as long as our Commander in Chief and his family occupy the Oval Office we will be watching the Venezuelans continue to die in vain.
3
A human crisis - and humanity is helpless.
1
The comments here are long on blame and short on solutions.
Looking at these images and reading of inflation at 10 million %, someone had better come up with some solutions - and real soon.
4
Solution: Draft a written constitution that establishes three co-equal branches of government which will serve as a system of checks-and-balances that will hold each branch, and each employee (including the person who is acting as the leader), accountable. Create and enforce the rule of law, with the most important principle being that absolutely no one, private citizen or public official, is above or outside the law. Promote a free press (representing a spectrum of viewpoints) which is to be supported by law so that journalists will have access to public officials and the right to investigate suspected wrong-doing without fear of being publicly threatened (whether directly or via veiled innuendo). Establish a law protecting opponents of elected officials from harassment or threats of incarceration by those elected officials.
That’s the best solution, and it will work for about 250 years. But the painfully devastating reality is, even that phenomenal, amazing, structurally sound system cannot withstand decades of intentional, self-serving, undermining of its rules and its institutions. Once those have been eroded and weakened, the stage is set for the rise of the corrupt con artist who tells public anything they want hear, knowing he will never be held accountable.
9
Sanctions prevent you from helping. Demand that the U.S. end sanctions.
1
@Mike Edwards
So true.
1
The right blames Maduro's socialism for this despicable tragedy, while the left blames US sanctions. I think both sides are right. Venezuela is a lesson that we should never adopt socialism in our country, but it is also a lesson that we should not coerce other countries to change their political systems. The second-worst peacetime economic tragedy was when socialism ended in the former Soviet republics under US pressure. Many people in the former Soviet republics today are nostalgic for the Soviet Union because of how badly the 90s went for them. It would be terrible for Venezuela to face the tragedy of socialism, followed by the tragedy of foreign intervention.
3
@Aoy
That has to be one of the most candid statements I've ever heard regarding the crisis in Venezuela, in a comments section.
I visited Isla Margarita, Venezuela, three years ago. What stood out was the (incredible actually) number of partially built apartment complexes. The idea, I think, was to house the many poor people of Venezuela, not a horrible idea. But the fact of the matter was that the poor people preferred to live on their small plots of land where they could raise some chickens, some of their own vegetables, etc. So these numerous half-built, soviet-style apartment complexes stand as a testament to Chavez/Mudora ill-conceived policy and a total waste of money.
And keep in mind, my observation was limited to a small part of the country.
6
This is what would result in America if the Republicans had their way with deregulation, crippled the government, more tax cuts for the wealthy and their general penchant for corruption
12
@Wade Novin. You seem to forget that the Dems want socialism.
6
@Jackson
No, they don't, they want social democracy on par with those in Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. What is happening in Venezuela is a case of corruption, economic mismanagement, the autocratic tendencies of populism, left unchecked, and the resource curse.
4
All I know is that little girl needs a rescue, now. It's ludicrous to even consider, but if I knew how – I would.
12
Cuban communism for Venezuela.AS devised by Castro and Chavez himself over 20 years ago.Same destructive political economic model as the Cuban system.Widespread misery, shortages with rationing of everything from aspirin to the most essentials.Political persecution along with a lavish life style for the new supposedly communist ruling class.Plus lies lies and more lies.And blame every failure on the giant from the north-U.S.A..
8
Sounds like the current US model. We’re just a few years behind them, but we’re catching up fast.
What’s the name of the old Post Office building in Washington DC that was made into a Hotel were all those wealthy foreigners stay? You know, the foreigners (and wealthy business owners, diplomats, investors etc) who get the welcome basket of “access” with each very, very expensive (ie. lucrative) stay?
5
So what do we do?
Trump's .Best Bud", Putin, wants Maduro in office.
Do we invade, with 1.3 Million Guns in Venezuela?
That would combine their Left and Right to fight the hated "Yankees" and would result in a War that will kill thousands of American soldiers.
Anyone remember "Black Hawk Down"?
The Road to Hell is paved in good intentions and we got three shooting Wars,
now. Iraq and Afghanistan, and Syria too.
6
The US should drop food and medical supplies from the air. But no. We want savior Guaido to lead the aid convoy triumphantly into the country. The ghost of Allen Dulles lives on. Only he could be that ruthless for the sake of corporations who want to suck up the resources of a country w the blessing of a US puppet. Maybe we shouldn’t be so mad at Trump, I mean, he’s a corporate puppet if I ever saw one. “The legislation, sir, to open National Monuments to exploitation by mining companies.” “Why, sure. Anybody got a pen?”
4
@Anonymous
You do realize that if the US does fly planes into Venezuelan airspace, Maduro will not hesitate to have those planes shot down. They already have S-300s from Russia to carry it out.
4
@Anonymous
Planes land in Caracas every day, bringing tons of humanitarian aid. No need to drop anything from the air. If we wanted to help, we will lift the sanctions and promote dialogue between the opposition parties and the Venezuelan government.
@PJR
Maduro closed the border with Brazil to stop humanitarian aid. Even so we were able to send some trucks with food and medicines which were apprehended and destroyed by Maduro’s thugs and the Venezuelan drivers who volunteered to help were arrested.
Venezuela soldiers threw tear gas bombs toward Brazilian territory.
Brazil, Colombia e Peru are helping Venezuelans citizens who were able to escape.
Where the heck is the UN?
5
We are allowing los Narcotrafficantors to establish themselves in Venezuela as the only reliable employers.
Once established, they don't leave.
3
It is not the U.S. There is rampant corruption and stealing which is keeping the present government in power. They, like Stalin before them do not care about their people starving to death.
6
I am utterly sickened by this image -- heartless regime does not care about the people of this country, once the jewel of South America. And here we sit in the US paralyzed by inertia and disinterest. As well as Venezuela's neighbors. We should be deeply ashamed of what we have allowed to occur.
3
@Bobbie I agree. Can’t help but think of the aid ships sent by Venezuela when Katrina hit. Bush sent them back and New Orleans STILL hasn’t been made right. The image of the child dying of treatable conditions will continue to haunt me. As the journalist said when the Hindenburg went down, “Oh the humanity!”
3
Venezuela's collapse started with Hugo Chavez, a corrupt clown on the world stage. It accelerated as the country aligned with authoritarians in Russia, Cuba, and Iran. Most of the nations in the Western Hemisphere are in agreement that Maduro must leave office. Once that happens, and the Cuban and Russian intelligence and military operatives are given the boot, a bailout of Venezuela can begin.
11
Very sad. Tragic.
Cannot but feel the West has to do more. Children here are pictured wearing Nike and Samsung shirts. Plastic Coke bottle litters the beach.
This is 1st world neglect coming home to roost.
5
Venezuela is as “West” as the US. That’s a pretty meaningless concept, certainly in this case.
1
@Jane Smith
"West," yes. Backed by Cuba and Russia.
Really, at this point, it's GLOBAL neglect.
With Cuban political commissars embedded with the Venezuela lowest levels of troops and Russian special forces in civilian clothes protecting Maduro, there is no way that the Venezuelan people or the military can cast off the shackles that communism has placed on them. This shows that a country of tens of millions can be ruled by 20,000 or so foreign troops that have been slipped into the military hierarchy.
3
Who benefits from restricting the sale of Venezuelan oil? Has anyone figured that out?
5
@Dulcie Leimbach
Again, the country was already collapsing before we imposed sanctions.
The USA in the last two decades has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in failed coup d'etats and destabilization of the democratically elected governments of Venezuela. The results of such interference, confiscation of assets , sanctions and blockade by USA administrations, Democrats an Republicans alike, is what you see in this images. Its all about money, the American government couldn't care less about the well being of the Venezuelan people. Venezuela has the biggest oil reserves known in the world.
8
@Manuel Suarez-Correct! And Dump is all about excoriating MS-13 without acknowledging that the foreign policy of his hero Reagan created it. Of course excoriate MS-13, but don’t create other legacies of murder and suffering. Lesson NOT learned is that it comes home to roost.
2
I scan the article and saw that the collapse of the economy was caused by misguided policies but nowhere was socialist mentioned but I could have missed it.
11
I know very little about Venezuela apart from an ethnography I read about import substitution back in 2004. A failed economic project trying to produce Venezuelan automobiles.
I feel like there is this dialectical swing between socialism and capitalism. I don’t know what to say about it apart from observe it.
I am scared that this resembles the future for the world.
Spiritually minded friends tell me that once the ‘awakened’ people reach critical mass there will be positive change. Does anyone believe this?
3
In a word: No. mankind will play out according to our hardwired DNA impetus to kill and destroy and exploit and enslave.
I feel so bad for children in any social class growing into the coming maelstrom of endless wars and the final destruction of the value of human life
Glad my play is about to close. How horribly sad I feel for all children everywhere. Even the ”privileged” lost in their ”smart”pornographic phones
2
"And in recent months, the Trump administration has imposed stiff sanctions to try to cripple it (Venezuela) further." Folks - this is what he wants to replicate - but worse - in Iran, and wherever else he and the disgusting GOP and its "Christian base" think they can take advantage of people or circumstances.
2
I wouldn't give the Venezuelan government a dime. However, we could send each Venezuelan a check for 100 dollars. That should total about 3 billion dollars. Get them back on their feet. We don't need any more waves of refugees.
2
How is it that the Venezuelan people put up with this?
6
They’re not allowed guns.
2
Venezuela's scale of tragedy is immense.
But look also to the crisis in Central American countries: Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua amongst them.
This is what happens when the 1% line their pockets and tell the rest of their compatriots to drop dead. Literally.
I am no Pandora but the box is open. And its malevolence is spreading.
6
Give America twenty years of unbridled corruption and theft and the disemboweling of our middle class and soon we’ll look the same. Worthless public schools, collapsed cities with undrinkable water like Detroit, collapsing bridges, hyperinflation, and the end of a constitutional democracy traded in for a corporate oligarchy deciding every step of our destinies.
Yes, so glad my passion tragicomedy is closing soon. I won’t have that long to continue suffering the unstoppable inhumanity and the plague of wars, death and starvation that will come.
Of course Madero blames the USA. He and Chavez are the only ones to blame for this tragedy. I feel so very sorry for those poor people. Imagine being faced with having to eat what is supposed to be meat of some kind. That is awful looking. If we aren't careful, this could happen here and sooner rather than later.
8
We should be helping these people instead of waiting for them to show up at our door desperate for their family's future.
4
“The fall of the Soviet Union. Cuba’s disastrous unraveling in the 1990s.”
The economic contraction of the former Soviet states (Cuba included) had a very good deal to do with specific choices made by the HW Bush and Clinton administrations.
So in fact very like the problems in Venezuela. Choices the USA made, eg refusing to let Venezuela sell it’s oil.
Oh, and the form Soviet Union has/had a much much bigger population than Venezuela.
So setting aside the massive population difference, there are parallels, but they aren’t what the NY Times is claiming here.
Nor were Zimbabwe’s troubles all self inflicted.
Submitted May 17 8:51 PM Eastern
What’s killing Venezuela isn’t Marxism, it’s corruption and poor (criminal) governance with no accountability.
What’s killing the United States right now isn’t capitalism or democracy, it’s corruption and poor (criminal) governance and a blatant attack on accountability (our founding checks-and-balances co-equal tri-part government) by people we actually elected to protect us.
Corruption and narcissistic con artists don’t care about political ideology, they just look for those who go along with them just long enough for the con to take hold of the public. Then the country, and its money, is theirs. The art of the con.
Not much in return for few tax breaks (and thirty years of effort to create essentially one-party rule. What an irony they’ve lost their party in the process).
17
@Other
I would upvote this a million times if I could.
Thank you for telling the truth. It's not about left vs right, it's about what happens when corruption and tribalism go hand in hand.
1
America, take a good look at the photo of the child wasting away. Don't turn away. This is what authoritarianism looks like and it can happen anywhere. Ask yourself, why is Trump not lifting US sanctions for humanitarian reasons, where is his compassion? The answer is he greatly admires and wants to be a strongman like Putin, MBS, Maduro, Xi (who now is elected for life and DJT was so envious) and he has demonstrated time and time again that he is cruel. It's not rhetoric as the part of trump spins it, it's what he truly believes.
8
@KB. Where is the UN?
2
@Jackson usually, on a Friday at least, they are at the best restaurants/bars/club in to be had in NYC.
3
In the pocket of politicians.
1
Both Canada and the US are guilty of many similar practices of Venezuela and will eventually pay the price. The US and Canada are both running up massive deficits which will cause large inflationary pressures. Canada is also guilty of killing off the oil and gas industry. The US is operating under trillion dollar deficits and owes vast amounts of money to the Chinese. The great Depression reminds us that the whole house of cards can collapse overnight.
3
This is so sad, and so unnecessary. The Military as often has failed the people, and of course so has Russia. And Venezuela's President. But this could not have happened without the fractured political and social aspects of this South American Country….it is ever more troubling when you see Columbia with its history thriving. Even Chile fared better with Pinochet as he ousted a leader such as Maduro and in the end the people chose a better way, on their own with more democratic behavior now working it appears pretty well. And to frankly hear the weak murmurings of the person who wants to lead is also sad...the people are weak and sadly their country is ruined. For now only hopefully.
1
This is so heartbreaking.
1
I wonder if the US economic sanctions have anything to do with it? Does anyone really believe that bombing and war will help Venezuelans? Is it really a coincidence that Venezuela has large oil reserves?
3
Well it does say in the article that the initial recession was well underway starting around 2013. The recent sanctions were only "icing on the cake" of what was already a terrible situation.
5
In the article, a few paragraphs down: "most independent economists say the recession began years before the sanctions, which at most accelerated the collapse."
5
@Richard Katz DO.
Yeah, I've been explaining to people on this thread that the Venezuelan economy was already collapsing even before sanctions were imposed.
3
Marxism has always led to starvation. Stalin created a horrible famine in Ukraine as part of war against the kulaks (prosperous peasants). Mao brought about the worst famine in human history when he required farmers to melt their tools and turn the metal over to government to be used to make weapons. Pol Pot caused a famine in Cambodia that killed a third of its population. The Kim Dynasty rules a North Korea where food shortages occur again and again.
Why should Venezuela be different?
37
And why should the US be any different? Regardless of the “ism,” when corrupt people are given power, the nation suffers. It’s not the political or economic theory that dictates. It’s the quality of those who control.
3
Where is the UN in all this?
23
The UN is a toothless body, and Russia, a permanent member of the security council, supports Maduro.
5
A further but not the end of an example of human a Culture of Cruelty, a catastrophe made worse by power politics and the ignorance, arrogance, and incompetence of leadership both in Venezuela and internationally to include Trumpism.
6
Instead of America trying to reprogram the Middle East (i.e, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran) to think like American's, America would be better served to focus on monstrous regimes like the Maduro regime in our own back yard.
Solve those problems and America will benefit exponentially, from Trade, illegal immigration etc. Not only that, its the moral thing to do.
9
How can I help? What’s the best way to get aid to those who are suffering in this terrible tragedy?
22
Sanctions prevent aid coming from any nation or individual. If you want to help you should demand an end to sanctions.
The Cuban government is the linchpin enabling the Maduro regime's survival. Hastening the end of the present situation in Venezuela requires making Cuban support of the regime too painful to endure. We have the tools to achieve that end - we simply need to employ them.
11
@BayArea101. Not so sure. They are indeed complicit, but now they have, once again, had to start rationing basic items (flour & cooking oil, etc). Cuba has definitely been hurt by losing their subsidized oil (as have other PetroCaribe members). Now, if you want to talk about China & Russia, I’ll listen. They hold a lot of Venezuelan debt, so they have a big stake in keeping things, on any level, afloat in V.
2
With this horrific result to everyone, I'm so glad to know that the US government had *nothing* to do with the collapse (just like global warming)!
4
They DID NOT! If you read the article you would be informed that Venezuela had fallen into recession already by 2013 (if not earlier). Whatever sanctions Trump has now foisted on has been after the fact, adding fuel to what was already a huge ongoing fire.
9
Seems like just yesterday Hugo Chavez was the darling of the Democratic left and media elites - for tearing down his nation's vast private wealth (including the world's largest oil reserves) to underwrite all those virtuous goals like eradicating poverty and illiteracy, and ensuring societal "equality." Now everyone is "equally" living in squalor. Warning to Democratic socialist dreamers (and all Americans) in 2020.
25
US economic sanctions.
@Underclaw
Reading your comment makes me so depressed.
Not only do you have no compassion but you clearly do not understand any basic political tenets.
"Democratic Socialist Dreamers" - and all Americans?
You surely are the poster child for the failure of the American education system.
4
@Flower
Political polarization in America is blinding us to what is going on abroad.
1
Regardless, send food and agricultural supplies!
11
Thank the good ole USA for contributing to this disaster through economic aggression - preventing aid and earned income needed by the economy. According to a recent UN report: “GENEVA (6 May 2019) – An independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council has expressed deep concern at the recent imposition of unilateral coercive measures on Cuba, Venezuela and Iran by the United States, saying the use of economic sanctions for political purposes violates human rights and the norms of international behaviour. Such action may precipitate man-made humanitarian catastrophes of unprecedented proportions.” Welcome to the evil empire - the USA.
11
Yet another misguided bashing of US policies under Trump.
Many tons of aid sent by our government were confiscated by Maduro’s hateful army henchmen at their border to enrich themselves. But it seems you are suggesting that we should further line the pockets of these murderous crooks by buying their oil.
This appalling problem can only be solved by an uprising of the Venezuela people and/or a military coup.
11
Why is the United States of America, the most powerful country on Earth, not sending humanitarian aid to Venezuela?
9
@Sarah Dixon
We did. It was blocked by the Venezuelan military at the Colombian border.
10
Sarah-we have. Read Anne’s comment above.
5
@Sarah Dixon
Devils advocate. Why send a single dime before spending it on millions and millions of poor Americans ? Why aren’t neighboring countries steping up. Why isn’t China ? Japan ? Europe ?
Become an enemy of America whilst relying on the dollar system, we will make your economy scream
5
Economists Jeffrey Sachs and Mark Weisbrot estimate more than 40,000 people have died in Venezuela since 2017 as a result of U.S. sanctions (May 1 2019, DemocracyNow!).
UN Special Rapporteur Alfred de Zayas states "Sanctions Kill" (The Independent, 1-26-2010, "Venezuela crisis: Former UN rapporteur says US sanctions are killing citizens) "Today’s crisis in Venezuela has much in common with the prior aggressions against the two other oil-producing countries."
The US is committing crimes against the people of Venezuela, against the country's elected government and against international law - while most mainstream media outlets, including the NYTimes, look away.
16
I haven't read anything that made me weep like this in years....how can Maduro - who doesn't look like he's missing any meals - allow his people to suffer...
13
Where, where can I send financial aid?
10
The photos of bones and offal juxtaposed with skeletal children writhing in agony are truly horrific. It made me sick.
16
Sanctions against Venezuela began under the Obama Administration. Meddling (remember that word?) in Venezuela's internal affairs and elections began during the Bush Administration.
It is hypocrisy of the most grotesque sort to point to starving babies as evidence of Venezuela's failed government while ignoring the U.S.'s hand in provoking that failure.
Throughout Latin America, as of age 12, everyone knows what the United States is about in the region.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States%E2%80%93Venezuela_relations
3
What comes to my mind is Kuwait, Saddam Hussain, and baby incubators.
5
"poor governance, corruption & misguided policies" have caused this.... I guess our extreme sanctions and basically shutting off the country from the world have nothing to do with it.
7
@Doctor Woo
Again, I cannot stress enough that the economy was already collapsing before sanctions were even imposed.
2
Venezuela has the largest proven oil supply in the world. Does the country have free access to the market? If so, where does that money go? Who is choking the resource? What are their tactics? If the value of oil - a resource that provides economic security for other nations - is channeled toward away? Where is it going? Is the resource still in the ground? Is it wealth they can’t access?
This article cites corruption as a cause of the disaster, but offers no reporting on how corruption is manifest. It lacks the who, what, where, or when necessary to solve problems. I’m not comparing this reporting to the “some people are saying” sourcing that passes for journalism on cable channels, but I can’t say I’m more informed than Ignorant.
Journalists are responsible for the fist draft of history, and I count on the Times to record it well, so we can hold “analysts” accountable for their perspectives today and forever. Now more than ever, we need you to defend journalism with a complete record of fact.
The Times rarely communicates inaccurate fact, and you correct your mistakes, in writing, before there’s time to misuse bad information.
In this article, poignant examples of suffering paint a vivid picture of the effects of causes that “corruption” can’t detail.
The here and now in the lives of so many in Venezuela are gut wrenching, and my sympathy calls me to action. Madura can’t be the only problem, and compassion can’t be my strongest weapon.
7
@Ben Bray
Have you been reading the articles over the past years about the decline? They answer most of your questions.
The oil industry (and electrical grid) were decimated by patronage, taking income and using it to subsidize social programs which resulted in little to no maintenance and the breakdown of both systems which in turn resulted in less income. A vicious spiral. It did not help that Maduro kept saying everything was OK and problems were due to the U.S.
Add the drug trafficking and corruption and you todays Venezuela.
6
God works his miracles in wonderous ways. But don't worry, he never gives anyone more than they can handle.
And, don't forget, this is god's will.
1
@Tom. Yeah , so is Trump’s presidency .
Tell that to that poor starving child.
1
My God what suffering. I stop to say a prayer. God help them.
7
And a man paid $91 million for a rabbit.
10
Leave it to trump to kick the ordinary citizens of Venezuela while they are down.
8
@R.F.
He practiced on ordinary citizens of the US.
This is heartbreaking. Does anyone know how to send money to that little boy, Anailin?
6
Sanctions prevent you from sending aid.
@Margaret Leo. I thought such international sanctions only apply to business finance, trade and immigration rather than humanitarian aid, and medicines. If so this is unbelievably tragic and should be exempt.
The Wall Street Journal has been running articles on this catastrophe for over a year now- I’ve lived in Latin America so I follow these stories. This has zero to do with the US or any other foreign power in Venezuela and líes squarely in the shoulders of Maduro and the absurdity of the economic system of communism. Venezuela has abundant resources and should be wealthy. Maduro needs to leave NOW.
26
Any nation’s populace has a responsibility to put in place a competent government....Venezuela did not do that so now they suffer. They can began a recovery back to greatness as soon as they decide to do the right thing. Stubbornness is not their friend. When an embedded hostile government is not reasonable and people are starving, blood might have to be shed to return to prosperity.
3
Lifting US sanctions will do nothing to help.
Venezuela had an oil industry but through nationalization, corruption, and incompetence it is dead. If sanctions are lifted, they have nothing to sell and if they have nothing to sell, how will they get currency to buy goods.
At this point, Venezuela has to depend on international aide, like the aide that was at the Colombian border but was blocked by the military and Maduro.
This entire situation rests with Maduro.
274
@Fernando
The entire situation rest with US government and corporations that have systematically undermined the Venezuelan government that has tried to bring their economy into better balance, i.e. more for the poor many and less for the wealthy few.
US greed is undermining whole swaths of the globe these days. Clearly the US is the worlds largest economic terrorist organization and possibly militarily too. Payback is going to be ugly when it happens. And it will. Every empire falls eventually.
21
Venezuelan's problems are almost entirely due to actions of the United States against Maduro's and Chavez's government. Venezuela still has plenty of oil that they can sell themselves, if the US would lift sanctions against them and give them back control over their finances. The human horrors you see in the mainstream media are pro-war propaganda, and false to make our public believe the people are being starved. Big oil wants control of Venezuela's oil resources like they had before. Chavez nationalized the oil business and used the proceeds from oil to help Venezuelans. Maduro did the same thing. Big oil could do business with Venezuela if they would give them a fair price for their oil. Corporations don't want to share the corporate benefits with anyone. They believe they are entitled to all the oil on earth for free. Oil companies want to be able to continue wrecking then environment and poisoning the people with no penalties.
Leave Venezuela alone. It is a sin to lie, cheat, steal, and kill. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife or their oil and their government. The US is breaking international law by strangling the country and installing a hand picked dictator, Juan Guaido, to do their will. It is as simple as that. The US and their buddies are bullies.
22
@Philip
I'm sorry, but what are you on about?
The Venezuelan economy was already collapsing before the US imposed sanctions.
32
You can see it on the faces of the sick and dying in this country that they all think that the "sanctions" we, our country, have put in place are a stupendous idea! They're really helping the situation and if they live, someday, they might see a change for the better.
2
So the country was doing badly with people broke and hungry--and then the US applies sanctions and cuts them off from more economic activity? "And in recent months, the Trump administration has imposed stiff sanctions to try to cripple it further." Oh, OK... That sounds like a Christian thing to do.
17
Where in the heck are the other South American countries such as Brazil. With such a humanitarian crisis why are the not invading? French Guyana? Columbia?
9
@PJ : They remember how the USA invaded Iraq . A lesson well learned.
1
Incompetent, kleptocratic leftists triumph once again.
10
@Bill As opposed to incompetent, kleptocratic rightists? They exist too!
5
@Paul
Can we all agree to be on the watch for the " party of crooks and thieves", as Russian activist Alexei Navalny said?
Both PSUV (Venezuela) and the Republican Party (U.S) are party of crooks and thieves.
The is where the road of bad and dishonest government will take a country. And we currently have more than our share of that with Trump and the Republicans.
Remember this when you vote in 2020.
25
@Morgan Be sure to vote and encourage everyone to vote!
4
Will not forget!!!
3
Venezuela is an epic calamity generating breathtaking suffering. Why aren't American religious leaders of all stripes ceaselessly demanding in the media that the U.S. use any method necessary, including the military, to end this horror? The scope and intensity of the suffering elevates the situation into the sphere of morality. That's their bailiwick. Failing to respond with courage further erodes the credibility of America's religious institutions.
19
Why does it not surprise me that on some level there is US involvement.
9
This article is so one-sided, it is difficult to know where to start. The notion that Chavez' poor use of resources, his lack of investment in the shallow Maracaibo wells and infrastructure, his failure to establish reserve funds and so on, or Maduro's wrongheaded policies are the primary cause of the the economic collapse in Venezuela - by themselves - is specious. One has to wonder about the author's objectivity, site selection and intentions. The US sanctions BY THEMSELVES, as has been pointed out empirically by economist Jeffrey Sachs and others, have been devastating. The US is causing suffering on a large scale. To ascribe the blame for all of that on Maduro, is at best disingenuous.
16
@Kevin Swanwick Wow long before Trump ever believed he would be president Venezuela was a disaster under Chavez . Trump may not do the right thing in Venezuela however he was a reality star (who may not have know about Venezuela ) when the Chavez was destroying the Venezuela economy and making the people poor. Can Thump do the right thing?
Yes stay out of it. Let South American countries deal with it
5
The picture of the emaciated baby is heartbreaking. How can we help? Can we donate to Doctors Without Borders? Can the Hospital Ship Hope go there, even if we don't support the government? We need to encourage Russia and Cuba to go in and save these wonderful people even if the US does not like the current government. I visited Caracas during university and it was a lovely country with many educated, charming people. The many dictators have done this country no good nor has their nationalization of the oil companies. I would support US troops going in far more than to Iraq or Iran. Terrible, just terrible.
10
@Martha MacC
Russia and Cuba are already in, Cuba for a long time now. They help sustain Maduro: the Russians (and Chinese) to recover their loans and investments, the Cubans because Venezuela gave them oil almost free and used their doctors, military and so on to run the country. The majority of the educated and charming Venezuelans you have met have already left the country. In small Uruguay where I now live there are thousands of Venezuelans exiles, mostly highly educated ones. Other Latin American countries have hundreds of thousands refugees.
It is a horrible situation and as Venezuelan exiles tell it (they are 10% of Venezuela's population) the fault resides mostly on Maduro. I wish the UN would intervene creating refugee camps at the borders where the desperately poor Venezuelans go, since neighboring countries probably will not be able to keep absorbing such exodus.
3
gee...who would have thought that socialism would collapse under its own weight. takers take-makers leave-post haste.
8
@Frank the collapse wasn’t built on socialism. It was built on theft, corruption and sanctions. If socialism caused these conditions please point out to me the huge numbers of starving and dying in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
10
@Paul Until very recently, except for the Sami, Scandinavians were almost perfectly ethnically homogenous (per country). 2 of those countries are still monarchies, and the republic became so from a monarchy without a revolution. All parlimentary. None colonized. And their ethnic groups all have had stable cultures since prehistoric times. They had a lot to build on, and I think because of such solidity, they have so far been able to withstand adding certain socialistic policies to their societies (not total socialism). Japan even more so. It has successful socialized medicine, but it’s always been a monarchy, it’s parlimentary, it’s part Buddhist so it’s very zen, it has the Ainu like the Sami, and it’s STILL doing a great job of maintaining its ethnic homogeny: asylum-seekers are seeking real asylum, they’re kept in what are essentially prisons, they’re regularly told they’re not welcome to try to persuade them to leave, and it might be only a dozen applications are approved in a year for the whole country. And in all these countries, most especially Japan, everyone has a well-developed sense of SHAME. Nothing of this is true of Venezuela. It was a colony, the republic started in a revolution and is a couple hundred years old, it’s not parlimentary, the people are of mixed ethnicity, the culture’s been a melting pot for several hundred years with heavy immigration, socialism included severe price-controls, and at least the members of the government are completely shameless.
How much of this is the result of the meddling and the sanctions imposed by the United States ever since Chavez first came to power?
9
@Stephen Love about 0.0001%
7
People complain, but this is what the US wanted. Reap what you sow. And this goes back to Bush and Obama policies.
3
All that thanks to the Republicans primarily the Florida senator and Vice Presidents doings by miscalculating that it would be an easy transition to new leader... just as every republican administration has done in the past 75 years. Stop invading, stop getting involved where we shouldn’t be.
7
As a Venezuelan citizen, I am distraught regarding what has happened to the country of my birth. I blame the current situation on several factors:
1. The previous governments (prior to Chavez) that were corrupt and did nothing for the majority of Venezuelans, resulting in the election of Chavez.
2. The hostility and disdain of the Venezuelan upper classes to Chavez that ended up radicalizing him. There were many upper class Venezuelans that openly called him "mono" (monkey) because of his African ancestry.
3. U.S. interference in Venezuelan affairs, including the failed coup attempt in 2002. Again, serving to radicalize Chavez even more.
4. The Venezuelan "vivo" culture that has developed since the 1950s - where the goal is to get as much as you can, while you can, for free.
5. Incompetence at all levels of government during the Chavez and Maduro governments.
6. Venezuela being used as a pawn in US-Russia-China relations.
7. The lack of understanding of Venezuela by Trump and his ignorant and reactionary underlings.
All in all, this is a very tragic situation and there will be no short term fix.
50
@PXM agree. Missing massive corruption and money flows to Miami.
6
What. A. Tragedy. :(
It looks apocalyptic.
6
My suspicion is that this what the powers that control (the two percent elite) want. There are other genocides and forced starvations going on in other parts of the world (Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen). Also seemingly part of a plan to rid the world of those who know the truth about the power elite.
6
Where are all the evangelicals now? This story is heartbreaking.
7
A different assessment of the role of the sanctions - Trump & Bolton seek regime change & a coup:
JEFFREY SACHS: It’s a complete economic collapse, a catastrophe, in Venezuela. There was a crisis, for sure, before Trump came to office, but the idea of the Trump administration, from the start, has been to overthrow Maduro. That’s not a hypothesis. Trump was very explicit in discussions with presidents of Latin America, where he asked them, “Why shouldn’t the U.S. just invade?” He said that already in 2017. So the idea of the Trump administration has been to overthrow Maduro from the start. the U.S. government has been trying to strangle the Venezuelan economy.
It started with sanctions in 2017 that prevented, essentially, the country from accessing international capital markets and the oil company from restructuring its loans. That put Venezuela into a hyperinflation. That was the utter collapse. Oil earnings plummeted. The earnings that are used to buy food and medicine collapsed. That’s when the social, humanitarian crisis went spiraling out of control. And then, in this year, with this idea, very naive, very stupid, in my view, that there would be this self-proclaimed president, which was all choreographed with the United States very, very closely, another round of even tighter sanctions, essentially confiscating the earnings and the assets of the Venezuelan government, took place.
https://www.democracynow.org/2019/5/1/economist_jeffrey_sachs_us_sanctions_have
16
@Bill Wolfe
Sachs' version of events ignores critical facts in his rush to blame the Trump sanctions and absolve Maduro of blame. By the time Trump imposed sanctions, Venezuela was already well on its way to economic crisis. Inflation had reached 50% back in 2013 and was up to 800% by 2016. The economic policies that have produced shortages like draconian price controls reach back further to the 1990's. High oil prices were able to mask many of the problems until drops in oil prices and Venezuelan oil production lead to less money via the state oil company, which lead the government to lean on hyperinflation. The drop in oil production was due to the high level of cronyism in the Maduro government and far predated any US sanctions.
9
"2-year-old Anailin Nava is wasting away in a nearby hut from malnutrition and treatable muscular paralysis. Her mother, Maibeli Nava, does not have money to take her to Colombia for treatment, she said."
Let's argue later about the cause of the crisis. We have the name and location of one salvageable victim. How can we help her?
Thank you. Harriet in San Francisco
18
I agree. I would also like to find out how to get money to his mother@Harriet
2
@Julia
Julia,
Welcome!
I'm hoping that someone will respond who can advise us how to help the Navas. Should we contact the State Department? Save the Children? The UN?
If you or any other readers know any possible contacts, please pursue and let me know.
Thank you. Harriet
Sanctions prevent you from helping. If you want to help demand an end to sanctions.
In all truth, when people claim this is exactly what a Sanders presidency would do to the US, they have a point. The rich would declare war on America, the same as they've declared war on Venezuela.
5
Nice try, still not convinced a coup or foreign intervention will lead to an improvement.
5
So many commenters here want to blame the US for the misery in Venezuela. I would concede that we have not helped them and have hindered them because of their politics, but make no mistake, before Mr. Chavez took power, Venezuela was a more or less functional state. No one was dying of starvation. Many people were poor and the elites got more goodies than the masses, but, it in no way resembles what we see today.
Mr. Chavez rode the wave of high oil prices to buy up the polity. Lower oil prices have now made this impossible for Mr. Maduro. Unfortunately, he does not have the wit to realize that the practices of Mr. Chavez are no longer sustainable.
This does indeed remind me of Zimbabwe, a country rich in resources, but constricted and restrained by a few power elites who utilize what little is left to feather their own beds.
One can blame Socialism and it is no mistake that the jokers in Venezuela claim that title, but in the end it is just corrupt totalitarianism using the "ism" of socialism to mask their crimes.
It seems the mask is off. Still they will hide behind their finger just as all the socialist apologists in this comment thread.
10
Like WWII, Venezuela is a cautionary example of what happens when the worst of human nature is writ large.
Who's guilty? Who's responsible? Certainly, the corrupt, self-absorbed, and morally bankrupt political and military leadership deserves the lions share of the blame. But, truth be told, we are all complicit in one way or another.
These starving children are human beings - just like the rest of us. They are principally no different then anyone else, except they have lost the "lottery-of-birth" that remains the hallmark of our species greatest injustice and inequality.
But for the grace of God, go I? No. But for the lack of will and effort to end the out-sized influence of "fates fickle hand" in determining one's lot in life, go they.
These photographs are not merely an indictment of the Venezuelan government, they are an indictment of the human-race's inability to lift itself out of the jungle. And they stand as a vision of the future if our species does not begin to take it's obligation and responsibility to the planet and to one another seriously.
If we, all of us, don't come together to put an end to the Age of Plunderers, it will put an end to us.
Food for thought.
18
How is homelessness where you live? Is is apparent? Along the roads and highways, encampments? Twenty years ago I never saw what I see today. I don't hear typically about homelessness on a national level, though the divide of those with and without seems extremely great. Very apparent. What does this mean about what is happening here at home.
The photo on the front page of the NYTimes of the small child ill and suffering with noone able to care for him. So very heart wrenching and tragic.
9
Propose a solution already. Like the situation in Yemen this humanitarian crisis should NOT continue to go on.. Invade Venezuela and NOT Iran? How can humanitarian aid get thru and safety be guaranteed??
Easy to describe a mess. Cleaning it up is more difficult. Time for Congress to start acting and perhaps it's time to decrease the power of the president major... In other words, Trump should NOT be the only person setting policy..
And all of our dear presidential candidate might give a nod to these problems as they stump their way around the country.
(PS I will not vote for Biden, who apparently is rather anti- Social Security as we know it! also part of the Obama problem including gifts to the banksters (of my money) and of course the abominable care act.)
Like Christine M., I would like to know how to help the mother pay for her starving 3 year old’s treatment.
9
U.S. sanctions prevent you from sending money. If you want to help tell congress to end sanctions.
1
Concerning your reference to Venezuela having the largest proved oil reserves in the world I would like to clarify that by internationally accepted petroleum reserves standards that this is certainly not the case.
Under the existing economic and political conditions in Venezuela and considering the lack of field maintenance ( evidenced by the sharp decline in production) Venezuela’s proved oil reserves would be far from the worlds largest. A very large percent of Venezuela’s petroleum resources would be more appropriately considered contingent resources rather than reserves.
The most widely accepted international standard to classify petroleum reserves and resources ( Petroleum Resources Management System -PRMS) makes clear that to be included in the reserves class, a project must be sufficiently defined to establish both its technical and commercial viability . There must be a evidence of firm intention to proceed with development within a reasonable time-frame. In general, if there is not a reasonable expectation that financing or other forms of commitment can be arranged so that the development will be initiated within a reasonable time-frame, then the project should be classified as a contingent resource. This is clearly the case in Venezuela.
The distinction may seem technical but it is highly significant in terms of international finance and regulatory agency reporting requirements.
9
Between 2008 and 2015 oil peaked at $135 USD to $145 USD per bbl. The Venezuelan economy has been heavily dependent on crude oil since WW2. From 2015 onward the declining price of crude oil has placed the Venezuelan economy in dire circumstances. The Venezuelan Government borrowed to make up for the royalty and tax income shortfalls. The thinking was that we are approaching "peak oil" and in the next year or two oil prices will rise to new heights. To add fuel to the flames the US government saw an opportunity to undermine Venezuela which they have accomplished by various sanctions, threats of invasion, and appointing people to positions of authority that they never ran for. Seizure of Venezuelan assets in the US notably CITGO is but one example. A number of governments were pressured to become supporters of the US bandwagon to depose Maduro. Canada was one of the gutless band that succumbed to the pressure. Venezuela has suffered from famines during the Spanish Empire era, the Bolivarian era and up to today. Venezuela does not have the high altitude fertile plain that Colombia has. I liken Venezuela and oil to Ireland with its potato monoculture famine in 1845-48 and the British exporting wheat from Ireland guarded by the British Army. The USA is playing the role of the British of 1845 in today's Venezuela.
7
My god, it is heartbreaking to see such an emaciated child. Please can someone who knows about this family’s whereabouts inform readers where we might send funds directly towards helping Anailin’s mother and other families of this island’s community receive food and medicine.
10
Reading some of these comments, one would think that the United States is the greatest evil to ever befall the world!
There is not some fundamental right for any country in this world to trade with the US. It is a privilege.
The US is not responsible for policies by Chavez and Maduro. That lays entirely with them.
20
@Fernando What about God's beautiful Venezuelan babies who are suffering and dying. Could the United states, with its "booming" economy save these poor souls?
Venezuela is our neighbor, Venezuelans are our friends, they are us, going to Caracas from Miami, used to feel less foreign than traveling to New York. What is happening in Venezuela is a crime against humanity and our junior Senator, Rick Scott, is 100% right, when he describes the situation as genocide. I read a piece in the Miami Herald, written by some little man in an ivory tower, claiming it is not, it made me nauseous. Venezuela is what happens when organized crime is allowed to take over an entire nation and the genocide is the decimation of civilized society, destruction of government institutions and the death of millions as a result, as is pointed out by this piece, what is happening in Venezuela, is already worse than the aftermath of many wars. How could we allow this to happen and in our own backyard? Maybe, getting bogged down in things we don't understand and trying to "help" people who don't want our help, in places far away, and with cultures so different, they may as well be on different planets had something to do with it. What we should have done, is to have paid closer attention to our own country and the close friends and neighbors surrounding us...
18
@JohnThe majority of the people of Venezuela voted for politicians who promised them the easy life at the expence of the productive class. The state took over businesses owned privately to run them for the people. When you have no incentive due to socialism nothing gets done. Since when is it my responsibility to help a people who voted for this with my taxes from my private enterprise? wealth just does not happen because the goverment mandates it.
4
@Iconclass what is happening in Venezuela is NOT socialism, every successful country has elements of socialism and capitalism (including the United States), it's balance between the two that breeds success, and in today's world, countries with more socialist elements, e.g., Nordic countries in Europe, rank at the top of pretty much everything... however, brining in Socialism and it's contrasts to Capitalism, when discussing Venezuela, is 100% missing the point, and does nothing but create false equivalencies, Venezuela does NOT have a political system, there is no ideology, there is no thought going in to this enterprise for creating a better country, this is nothing but 100% "smoke and mirrors," getting people, like yourself, to give legitimacy to the Maduro regime by calling them "socialist," they want you to do that, they want you to think this is a battle between socialism and capitalism, and if you believe that, then you've already fallen for their trickery, playing right in to the hands of a criminal organization raping and pillaging an entire nation...
4
@Iconclass
They weren't asking for an easy life at the expense of others, just a decent wage for hard work and a fair share. Too many people do not give credit to those who actually make the "widgets" but assume the bosses in the corner offices with three martini lunches and afternoon golf games are the big producers. One of my brothers "worked" in finance so I have observed how some people get a lot of reward for schmoozing.
Disclaimer: I despise Trump. I believe our taxes need to be higher. I believe we need to reduce the levels of income inequality in this country considerably.
All that being said, this is the inevitable outcome of industry nationalization, or true socialism. In this country, we worry about crony capitalism, where corporations leverage politicians to increase their power. Socialism literally has no demarcation. Business and government are one, inevitably leading to corruption and mismanagement. It’s too much power for one entity.
No country that has tried this type of socialism has ever had a free press. It kills both liberty and prosperity.
I hope the progressive left will stop making excuses for Venezuela’s collapse, and acknowledge that this is a bad governance model, period.
17
@Todd, what's not to like is I don't think most Americans want to give up to half of their paychecks to the government and let them decide how to spend. And the more government interference we have, the most totalitarian we become. That's what the AOC"s want more government regulations over every aspect of our lives. No thanks.
2
@Mercury S Venezuela is a totalitarian state run by a capricious and incompetent strong man, with endemic corruption, and powerful criminal gangs. It has nothing whatever to do with socialism. Capitalist Haiti isn’t fairing very well either, but you don’t hear that story. Socialist China, yes, all the largest companies in China are state owned, has the highest, sustained, economic growth in the world. I’m not a socialist, but you cannot make the generalizations you’re making. I believe that the kind of “socialism” Bernie and AOC are talking about looks more like Norway and Sweden. What’s not to like about that?
56
@Mercury S Not all members of the theoretical "progressive left" believe this way, including this left of center historian. Venezuela has been building this disaster since independence, going through 32 constitutions in less than 200 years! 32!! That is about one every six years. No continuity, no operative first principles for governance to find solid footing over time. Yes, US interference in northern Latin America, especially Central America and Venezuela, has played strong roles at times, but this one is entirely on Venezuela and their corrupt application of socialistic capitalism. And this socialism has not even had close to the degree of totalitarianism found in the Soviet Union or Cuba. Horrible, as I have friends there.
6
But at least there is near perfect equality. Finally!
6
at the same time, trump is busy putting stress on China and hope that one day China can also be like Venezuela so that USA can profit more and be great again
3
Having read this article, I believe that President Trump should immediately lift all US sanctions against Venezuela. The situation of these people is horrific and should not be made worse by aggressive US government sanctions.
23
@John Murray
After lifting the sanctions, what do you envision happening?
They have no money, so how can they buy anything?
This is what will happen once sanctions are lifted: nothing.
Venezuela has nothing to export and must depend on the kindness of strangers (the US tried to help but the aide was blocked at the Colombian border). They can export oil but the nationalized oil industry doesn't have the capability or competence to extract it. Also, because of the fracking boom of the US, oil prices can't help them. So what do you think will happen without sanctions?
2
@John Murray he will not, since he equates suffering with weakness.
1
@Fernando
Their suffering will lessen. Then the US can work with the Maduro regime and import needed supplies.
This has been done before. It was called the Marshall plan and it was a big help to Germany, the U.K., France etc.
A friend came back from Venezuela and says not far from the city center there are groups of people living quite well. NYT - you should report on this. It makes it such a worse travesty.
7
@Barb In the same vein; I hear that many people in the U.S. are not addicted to oxycontin, so we shouldn't really focus reporting on the opiates addiction crisis. Also, I heard somewhere that there are college students in the U.S. that have no problem with student loans because their parents are billionaires. We need to hear more about them. Also, someone told me that there are people in America that have no problem affording healthcare; why don't we read more about them? Also, there are millions, MILLIONS! of American students who are not gunned down in school shootings. Where are THEIR stories???
10
@Barb. Yes, I have friends who have visited and recently and reported as well. The Times has been filing most of its reports from Lima, not having anyone on the ground. This writer has been added to the mix. At least he is on the ground (though he seems to be very selective about the locations he reports on). One side of Caracas is wealthy and the other is not. Those whose families rose through oil-related private industry, do quite well. This is the Lopez-Guaidó faction. They are greatly outnumbered by the Chavistas who support the exiting Bolivarian constitution.
2
Amen.
1
So what can we do to actually help instead of just talking about it?
12
@Jack Not much, unfortunately. A whole generation of young people in Venezuela have risen up time and again against this regime, putting their lives on the line for freedom, and so many of them are dead, in prison, and in exile. I think the best we can do is try to enlighten our politicians here in the US about the situation. Both those on the right as well as those on the left so that there is a united front of US politicians pressuring for change. It really doesn't help when Ilhan Omar or Bernie make excuses for Maduro. I think they do it out of reflex, on good faith and with good intentions, but they are really misinformed and are harming the cause of freedom in Venezuela.
2
You can tell your government to stop the sanctions that have killed 40,000 Venezuelan people.
http://cepr.net/press-center/press-releases/report-finds-us-sanctions-on-venezuela-are-responsible-for-tens-of-thousands-of-deaths
3
@Jack End sanctions immediately.
2
In the face of this immense suffering, how can anyone be thinking about apportioning blame or the politics of socialism. What can be done to save lives right now?
If we gave up on meddling in another country's politics, or at least in this one, then we could help instead of hurt. The confusion we're seeing is a self-interested disinformation campaign by our oligarchs and a shocking disregard for human lives.
The answer is simple:
The US should immediately stop interfering in Venezuela's politics and help the suffering people. Then let the Venezuelans choose whoever they want to govern their country. We do not have to have an opinion on it.
11
@Hdb Venezuela’s politics directly caused the people’s suffering. This has been a long time in the making and is directly caused by the government of Venezuela. That is why we can do nothing. Venezuela has been a socialist communist state and this economic system is doomed to failure, as can be easily seen. The only hope the Venezuelans have is that Maduro goes and their new leader undertakes economic reforms. Sadly, the US cannot save the world and other countries don’t want that anyway. It breaks my heart, but I try to save my corner of the world by being a public health nurse in the underserved areas in my city.
1
The Trump administration's sanctions amounts to pouring fuel on a fire. Millions will starve before Maduro does, so who is Trump really hurting? All Trump is accomplishing is adding to the chaos while creating more migration northward. If I were conspiracy-minded, I would think Trump is actually trying to engineer a real migrant caravan to justify his ridiculous wall.
But he reality is probably he is too ignorant to understand his own policies. He is also relying on the advice of people friendly with US oil companies, who are eager for a US military intervention so they can displace the state-run Venezuelan oil company and carve up one of the richest oil producing areas in the Western hemisphere.
18
We, humans, will promise "never again" and yet let it happen again and again.
There is a side of me which would want us to invade and topple that leader but I know that would be just fruitless journey where many young men and women die.
On the other hand, it is time we realize that sanctions never work - they work only to hurt the poor and the weak. If not anything, I would end sanctions against any country.
17
Don’t blame the recent U.S. sanctions, the situation had been deteriorating for a while and then regime had opportunities to make corrections and get back to track. But they opted not to because that would have imply release some power. For a communist, absolute control of the society is paramount. They didn’t want educated, smart people running the state oil company (PDVSA), they didn’t like prepared, skllied technicians running the electricity, water, and health services, they only want loyal political operators capable to do whatever they asked for. The regime incompetence to manage the country inmense wealth is only comparable to its lack of human sensitivity. They waste and robbed $ billions, enriching the regime elite and supporting U.S. enemies.
The sanctions may not lead to an immediate change but they will eventually make Venezuelan civilians and military to be more determined against the regime forcing them to negotiate its exit. Unfortunatly, there isn’t a solution where the people doesn’t suffer more but at least they can have hope.
6
The U.S. is partly responsible for the sufferings of Venezuelan people because of all the crippling economic sanctions that were imposed mostly without any kind of consensus among world nations. The bullying behavior is accompanied by reduced transparency, excessively prone to lobbying by corporates and foreign entities, policies that favor the rich etc. The top 0.01% are responsible for a majority of these issues.
8
@Jay. No we are not responsible. Why don’t you put the blame where it belongs? Start with Chavez.
4
"Outside of War" as if the US is not currently waging economic warfare on Venezuela or actively trying to stoke a civil war against the elected government. but do go on explaining how this is "outside of war..."
8
Ultimately this story is about control of Venezuela's oil. If the US can't control the oil it's "My way or the highway." This country would rather see suffering and death in its greed over the riches to be had from Venezuela's oil.
6
@Suzanne Wheat. We don’t need their oil. In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t buy their oil.
6
I like the way the journalists vaguely gloss over the impact of American interventions as some sort of fuzzy afterthought rather than to impute the obvious link between our meddling and others' suffering at yet another turn in history.
11
An absence of effective governance leads to the collapse of a country.
This is the Republican dream.
7
The US sanctions that really matter i.e., outside of individual sanctions to government officials which have no impact on the Venezuelan economy, started just a few months back. The Venezuelan collapse started 20 years ago and accelerated maybe 5 to 7 years ago with Maduro and the collapse of oil prices. Let’s make sure the readers understand this clearly. I am from Venezuela by the way and appreciate the help received from the US government. At least they are doing something and putting all their weight towards helping my country. The situation is very complex, so I don’t blame the Venezuelan opposition or the US for it. It is ultimately the responsibility of the Venezuelan population who elected these communists for so many years. I feel sorry for us who knew that this catastrophe was going to happen, but what occurred in Venezuela is a failure of democracy and the concentration of power in one man Hugo Chavez mixed with communism. This is why balance of power is so important. I hate to say it, but I see parallels with some of the autocratic tendencies in the US nowadays.
26
Lots of political yammering. This is now a humanitarian crisis. The political babble is a comfortable doctrine. These people, children, families, neighbors need help just as if a tsunami or volcano had devastated their land and homes. Are relief organizations allowed in? Is contacting our Congress people really all we can do?!
7
The current crisis appears brought to you by Elliott Abrams & Co. in hopes of re-establishing control of the country by traditional Venezuelan economic elites. A solution that does not fit the neocon vision is needed, but unlikely to happen involving the US under this administration.
7
This is truly a disaster. I worked in Caracas 15 years ago and already then one could see decline, but not at this disastrous level.
The only comparison that comes to my mind is the British mismanagement of Ireland that led to catastrophic results starting with the potato famine in 1845, but ran much longer.
6
A moral society would send food, medicine, and logistical support.
The political structure of the country is irrelevant. Gloating over our economic success or attempting to incite unrest are horrible responses to human suffering.
10
@Andrew R Gross A "pro-life" society would send hundreds of representatives to care for the innocent babies.
2
But what can we do to help?
NYTimes, you have raised the awareness. Can you please follow up with an article about a call to action for how to help these dying people?
46
@ Allison
@Maeve Quigley
Thank you for the first comments I have read that show compassion. The others are full of blame, blame the socialists, blame socialism.
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, are examples of socialism that is working. What we are seeing in Venezuela is chaos, starvation, suffering, children dying. What are we going to do for them?
Call your congress members now and tell them to lift any sanctions that are contributing to the imminent death of this little two year old girl, Anailin, and others not pictured. This is a travesty. NYT, please tell its readers what it can do. We feel powerless reading these agonizing stories without any solution.
27
The Evangelist, Pat Robertson had substantial investments in oil in Venezuela and used this 700 Club TV podium to beat the drums for overthrow of the 'socialists' who nationalized the oil. Robertson's been all about greed, he lost money and his soul. But Robertson isn't the only oil investor that has been on the 'overthrow the Venezuelan government' bandwagon. The oil investors want their investments back - this is at the core of the problems --- it's high time that the core truth of the matter was told. Trump is only riding this bandwagon - there are few if any winners among the citizens of Venezuela - its a major disaster.
41
Ummmm Venezuela nationalized it’s oil industry in 1976. Companies were compensated. Since then, private company have continued to operate in cooperation with state. At least until PDVSA stopped functioning.
13
USA sanctions truly did make this awful situation much worse for the civilians, and did it rapidly. Accept the responsibility at least.
57
@Jodi Goalstone For the record, I'm against the sanctions, because they make for an easy excuse for Maduro. The truth, though, is that the few sanctions with teeth were but enacted weeks ago long after the economy was destroyed. And those "toothy" sanctions are not very biting, after all, as they only pertain to U.S. companies.
6
@Jodi Goalstone
You're forgetting the supplies on the border that the regime would not allow in. No?
5
@Jodi Goalstone you are incorrect and i will not accept responsibility for venezuelan government criminals. oops i mean officials not criminals.
4
We are at an economic war with Venezuela.
Food and medicine are the weapons.
27
@John Adams
Obviously capitalism is a far superior system otherwise it would be the US that would find itself that this situation
I wonder if US sanctions will have any impact on regime change. They will probably be counterproductive, not to dissimilar to Castro's Cuba where the harder the US tried to overthrow Castro, the stronger his support was from his own people.
No doubt Russia and China can fill any void left from US sanctions and Venezuela can still export illegal drugs to willing buyers in the USA to earn some hard currency.
13
@Joseph B
Politically, it seems just plain stupid and shortsighted to make the US a villain, when the country was collapsing of its own corruption and the fact that it has made it impossible for businesses to operate in Venezuela.
The sanctions make it far worse for the human beings there who are trying to survive. The attempt to install Guaido - which apparently this Administration thought would be simple - didn't work. Our stance seems to hark back to the early US interference in South and Central America, the secret policies which are even now producing a stream of refugees. Can't we be both smarter and more compassionate?
Chaos does not produce democracy; it is very hard to recover from. We should in no way be stopping humanitarian aid.
2
I can assure there is no support for Maduro in Venezuela and won’t be. The government and military are simply and terribly a drug cartel who has sequestered a whole country! I don’t think the sanctions will therefore make any change. People in Venezuela have no arms and are powerless against the military. This could last for decades. Sadly the only thing that may change the situation is a military intervention from abroad, but I can understand why the US is hesitant as it will be blamed unfairly for ever as the imperialist power over the poor Latin countries. I am Venezuelan by the way so I know what is going on for the last 20 years.
4
Without excusing any mismanagement or corruption that may have compounded the problem, barely mentioning the precipitous drop of oil prices, understating the impact of US sanctions and the US' 2-decades-long hostility to Venezuela, calling Ken Rogoff of Int'l. Monetary fund fame an "independent" economist, and citing none of the considerable number of others who hold different views totally undermines the credibility of this article.
21
None of the defenders of the regime in Caracas note that it is deliberately blocking a massive international relief operation (food and medicine) for Venezuela.
Maduro is using food as a weapon, just as Comrade Stalin did in the artificial famine he created in the Ukraine during collectivization in the early 1930s.
Communism - which is the antithesis of European democratic socialism - often produces mass starvation. Ethiopia was an example in the 1970s, as was Zimbabwe more recently.
47
@scott ochiltree
Funny that you failed to include the worst current example of famine being used as a weapon of war, which is Yemen. I see very little about Yemen in the Times and other US papers, because the Saudis have shown themselves willing to murder journalists. What has our heroic government done about that? Are they pressing for regime change in the Saudi kingdom?
4
Sean Penn, you can't blame this crisis on the US. Instead of playing a part in a Marxist drama, and treating Chavez like a statesman, you could have actually done something and promoted a real democracy.
25
Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and lesser nations should have learned something from China. Poor wisdom from these countries. They have not learn to eat a tree bark to compete with the world economy. On the other hand, Donald tries to suppress an economic competitor. DJI down 0.38% at 4 PM today.
3
An entirely preventable catastrophe of civilization and humanIty.
24
It is sad, and it is not to be forgotten. Such atrocities in Venezuela and yet the United Nations spends $billion and what do they accomplish? Why hasn't a world organization invaded and killed this dictator Maduro. How much longer are children and innocent civilians going to be forgotten? Pitiful. May the political leaders of the world who have the power to help those in Venezuela and have not done so, suffer the same treatment Maduro hands out to the innocent people. Their nightmares should remind them of their ineptitude.
6
Corrupt officials are the reason government's fail. America retaliates by cutting medical supply shipments ? Who suffers ? We should be better than this.
16
Where are the Russians, Chinese and Cubans, Maduro's friends. Somehow they are taking care of Maduro supporters while they buy up Venezuela's assets and rock bottom prices.
Some friends.
11
One wonders, and one hopes the media might give us some insight, what is the condition of those who hold power? What proportion of the populace is getting by and what is the standard of living they enjoy? And, what are the financial resources that allow them to do so? How do they obtain that which is denied to those depicted in the article?
7
@Shain No need to wonder. Here's evidence: https://twitter.com/ArantxaBritto/status/1041798447937085441
You can only point to one cause in Venezuela: Bad Government.
There has been no plague, no natural disaster, no earthquakes, flood, tornado, or disease that has brought this on. Famine exists only because the government controls production, imports and profits.
The most free countries are the best off: Singapore, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and the U.S. Venezuela is the bad example from which all should steer away.
32
@Garth
Dear Garth,
You summed it up very nicely. While partisans on the right and left want to blame an "ISM" the truth is the Venezuelan government has never been that democratic or transparent, but since Mr. Chavez died, his party's "heirs" have destroyed what at one time was a more or less functional country.
16
@Garth
interesting. so our dangling of the puppet strings and imposing stifling sanctions, all while bolstering a stooge of our choosing in yet another sovereign country (and while at once claiming that we deliver and promote democracy), plays no role...
This article eerily reminds me of the most recent episode of Game of Thrones. A leader on the inside that wants to keep power and one on the outside who just wants the other to be obliterated. Meanwhile, oblivious to both, a populace suffers.
12
In 1992, I was in Caracas on business; while the symphony played in the beautiful concert hall and sleek subways ran underground and comfortable Venezuelans filled the many flights to exotic destinations, the poor huddled in mountain slums ringing the city and banged their pots and pans all night from hunger and social inequity. On occasion, tear gas wafting in the air from security forces “maintaining order “ closed the Hilton hotel’s outdoor pool... an inconvenience. A wealthy, two-party democracy with an educated, large middle class (for Latin America) was slowly sinking into today’s chaos and we didn’t notice. The tone deaf political classes and economic elites ignored - at their risk and peril - the growing disenchantment with the status quo. The poor rallied around a demagogue: Hugo Chavez. But he promised hope and food and access to the great wealth of the nation. As an object lesson, if it could happen in Venezuela, it could happen just about anywhere. We ignore growing disenfranchisement and disillusionment of the under-served and poor at our own risk and peril. Sadly, the one hope had been the armed forces who might, however vaguely, have recalled their oath to protect the country from the catastrophe that mismanagement has wrought; but they too opted for power over duty or is it food over starvation?
820
@PMIGuy
Venezuela is a classic example of extreme come inequality. A peep into America's future if we ever suffer economic catastrophes.
38
@PMIGuy I LIVED in Caracas in 1992 (and 1991, 1990 ....) Yes, there was poverty; after all, oil prices were at record lows, but there was still a functioning private sector, no blackouts, functioning public hospitals for the poor, schools, private industry. The tragedy is that the Venezuelan middle class, instead of doubling down on their commitment to liberalism, supported a populist demagogue (Chavez) and elected him to the presidency. Once there, he destroyed liberal institutions, all checks and balances, and nationalized industry. The truth is that the Venezuelan middle class, not just the poor, elected Chavez. The largest liberal newspapers endorsed him, the pundits on TV, some of the richest and most influential families supported the guy. I was there. This was not a simplistic left vs. right rich vs. poor brown vs. white narrative. Look at Chavez's top lieutenants: They were mostly white. Look at Chavez's liberal adversary, Claudio Fermin: He was black.
71
Now justice has been done. Everybody is starving, and it’s much worse that it was for the poorest of the poor a quarter century ago. Of course, the rich have long since moved to Miami. Let a Socialist démagogue improve the lot of the poor and see what happens.
24
Let’s be clear about what has amplified the problems there. It’s the sanctions, not the despot there. There are sanctions to discredit him and cause rebellion. It’s not his bad leadership, and it’s bad.
If there were no sanctions he’d do just fine enough, like the many other despots Trump loves. Remember the despots Trump loves?Some despots, like the Egyptian one, are supported and financed. Others, especially the left leaning ones like the Venezuelan one, are instead undermined.
So, let’s be clear. He’s just as incompetent and corrupt and despotic as Sisi in Egypt. It’s just that he’s taken the oil companies’ oil etc, so there’s sanctions to cripple his economy and discredit him.
If only he turned over the oil etc, the sanctions would be lifted, people wouldn’t do much better, but they’d get by like any other despotized place, he’d probably become buddies with Trump tomorrow.
So really the US doesn’t care about democracy or governance or whatever there. This is really about the oil there, not the people etc. and this state of affairs hasn’t been cause by the despot’s poor leadership, or lack of democracy, but the sanctions etc to break his economy.
So, it’s funny that the guys who do the sanctions and cause the suffering are also now being called upon to get rid of the despot in order to improve the situation! They could improve the situation if they wanted. This is really about holding the population hostage in order to get rid of the despot and control the oil.
33
@Frea And, to get the oil free or as cheaply as possible for the Kochs refinery which was built especially for the grade of oil coming out of Venezuela. The "richies" take care of their own. The suffering of others matters nothing to them. Wonder how much drumpf will make as a kickback?
5
Those who bring up Venezuela’s large oil reserves as a source of potential revenue if managed properly are missing a much larger point:
It’s too late in the era of carbon for Venezuela to ever use even a fraction of its reserves without pushing us all over the edge.
19
There are two different problems here. One is humanitarian. That should be immediately addressed via international cooperation, with the UN coordinating the response. Starving, sick people need food and medicine, and how to get it to them is not an insurmountable problem, especially in the absence of war. This should happen because it's the right thing to do, and because instability like this will spread throughout the region otherwise.
The second is a societal and political problem of corruption and kleptocracy. Many are screaming about socialism, but they don't complain when Alaska gives its citizens an annual share of oil money. Distributing the profits from a natural resource to the country's people is not inherently bad. As others point out, there are very well run democratic socialist nations such as Sweden, Norway, etc. which do not have the problems of Venezuela. Corruption, however, is difficult to stop once entrenched. How do we, or the Venezuelans, know Guaido will be any better once he's in power? Venezuela needs an end to the sanctions, but beyond meeting immediate humanitarian needs, that should not happen without a restructuring of government to make it transparent and accountable enough to prevent the same scenario from playing out again. And yes, I realize the US saying that is the pot calling the kettle black.
7
@Nikki Sweden, Norway, Denmark are NOT "democratic socialist" nations. They are 'social democracies', market economies which use taxes to fund a welfare state. The Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Rasmussen. in an address at the Kennedy School of Government in October 2015, explained that Denmark is "far from a socialist planned economy, Denmark is a market economy". Socialism is a failed utopian fantasy in which the state owns the means of production, distributes revenue, and controls a centralized planned economy. It doesn't work, has failed every time, and leads to civil war and totalitarianism.
9
The economies of Norway and Sweden are EXACTLY the type of economy and public policies that the democrats are proposing.
To pretend anything else is a complete fiction.
2
@Observer Right, but why not adopt the parts of socialism that do work, combine that with capitalism and just call it something else? Does it really even matter what an economy labels itself? After all, we do have the Democratic Republic of North Korea and had The National Socialist German Workers' Party
I have lived through hyperinflation back in the 60's and it was a horror. Thanks to Trump and some of his best people we have put our thumb on the scales tilting toward more needless death. We as a people are now sharing in the responsibility for another horror.
17
Any sanctions ordered by trump should be considered crimes against humanity. Instead, the United States should be doing whatever it can to reduce the human suffering. Anything less, is unacceptable. That is how those that might not have the same beliefs, become your friends. And, we already have to many of those. Vote blue everyone in 2020.
13
Some commentators are saying that the fault lies squarely with not just the sanctions but other hostile acts by America in particular.
America has not had a great history when it comes to dealing with socialist countries.
Cuba managed to overcome that obstacle, though, but why not Venezuela? How much worse Venezuela is than Cuba is a measurement of Maduro's part in the mess.
4
@Ambrose Your theory holds no water. Ecuador and Bolivia have been socialist just like Venezuela; in fact, their governments were actively propped up by the Chavez-Maduro regimes for the past 20 years or so (until recently), and the US has not meddled with them. Their economies are good. The differences is that those countries are relatively well-managed.
@Pierre Sogol
What are we dis agreeing on?
@Ambrose Oops, sorry, Ambrose! I probably intended to reply to a different comment but was too trigger happy!
The US should end its economic warfare against Venezuela. The US should not be in the business of strangling a country to get control of its oil resources. It is a corrupt and morally bankrupt policy. If the US is truly interested in helping suffering people, it should help the elected government of Venezuela, not try to destroy it. And if the US is truly interested in ending the starvation of people, it should stop supporting Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen.
11
The Venezuela government should worry about the people. Rebuild now before it turns into a wasteland like Syria. People have economic rights and the international community has a right to protect.
2
Is this our fault?
But I feel terrible whether it is or isn’t because shouldn’t we try to help?
4
Modern war- indiscriminate targeting of civilians by attrition. Oddly similar to medieval siege warfare. Thanks President Monroe, and successors/minions (Bolton, Abrams, Haspel) seemingly unburdened by conscience and fear of law or God.
2
The problems began before Chavez. Whoever they began under, can't the US stop inflicting more and more harm on ordinary people and send help now? I am ashamed of my country.
6
The situation looks hopeless. The people look demoralized and helpless. I can't help but wonder at what point do starving, impoverished, ill and miserable people finally pick up arms and revolt? Oh, wait. There is no right to bear arms in this communist/socialist dictatorship run by the army. So, a disarmed and totally defenseless population can't revolt. "Armed gangs extort and rustle cattle from the surviving ranchers". And also note "...There is no law".
To everyone who supports gun control in the United States kindly take note what happens when everyone except the police, the army and the gangs are well armed. The pictures of starving children and citizens sitting in the dark with suffering children while wating for the electricity to come on are real. This is actually happening. The picture of "People shopping for unrefrigerated offal and other beef byproducts at the flea market in Maracaibo, Venezuela." is another example of the extreme deprivation of the people. Imagine shopping in an open market for unrefrigerated meat? Yuck.
An armed population would have stormed the government long ago and ended this.
If we disarm American citizens this is a reality that someday with presidents like Trump we could face.
I know how many innocents die each year from crime and accidents with firearms. Sadly, the price of freedom is very high. Do not let Congress and state legislators disarm Americans. If you do get ready to eat unrefrigerated offal.
8
This whole thing smells of the plot that undermined the Chilean economy right before Gen. Pinochet saved the nation.
We at it again.
7
I think it's obscene how people here can be aware of what has happened there and discuss who's to blame. Who cares? The fact is that, since Chavez's party took power, where there was food, there is starvation. Where there was at least a modicum of medical care, the most basic medical needs are impossible to obtain. Where there were full shelves in stores, there's nothing, down to the most basic necessities of life. It's ridiculous to argue that things won't improve under a regime change, because it's impossible for them to get any worse.
9
If this were a segment of an American city, or the devastation of a natural disaster, we would send in the National Guard. We continue to apologize for not moving in during the apocalypse of WWII; it’s time we take the place of the Worlds Policeman and ‘move in’ to Venezuela and administer aid. Let the world court, the politicians and the powerless UN debate its legality while we save the lives of the innocents. Then look at doing the same in Syria.
4
@Jerry Sturdivant
I think the US is done invading countries for a while. Maybe we could organize a mass relief effort though. It must involve among others the neighboring countries for optics and other purposes.
See, I solved another world crises from my coach.
1
Is there a way we could contribute to helping the mother pay for her starving 3 year old’s treatment?
5
@Christine Morton,
Like you Christine, my heart goes out to the child in the photo. If there is any way that I too can reach out and help this family I hope that the NYT can connect us. How can well-fed political leaders ignore this suffering?
2
This tragedy has been in the making for a generation. Trying to blame it on US sanctions is absurd. Venezuela is a poster for corruption and socialism destroying a wealthy, resource rich nation. The fact that the American left fell in love with Chavez just as earlier versions of our left fell for Ortega, Castro, and even Stalin should just remind us that they are unfit to lead.
18
@Todd
Only some of the American left. I'm a somewhat left-of-center guy who has always been against Castro, Mao, North Vietnam, Chavez-Maduro, and North Korea.
Unfortunately, the far-left is just as naive as the far-right.
9
My heart hurts seeing that photo of those babies.
10
What do we do if thousands of Venezuelans start heading north to seek asylum in the U.S.? Is the administration ready?
We can't deny them.
2
@Occupy Government they will deny them. After denying them they will tell everyone how religious they are.
Now that Trump’s proposed Iran adventure has received media attention and increasing scrutiny, is this an attempt to perhaps create an adventure elsewhere?
Perhaps, an adventure for “humanitarian” purposes in Venezuela?
I wouldn’t be too surprised. It’s a nice sale: malnourished kid on the front cover, public outrage, adventure! Ostensibly for humanitarian reasons, but really for the oil.
Let’s see how this plays out!
2
You write, “Butchers have stopped selling meat cuts in favor of offal, fat shavings and cow hooves, the only animal protein many of their customers can afford” as though not having bovine flesh is going to seriously compromise the health of Venezuelans.
Just the opposite is likely to happen. Without the offal from dead cows, Venezuelan population might just become leaner, meaner and more enlightened. And, perhaps wiser too- wise enough to say enough is enough with President Nicolás Maduro.
A vegetarian diet is not a bad outcome.
1
Good work USA - now for Iran and Russia (all over again). The greatest empire in human history.
1
So a nice and good country was taken down by a handful of bad leaders supported by a handful of powerful countries that just focused on their interest at the cost of an entire country's population - that's a tragedy! The international community and the US - a force for good, can't just watch. Help the helpless and topple the bad leadership, let hope and vision guide the path to normalcy that Venezuelans deserve. The hypothesis that sanctions somehow would cause a revolt hasn't worked so far - see the world works differently than how we theorize it will, perhaps the sanctions have only added to the misery of the helpless and the poor.
3
I was born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela when my parents join the waive of Cantonese immigrants to Venezuela back in 1998. Even as recent as 20 years ago, the situation was not that bad. My parents were able to support a storefront in Barquisimeto and still send money back to China for my grandma despite my mother being robbed twice and was once locked in the freeze room for three hours. Back then, the rule of thumb was clear, give them the money and they will let you live. However, when Chavez started to deny compliance with U.S. demands, situation has only gotten worse from there. In 2009, my parents were hiring a police officer to be a bodyguard of our commutes from school and home and to our store. My parents sensed that the country is falling apart. Yet, the thought was further confirmed when one of their best friends, who has an 8-month pregnant wife at home, was shot to death in a ransack in his own store. We immigrated to the U.S. in 2010. I am very grateful about how fortunate my life is right now but for all the critics with comments such as “what’s the point of showing a dying baby on the front page” or “show a life of how the elites are doing” or “nothing will change even if a new government agency steps in,” I am kindly asking you to stop. Please understand comments as such are truly unnecessary and if you can’t empathize with the sadness, then simply move on with your own life and keep on feeling that this is irrelevant.
1174
@Vivian Z.
That is not how things work in this country. The freedom of the press and of those who choose to comment are more sacred than any one person's individual feelings.
15
@Vivian Z. Thank you for your comment. It is all such an immense tragedy.
87
@Carlton I think it is you who misunderstand. Having the legal freedom to do something doesn’t mean it is always morally right to exercise that freedom. And the historical origins of the First Amendment were as a means to balance the power of the people versus the State, not to encourage callousness among the citizenry.
96
According to the UN, food and medicine plus medical supplies were blocked starting in 2017. Also some funds in the US banks were seized. Perhaps this is contributing factor.
3
Heart wrenching. I pray that these images are seen by all of this in power with a conscience to do something.
4
We haven't imposed secondary sanctions (that apply to non-Americans). Just sanctions that say Americans can't do business in Venezuela.
Obviously these sanctions have teeth because the U.S. is a big market, but they can't be said to be responsible for this level of economic collapse. Venezuela is still free to sell oil and bank around the world.
6
In 2011, when Chavez was still alive, and 7+ years before the USA imposed economic sanctions, I was sitting on an airplane flying to Dubai. The passenger in the seat next to me was a Venezuelan geo-technical engineer on his way to the UAE to work in the oil industry there.
He told me that he had spent his whole career working in the oil fields of Venezuela and had worked his way high up in his engineering field. But when Chavez came to power he would not join Chavez's political party. So he was demoted and his salary drastically cut. He said that party insiders were put in all the highest engineering and management positions, even though many of them lacked the experience and competence. Consequently the company has suffered lower production and higher costs.
Look up "PDVSA" (the national oil company) and "annual production" on Google (or your favorite search engine) and you'll see that production maxed in 1998 and has been falling ever since, in a very sporadic manner.
Personally I have no problem with the nationalization of natural resources. All Alaskan citizens get their cut of the state's oil revenues. Norway finances some of its social services through the Statoil of which the government owns 67% of the shares. It all works fine, so long as the organization is allowed to run on a professional basis and is not politicized, used as a tool of politicians to reward party faithful, or to line their own pockets.
66
Everything you say is true.I really wish people who comment on this had lived in Venezuela.as I did for 40 years, before they start defending what Chavez did.He took a beautiful country and turned it into a disaster.I am certainly not an admirer of Trump but I this case he has got it right.
18
@J Jencks Great comment! The irony of it all is that before Chavez the oil industry in Venezuela was 100% Venezuelan. The Chavez and Maduro government gave a lot of it away to Russians, Chinese, Iranians, etc. for quick cash.
18
This is the future of war. economic strangulation through control of finance. Of course it is grossly one-sided: the world's financial networks are dominated by a half-dozen countries. If they can bring a country with the world's largest proven oil reserves to its knees, no one else has any hope. I'm sure China is watching this - and their reaction is not capitulation.
26
@Subhash Garg
They brought their own oil production substantially down on their own before sanctions.
I would also note that a government/country with basically one sole source of external income - a commodity not in short supply - is not a good comparison to China.
18
@Subhash Garg You have it all wrong. This country has been sliding downhill for the last twenty years, long before any international sanctions.
5
@Subhash Garg
As the article noted, most of the damage is self inflicted; this years sanctions are just final breeze on a structure ravaged by years self generated hurricane.
1
Perhaps US sanctions blocking access to international banking and oil exports plays a role. Maybe this explains everything.
16
@commuted Apparently most of "our" elected representatives don't want to hear about the blame US sanctions bears on the collapse. What is the rhetoric of juxtaposing the article to the horrific hospital scene in Toas Island?
1
@commuted
As the article says, the facts and most every independent expert says otherwise. The damage is mostly self-inflicted and predates this years sanctions. Just because you are just waking up to the situation now doesn’t mean it is new—economists, NGOs, and international organizations have been sounding the bells for years.
3
@commuted Ummm. No. They did this to themselves.
4
And we are largely responsible. Sanctions and failure to relieve. We are an unbelievably cruel people.
19
In no way are we “largely responsible” for this mess. This is the result of Maduro’s mismanagement, first and foremost. The sanctions from the US are harsh, but he’s blocking enormous amounts of US aid as well and lying about it. The US has a spotty history is Central America for sure, but this is a disaster made by their own leader.
10
@Yuri Pelham - Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA, its main source of revenue, has been declining in production, productivity and profit steadily since it peaked in 1998. Venezuela's economy has been in a long, steady decline since that time... LONG before Trump's sanctions at the start of this year.
Hugo Chavez described Obama as "having the same stench as Bush." He also gave a speech in Russia in 2009 in which he said that Americans "are the main terrorists of the world."
In short, the problems pre-date Trump by far.
7
@Yuri Pelham Yes. Americans have done this all along history. Put dictatorship governments all over South America in the 60s/70s , war in Vietnam, then Irak, Afghanistan, unhuman blocus on Cuba, etc...
Saudi Arabian over pumping and US fracking have driven the price of oil way down. It was designed to bankrupt Venezuela so that the likes of Exxon, British Petroleum, and Royal Duitch Shell could get their hands on the largest oil reserve in the world. Interlocking corporate boards decided years ago to overcharge Venezuela. The Chavez government made the mistake of not diversifying their economy so when prices hit bottom, their population suffered. They are pusing hard for a coup now because oil prices are rising again and Venezuela should be able to pull out of it. The US has never met an elected Socialism it didn't sabotage or overthrow.
That said, I wish Maduro had not over over reacted to protests, even if they were CIA projects.
On the other hand, Elections were moved, twice. Voter turnout was low. However, Maduro actually won the election so his government is still the legitimate government of Venezuela.
Guaido wasn't on the presidential ballot.
11
@hyp3rcrav3
So, wait, other countries and non-state actors seeking profits and cheaper oil through competition is all a conspiracy to bring down a self-imploding regime being led by a struggling second rate successor authoritarian?
Yeah, sure, that makes sense...
4
@hyp3rcrav3 You are right and by this IL LOGICAL thinking: If Guaido (head of the assembly) can be recognized by 50 countries as the legitimate president (even though he did not even run) then Nancy Pelosi should be our legitimate president!
1
I read these inane carpet bombing attacks from those on the right and left (this is Stiglitz’s fault, really?) and I despair for our own country.
The US is not to blame for the current terrible conditions in Venezuela. A corrupt government with a lack of vision and foresight caused this collapse, triggered by a sharp decline in the price of oil and the death of Chávez.
But the US is certainly not helping the situation either. In fact, you could call Trump’s response inhumane and very counter-productive.
The correct response would be not to impose further sanctions but to provide humanitarian relief. And also take steps to allow food and medicines to reach those in need, without any political strings attached. The sort of political blackmail the Trump administration is attempting rarely (if ever) leads to the intended consequence.
21
@Michael Humanitarian relief on any realistic scale can't possibly replace an entire country's economy that has been brought to a standstill by misguided socialist policies.
4
@Michael - I concur about NOT imposing sanctions and providing food and medicinal aid.
Unfortunately many, including the USA, have been offering aid but Maduro has refused to allow it into the country.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/world/americas/venezuela-aid-block-brazil.html
1
@Michael I would also add providing sanctuary to our poor fellow humans who are so tragically suffering there.
Food and medicine should not be used as weapons.
26
@Sentinel98
Yes, too bad the food and medical aid available are blocked by the government of Venezuela as such is perceived as threats its power.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/24/world/americas/venezuela-aid-maduro-guaido.html
3
The use of dollars as currency should be authorized.
1
@John Powers
Like Ecuador! Worked out pretty well for their citizens. Not sure how that would work in Venezuela where the incumbent government likes such control over their citizens for manipulation purposes.
This article gives excellent insight into life in Venezuela and by implication the attitudes of its population. It is amazing how frequently the tools and infrastructure that support decent living standards there are brought to a halt by opportunistic thieves and corrupt political appointees. If there is any lesson from Venezuela it is the confirmation that extreme socialism degenerates to thievery and complete societal dysfunction every bit as fast as extreme capitalism. An 'educated' population is not enough to prevent this. The population must have a strong work ethic, a strong sense of rule of law and belief that stealing is wrong, an acceptance of the fact 'there is no free lunch', and further, they must insist on uncorrupt, centrist governments. Somewhere along the way Venezuela lost a lot of these traits. Maybe it was too many natural resources, so they could 'live off of the fat of the land'. The psychology is the same everywhere, just look at the average work ethic found among 'trust fund babies' who think it's a life to hang out and chat.
10
@Paul Chavez and Maduro are populists, not socialists. Norway is socialist. What's their standard of living compared to ours?
1
@Paul
I would agree; "Extreme" in either system leads to cronyism, corruption, destruction of democratic principles, etc.
Though I add --- and disagree with using old adages suggesting lack of work ethic --- that most of this "extreme" are sometimes (maybe most times) the reaction to the failures of the existing system, and that gives corrupt politicians an opening to gain power.
There were many economic problems before Chávez and his brand of socialism came along. Maybe tourist or better off citizens thought of it that way. But how were the majority of people working (or looking for work) fare?
I read a lot of op-eds here and other places about the virtues or evils of one system over another, but the simple fact is: if the economic system is not serving the majority of its participants, it's a failure.
1
@Paul Extreme socialism is hardly ever promoted here in the US. There is an enormous difference between that and social democratic programs that work in a capitalistic system which we hear the left talking about. Moreover, Chavez was a cult of personality, much like ...
Maduro is simply a clueless autocrat, much like ... wants to be.
2
There was a time when the picture of the starving children would have bothered me deeply. Decades later I find myself wondering what the photographer weighs and had for dinner the night before and after the photo.
8
Venezuela potentially had one of the strongest economies in the world due to their vast oil reserves.
About 20 years ago Chavez was elected with a string of populist promises. With "poor governance, corruption, and misguided policies" it took Chavez and then Maduro 20 years to turn Venezuela into the most utterly collapsed, failed military dictatorships in history.
The people voted Chavez into power! He gave them what they thought they wanted and Chavez and his cronies did whatever they pleased with their plunder.
It did not happen in just a couple of years.
Let the U.S. take note. We have a President who in every detailed sense has all the failings of Chavez/Maduro. He ignores the laws, ridicules Congressional oversight, and has been using the government to enhance his and his cronies businesses. Look at the corruption among his advisers. How soon do we expect to see a Trump tower in Riyadh? What kind of payback does Kushner expect for implementation of nuclear reactor installations in Saudi Arabia. Trump's advisers are a bunch of toady's, utterly incompetent, and Trump ignores their advice anyway.
This is a mirror on a small scale of what happened in Venezuela. Oh, and remember we've only had Trump for 2 years. Venezuela's economy under Chavez was very strong after 2 years too.
Not a dictatorship? Just this week Trump suggested that he should be given 2 extra years to his Presidency to make up for the first two years that he lost to the "Witch Hunt". ...
33
@dpaqcluck I will happily give two more years to Trump, on top of the ninety-nine years he's about to receive. May he never again see the light of day.
5
@dpaqcluck
Best take on here. Trump is really just Chavez/Maduro lite. We should take notice and learn the lessons before it happens here.
6
We don't (shouldn't) get to determine who heads the government in another country, so blaming Chavez or Maduro at this point doesn't address what the U.S. can do now.
What my country, the U.S., can actually do now is end the sanctions. Sadly, I don't think we will.
10
@Judy
We don’t determine it; but why is the US not allowed, in your view, to have an opinion, act in keeping with its fundamental values and refuse to bailout or provide aide and comfort to people and regimes that do not share those values?
2
@Cormac
Supposedly one of our values is democracy (which we seem to ignore when it comes to Saudi Arabia and other places). There was a democratic election in Venezuela and Maduro won. Maybe it was a flawed elections; we've also had flawed elections. What if another country, after 2016, used the same tactics against us we are using against Venezuela, to help make Clinton the president because of their values?
1
To understand how devastating American sanctions have been for Venezuela, please read a recent report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research:
"Economic Sanctions as Collective Punishment: The Case of Venezuela" by Mark Weisbrot and Jeffrey Sachs.
Take particular note of the graph on page 8. It shows in stark contrast how American sanctions have destroyed the Venezuelan economy (compared to Colombia). Of course, that was the point.
It's available in PDF here:
http://cepr.net/images/stories/reports/venezuela-sanctions-2019-04.pdf
9
The wealth was spirited out of the country by those who owned it when faced with sharing some of it with the poor. You can argue amongst yourselves about whether that's as it should be or inevitably will be or not but that's what happened.
8
I worked on a PDVSA oil project at the Paraguaná Refinery Complex in Venezuela in the late 1990's. At that time, the economy was under a corrupt right wing government, composed of a privileged elite that collectively stole billions from the country, in oil payments, and deposited those funds in their private accounts in European and American banks. These bankers had no problem taking these funds.
When Hugo Chavez became president, my company pulled out of this oil project, fearing that the corruption would only increase. It did. Chavez replaced the corrupt right wing elite with his corrupt left wing elite. He brought in the Cubans, to run his Venezuelan secret police. Chavez and his bus driver Maduro promoted their loyalists and made the worst of them their generals.
Little Venezuela today has 3,000 generals - twice the number that the USA has.
Maduro and those generals still put their stolen monies in the American and European banks. These bankers still have no problem taking these funds.
So what has changed? Today, in Venezuela, there is just a few less roots for the common peons to eat. So it goes with Banana Republics.
17
What I got from this article is that WE are responsible for this misery as a result of our sanctions and oil embargo. As we watch the people starving and children dying let's not forget that this is our doing. We may not like a certain government in a country but does that give us the right to starve their population? We are one sick society to do this to another group of people.
9
@FXQ Our sanctions given the state of their economy are an act of war - yet the war powers act was not invoked...
Congress could act but it seems it won't. I asked my elected officials (all democrats) to pass a resolution opposing any military action against Venezuela but it is NOT happening... WHY? Also, I received no reply and it has been weeks!
@FXQ - If this article is all you know of Venezuela's history of the past few decades and of the US-Venezuela relationship, then I encourage you to read much more.
Chavez in 2009 gave a speech in Russia in which he said "Obama has the same stench as Bush." In that speech he also said that Americans "are the main terrorists of the world."
These problems go way back.
I would also point out that Venezuela's oil company, PDVSA, had its peak production in 1998 and has been declining steadily ever since then. This being the government's main source of revenue, its economic problems are a good 20 years old as well.
1
@FXQ
“What I got from this article is that WE are responsible for this misery as a result of our sanctions and oil embargo.“
Then apparently you didn’t read it, because It specifically says that isn’t so.
1
Leave them alone, it is their problem. Our intervention will do no good. Remember Iraq?
10
"Mr. Maduro blames the widespread hunger and lack of medical supplies on the United States and its opposition allies — but most independent economists say the recession began years before the sanctions, which at most accelerated the collapse."
So what exactly is the moral of this story? If the problems began before the US sanctions were imposed, does that justify policies designed to make the situation far worse?
The cynicism and hypocrisy of the US position is truly astounding. Sending a few futile but high-profile truckloads of "humanitarian aid" to address a total economic collapse that is the specific goal and consequence of our policy surely qualifies as the shameless sham of the century.
Yes, Maduro is an incompetent thug. Yes, Maduro is friendly with traditional US adversaries such as Cuba and Russia. But these political sins are hardly unique to Venezuela; just take a quick peek at the military regimes in Central America or Venezuela's close neighbors, Colombia and Brazil.
The sole reason why Venezuela was specially selected to become a primary US target is that it sits on a big pool of oil. Let there be no doubt about that.
9
Venezuela always have some sort of problem. I remember when VP Nixon visited there, they spat on him. I also remember when they took over the oil fields. They should not have been having this sort of problems they are faced with today. Their socialism politics under Chavez began a spiral downward.
2
This was plainly brought on by Chavez and Maduro, but are economic sanctions really justified at this point? It's a difficult question.
5
this heartbreaking picture makes me think just how fragile our existence really is. We are sitting here in our comfortable homes with fridges full of food and immediate access to healthcare - that little boy lives, if that's a reasonable word in this case, in a world that used to be not so different from ours. What prevents the same from happening to us and to our children? If we don't stand by each other, probably not that much.
I just hope maybe Trump's soft spot for children will finally make the US do something real to stop this tragedy, we cannot allow this to happen.
5
It’s trump and us who have caused it, to discredit a despot they don’t like. There’re many despots like him. Some they like and support, like the one in Egypt. Some they don’t like, like the one in Venezuela. If they didn’t sabotage him with sanctions he’d do well enough probably like the other despots. So, asking them to “help” is sort of ironic, cause they’re causing the pain to start with.
3
In the last 60 years Venezuela has always been in similar conditions, sometimes little bit better , other times like it is now. It is not only a political problem but a structural systematic series of errors and reforms never done by any government and there is no guarantee that a new government will not end up the same way. Venezuela imports everything, manufacturing and agriculture are almost inexistent, they have lived always on only one commodity export and the extraction industry is very inefficient and corrupt. Different people have handled the business, now the military, but always they ended up a disastrous outcome. Privates, public, no difference. The same results. Now with falling prices , they government have done what all the countries of South America have done in different time. Devaluate the currency, so the import will cost even more and inflation is sky rocketing. Nothing new. Once again, there is no guarantee that Guaido' will be any different. He will give the oil industry to his friends and in few years we will see another disaster.
14
@walter If that's true, then why did all of my friends from Venezuela who long had parents and sibling there for many years become so desperate to get them out after a few years of Chavez's regime? What they told me about the radical and rapid deterioration in their living conditions directly contradicts this.
3
A photo of dying suffering children on the front page. Is this supposed to shock me into taking some sort of action - or just crush my soul?
23
Bad economic policy has real world consequences.
The soul crushing part of it is that in the 21st century we should be beyond such MAN MADE disasters.
That picture of those suffering kids bring it home.
7
@Sswank
To report on a horrible situation that is really happening to a country that used to be relatively functional, to a lot of decent people.
4
Don’t worry comrads, Vladimir Putin will rescue your totalitarian state. This is what happens when your leader is an idiot. We have our own.
53
Instead of focusing on the plight of the poor, as these regime-change-masquerading-as-bleeding-heart stories often do, an equally if not more interesting and unusual story might focus on how Venezuela's elite live, if not thrive, in spite of or because of these conditions.
29
@unreceivedogma The Venezuelan elite, all save for one family (the Mendozas), are in cahoots with the Maduro government, and they live fantastically well. You can see that for yourself at private airfields in South Florida.
2
This "collapse" was designed and created by in part by the U.S., which for decades has tolerated no socio-economic models that challenge U.S. hegemony: se Chile, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Uruguay, The Dominican Republic...the list goes on.
If you care to feel outraged, direct it at Washington.
22
“This will be a touchstone of disastrous policies for decades to come.”
Of course it is all "socialism" and has nothing to do with widespread economic sanctions. Those mean nothing and have no effect, right?
Who did this, and why? It isn't just about Chavez or Maduro. It isn't just their mistakes, which are no doubt real enough.
What does the US fear so much that it would do this to so many people?
Or in the alternative, what greed drives the US to do this? Who would profit from this enough to do this?
23
@Mark Thomason The US has punished with sanctions criminals in the Venezuelan government who produced this and profit from it, not the people.
You can contact your representatives if you want, for instance, the sanctions on Maduro or on the generals who ordered the military to shoot dead protesters to be lifted.
3
@novoad Sorry, but the effects of the sanctions on regular citizens has been demonstrably proven over and over again by the UN, OECD and multiple aid organizations.
These sanctions never materially impact any particular government leader or oligarch. Kim Jong-un's family keep their billions invested in the world markets, along everyone else who is a global elite. Sanctions do nothing to touch these people or their wealth.
1
I hope the socialists of the world will print out the picture of that bereft, starving, screaming, lonely, tortured, dying child, frame it, and look at it at least once a day.
This is depravity on a scale that has been matched but a few times in human history.
17
@Whatever
"...matched but a few times in human history"?
I fear you may not read much history. Try U.S. treatment of the indigenous Native Americans and all native populations when the conquering heroes appear on the scene, the Spanish in the new world, oil and coffee company employees in tropical forests, etc etc. History is jam-packed with gross outrageous and non-humanitarian treatment of weaker, poorer, different Others. Especially when the Others have something of perceived value. As Sacco or Vanzetti remarked bitterly, "man is a wolf to man". We may see more of this in coming years.
10
Indeed - does depravity have you worked up? To what do we owe our current dilemma of polluting our atmosphere into an inhospitable state? Or mind-boggling wealth inequalities? Or a fusion of military-industrial-politics? Me thinks it isn’t your dreaded socialism.
4
What's happening in VZ has zero to do with socialism. It's so much more complicated than one problem, but socialism doesn't even come into play. I agree with dressmaker that a little bit more reading on the situation and history will benefit you. @Whatever
3
All the armchair economists and political science critics in this comment section need to step back and drop the critique and absorb the amount of human suffering happening.
Let’s just imagine what it’s like for the innocent families being devastated by this crisis.
Just sit with that and have empathy and be quiet.
46
I don't know if Guaido can turn around the country, but for Maduro to stay in power, and watch the decay, starvation, disease and death worsen, is criminal. No shortage of criminal despots in the world, now and in the past. If Maduro had any moral backbone, he would work on an alliance with Guaido, ask for some international assistance, and go from there.
Instead, his only concern is for preserving his palace and absolute control. Soon there won't be anything, or anyone, to control. When does evil transform itself into insanity, or vice versa? How he can look at the picture of that dying child and not cry is beyond most of us.
18
Now, we will hear ad nauseum the right wing canard that this is down to the "evils of socialism". The blame for this disaster (and it is one, surely) can rest on some of the precepts of socialism, but if this is purely about socialism, tell me what the Great Depression was about in the US. It was a much more massive collapse of economy than that of current Venezuela. And where was socialism in that picture? That had capitalism _smeared_ _all_ _over_ _it_. It was in fact some socialist trending policies which helped bring the US out of that morass.
The fact is that both capitalism and socialism can be done wildly wrong, and an obsession with purity in both their cases will spell disaster in the end.
Isn't it awful that we need to live in the gray areas between such absolutes? No. It is what makes us human. And such concerns and decisions will always be the human condition. Thankfully so.
32
@Bruce As bad as the situation in the US was in depths of the Great Depression, it wasn't as bad as that in Venezuela now. The worst only lasted for a few years here, and FDR's policies preserved capitalism, in a modified and more regulated form.
3
The US govt and their minions have been leading a systematic economic war against Venezuela to collapse the price of Venezuelan crude oil on the world market (June 2014/$98 per baril; January 2015/$37, January 2016/$20; January 2017/$46; January 2018/$59; January 2019/$50), resulting in gargantuan lost oil revenue and foreign exchange earnings, chronic trade & budget deficits, currency depreciation, hyperinflation and national bankruptcy...
The US, Canadian and Western govts and mainstream media narrative is deceitful propaganda to get rid of Maduro through their controlled opposition puppet Juan Guaido, organized violence, (failed) military coup and a possible US armed intervention to overthrown president Maduro by military force to seize, control and loot the gargantuan oil reserves of Venezuela under the guise and false pretext of promoting and defending "democracy"...
10
You cannot collapse the price of Venezuelan crude alone. When oil goes up or down, it does so for all producers and consumers. Differences in price between Saudi crude and American or Venezuelan depend almost exclusively on the cost of transporting it from where it is pumped and where it is refined, as well as the amount and complexity of the alchemy that must be done to turn it into something you can burn in your car without overcoming the emission controls completely or clogging your fuel injectors forever.
Venezuelan crude is among the heaviest and "sourest" of the world's oils and requires refineries built to handle it. Anyone, anywhere on Earth can build one and trade it for food for the Maduro regime, so long as no U.S. dollars are spent to do so (this is the rough effect of sanctions). That is really, really hard to do because the industrial controls needed to operate such a magic factory are most frequently purchased with dollars, even if made in Germany or Japan, though the best and cheapest are U.S.-made and unavailable to a builder.
Still, China and probably Russia could domestically source what is needed to build one, so one of more of the 150 nations who continue to recognize Maduro as president should call Moscow or Beijing and get the ball rolling, no? It will only take five or so years to complete and by then the exodus, colectivos, National Guard and famine will have reduced the number of Venezuelan people needing to share in the oil revenue.
1
For the U.S. this should be totally a humanitarian issue at this point.
16
Sadly, the PEOPLE of Venezuela elected Chavez and Madura as a hard reaction from the neglect of the poor from previously elected right of center governments. ...
Not true... but you get cookie points.
The previous president, Rafael Caldera governed under a coalition of left wing parties.
Before that the presidents were either social democrats. form AD that came from a very left wing party, or from COPEI, that was Social Christians, whose leader was Rafael Caldera, that was very left wing himself.
6
Our country is incapable of showing humanitarian mercy under Trump.
Trump coddles Kim Jong Un, he loves dictators. But he claims that the sanctions he has imposed on Venezuela are meant to punish Maduro.
Really?
He's not the one who is starving.
And we all know what this is about.
OIL.
As if we don't know.
24
Oil? Guess again. The US exports oil.
1
@Lyndon
Venezuela has a particularly thick heavy nasty dark oil which we need for some of our refineries.
When I say our, it’s mostly the Koch brothers refineries.
Oil is not fungible
2
Where is Sean Penn who praised Chavez when you need him. How about the others like Sanders who did same and got those leaders in Cuba. Where are the other rich Hollywood crazies who did the same. Surely, they can help the ordinary Venezuelan.
17
Or you could, by opening your wallet and donating to a reputable NGO providing humanitarian work, instead of smugly patting yourself on your back about how “Hollywood elites” are somehow proven wrong by photos of starving children.
The horror of that photo tells us everything about the failed policies of warring men. And, as usual, as everywhere in the world, women and children and the elderly are the primary victims. We should all be ashamed. And disgusted with governments that allow this to happen to their people--whether in Venezuela, or in Syria, on any continent or country. And we share the blame. If you consider yourself to be a spiritual or religious person, you should feel shame that we, all of us, allow such cruelty to continue when there is far more than enough on this planet to take care of everyone. What an incredible disappointment we must be to our Creator.
11
The US govt and their minions have been leading a systematic economic war against Venezuela to collapse the price of Venezuelan crude oil on the world market (June 2014/$98 per baril; January 2015/$37, January 2016/$20; January 2017/$46; January 2018/$59; January 2019/$50), resulting in gargantuan lost oil revenue and foreign exchange earnings, chronic trade & budget deficits, currency depreciation, hyperinflation and national bankruptcy...
The US, Canadian and Western govts and mainstream media narrative is deceitful propaganda to get rid of Maduro through their controlled opposition puppet Juan Guaido, organized violence, (failed) military coup and a possible US armed intervention to overthrown president Maduro by military force to seize, control and loot the gargantuan oil reserves of Venezuela under the guise and false pretext of promoting and defending "democracy"...
6
@Arya. In other words, Venezuela over-spent. The decline in oil prices was the result of higher production in the US and elsewhere. We are not obligated to stifle our domestic production in order to maintain high oil prices for Venezuela.
5
Just when you keep thinking that US sanctions should be stopped to alleviate the situation you keep reading that Maduro is still ripping apart everything https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-17/venezuela-sells-570-million-from-gold-reserves-despite-sanction
Maduro and all the corrupt and human-right violations must stop as soon as possible. I don’t want a war, I don’t want bombs nor marines in Venezuela, but they are making everything they can to push the world in that direction.
9
@Emilio I hate Trump as much as anyone, but if I'd be perfectly happy if he, along with the support of the many Latin American and European countries that have come out against Maduro and for Guadio, invaded to make that possible, does whatever it takes to make that regime change possible.
The $64,000 question is what in heaven's name is keeping Maduro in power? The guy is like cancer to his country. What is the point of his regime?
11
@Innocent Bystander Maduro controls the military by keeping them fed and healthy, he created his own legislative body that insures only issues that are favorable to him are considered, and he controls the courts.
11
Just as the US has been doing in the last few years. Keep spending more for the military and get nothing done for the people. Just cut all other environmental, safety, and insurance programs and call them entitlements.
2
@Innocent Bystander
China and Putin funnel money to him! He pays the army and the army with the money and guns stay in power.
It is sad to see most of the comments here blame the US sanctions for VZ's woes. The problem began way before sanctions, due to the failed policies of Chavez and Maduro.
Ignorance is bliss...
35
Two major sins in the Western world bring the wrath of "elites":
1) Nationalizing your oil supply; and
2) Not recognizing Israel.
6
The problem is the naivety of just about every single American - still believing what the politicians here, then followed by the news announcers and newspaper articles (very much including the New York Times) are telling us, White Elephants and all. Both Cuba and Venezuela were never isolated from Europe, Russia, and China - they are holding all the cards in particular Russia right now being in Venezuela. As long as that is the reality strongman Maduro has nothing to worry about - corruption, thus poverty, will be on an accelerated increase, and "President" Guaido comes across as a "Saturday Night" sick joke.
2
Pardon my naiveté here. But where is the United Nations in all this?
11
The Security Council can authorize the use of force to push humanitarian aid onto Venezuelan soil only if the crisis threatens OTHER member states. The Charter does not allow for the use of force to alleviate suffering that is sufficiently self-contained within a member state that it does not threaten (in the Council's permanent members' opinion) it's neighbors safety. Thus Cambodia, North Korea and now Venezuela, famines all.
1
who is helping that poor little baby boy? so heartbreaking...
14
@Angela yes, agree. I want to know, what can we do to help?
4
The U.S. has never cared about Democracy in other nations- except when we can control the outcome. Translation: Being able to have first dibs of a nation's natural resources.
How many dictators have we propped up? How many have we "rid ourselves of" to simply replace with our own?
Venezuela is an old story with an old story line- with a predictable outcome.
11
@Candlewick This whole assumption that the US is engineering all this to get its hands on Venezuelan oil is at best bizarre. The US found other sources for crude; and Citgo was always at the mercy of of international oil dealers.
1
@Candlewick
Yes, this is about American control of the Americas. Any nation in the hemisphere that attempts to govern its own destiny will be crushed - peacefully at first, and by war of necessary. We're making an example out of Venezuela.
1
My friend in Miami has a brother and cousin still living in Caracas. Once they were upper class; now they are hand to mouth. It’s total dystopia, my friend told me. He is worried sick, grieving.
92
The root causes of the Venezuelan collapse are incompetent and corrupt Grifters, with Chavez and then Maduro at the head of the Enterprise. They emptied the treasury and they are now some the wealthiest residents in many of the world's capitals. The country left behind in ruins.
Nothing will ever change unless the culture of corruption changes. And, if the country is handed over to Russia by the USA, as it appears to be the case, then the corruption will increase 1000 fold and start a 100-years long period of misery for the Venezuelan Nation.
Sorry guys but it is the truth.
51
@Truth Is True.
And...what happens when/if the U.S. installs its choice: prosperity for all?
3
@Truth Is True: how about crude cruel oil
being a more important part of the equation
than russia?
who has become so dependent on oil that
it can be considered an everlasting addiction?
[do you drive a car? how much plastic in your life?]
who keeps the "culture of corruption" alive?
where are the banks located that store the money
greedy heads of state help themselves to at home?
@°julia eden
Dear °Julia eden,
That would be China. The US and Russia have plenty of petroleum.
On a personal level, please explain your petroleum usage.
2
Venezuela gets all the attention because of the "socialist" label, and, suddenly, both of the right-wing parties in the U.S. are really concerned about a group of people to our south. Strange that there hasn't been a stream of articles about the situations in Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador. What happened to their economies to make people flee to the border and sit in horrible camps with child prisons? Maybe a few more coups and some sanctions will straighten them out, too.
32
Our evil behavior knows no limits.
2
@Ray Ciaf
Venezuela has one of the world's richest oil reserves. Trump loves dictators, this isn't about Maduro.
Venezuela didn't "collapse.' It was collapsed. The US does regime change, and we're very good at destabilizing those regimes hostile to our resource and geopolitical objectives. Chaos is a ladder.
34
Sadly, the PEOPLE of Venezuela elected Chavez and Madura as a hard reaction from the neglect of the poor from previously elected right of center governments.
Democracy is tough because serious decisions are being made by people who may not understand the issues.
You have to have a rule of just law, wealth creation and incentives by some to put in the extra work to create it. No wealth = starvation.
At the same time, uneven societies with a scarce few at the top and masses of miserable poor rightfully leads to instability too.
Too bad there aren’t minimum qualifications to lead.
11
@Practical Thoughts
This is just a tad self-righteous and judgmental. And we've shown qualifications, minimum or other, don't matter.
1
@Practical Thoughts the people of Venezuela did not elect those criminals because they were poor. I think the reasons are much deeper than that. "Poor" people in Venezuela used to have everything they need to live a very decent life and Venezuela was just 15 years away from becoming a developed nation. But the wrongful idea that their government was corrupted allowed Cuba's Castro and Chavez to start preaching that the solution to their problems of corruption was them and only them. and the rest of the story is before your eyes.
It's estimated that it will take 20-30 years to rebuild that country and the road to reconstruction will not be easy and perhaps no peaceful. Certainly, the USA, Europe, and South-America need to intervene as soon as possible as things are getting worse every day.
1
@Practical Thoughts. Or to vote.
1
All of Venezuela’s problems would be solved by a weekend visit by Sean Penn. I’m sure of it. No, really.
17
While people on the left and right pointlessly blame each other Venezuelans starve.
The left is wrong for making excuses for the savage brute Maduro and, before him, Chavez.
The right is wrong for thinking the solution to every Latin American problem is US troops, which would be a disaster on so many levels. Does anyone want an Iraq in South America?
Sadly, the situation is such that even when Maduro does leave--and one way or another he will--it will take decades to turn this around.
Those arguing in The US today will have long forgotten about
Venezuela by then.
16
Good analysis of the American right and left regarding Venezuela.
3
@dizexpat I don't see ANYONE on the left "making excuses" for Maduro or Chavez. On the contrary, we on the left are constantly correcting those who cite "socialism" as the root cause of Venezuela's collapse. In reality, this was a kleptocratic authoritarian collapse.
7
@dizexpat you are forgetting the fact that Cuba, China, Russia, and Iran have already intervened in Venezuela. The intervention of American (USA, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, etc) will be to liberate Venezuela of foreign invading forces.
Back in June last year, Colombia recorded military training that included forces from Cuba, China, Russia, and Iran as well as Hezbollah. So, what you are saying about another Iraq, is probably already happening with those invading forces.
1
Due to demographic change and the politics of envy this will be America's future in the coming decades.
23
@Ed
You mean politics of greed.
1
Venezuela’s collapse is not “outside of war”. The US - in co-operation with its right wing regional partners & the opposition - is waging all out economic & diplomatic war against Venezuela. US sanctions have crippled the country’s economy, killing tens of thousands of Venezuelans & forcing far more to flee.
Had sanctions not been in place, the fall in oil prices would have triggered a typical recession from which Venezuela might have already emerged. As economist Jeffery Sachs notes, bouts of hyperinflation have afflicted other Latin American nations before. While the effects have been severe in the short term, these crises are generally overcome within months using foreign loans secured by domestic resources, dollarization &/or the institution of a new currency. Sanctions impede every step of this recovery process. Thus hawkish US officials are complicit in the continuing suffering of Venezuelans.
It is ironic that there is bipartisan support for these blatantly neocolonial policies in the US, as Democrats have been possessed by the specter Russia having meddled in US elections for months. Any possible Russian ploy withers to insignificance in comparison to the regime change openly attempted by the US in Venezuela.
A lesser known aspect of sanctions is how the US coerces its supposed allies to adhere to them. India, which recognizes Maduro, was forced to stop importing Venezuelan oil on pain of economic & security consequences. Sanctions are a thuggish weapon of war.
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And how will Donald be able to justify this mess😩perhaps more sanctions? When will The inhumanity stop... no water no light and no money! Maybe He could help withFOOD.... perhaps a loaf of bread?
3
Mauro never asked the IMF or World Bank to bail him out (because like any lender, they would exact conditions--restraints on his conduct, which was unacceptable to his vision of a proud, independent and now-starving Venezuela); he did create a new currency, two in fact (his lack of success is why you don't acknowledge them) and dollarization?
He'd only sign onto that on the deck of a U.S. battleship wearing a top hat and tails.
This hyperinflation is sui generis insofar as Maduro is determined to wait out the deaths of his opponents.
@Basant Tyagi Blame this on Chavez, Maduro, the Venezuelan military and their bottomless greed. They stole their countries wealth shamelessly and cruelly not caring about the pain and suffering of their people. Chavez came from a poor rural family and now one of his daughters, the current ambassador of Venezuela to the United Nations, is one of the richest women of the world according to Forbes, with 4,2 billion in assets. Maduro, a former bus driver, bought a mansion in the Dominican Republic for 18 million dollars, according to El Tiempo, Colombia's premier newspaper. The military are in charge of the cocaine route from Colombia towards the rest of the world, Venezuela gives aid and shelter to Colombian guerilla groups in charge of the production and commercializing of cocaine in Colombia. Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia's former president, sold out the country the these guerillas who run this very lucrative business, they received total immunity and a deal to stop fumigating the cocaine crops, a fact that increased cocaine production in the country in 150%. Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Do not blame the US, the sanctions are a last ditch effort to get rid of the cancer of the current administration, not the cause of their problems.
Heartbreaking. So many people needlessly suffering. All for oil and greed.
14
Too bad there isn't a court out there that can just put the entire country in a receivership and appoint an independent expert with the power to do what has to be done to get Venezuela back on its feet.
7
They should consider becoming a Chinese protectorate. The Chinese know how to address poverty. We don’t and neither does Russia.,
2
Yes Maduro, corruption, etc. are bad, but why are we making things worse with the sanctions?
It seems to me that the harm done to many people by the sanctions exceeds any benefits the sanctions might have for fostering regime change.
If they could sell their oil and buy medicines they would not be able to blame on-going sanctions for the problems.
There still might be enough problems to foster regime change even if sanctions are lifted.
11
@Citizen Sanctions rarely "hurt" the leadership. They still have their wealth and access to the basics.
And sanctions rarely result in ridding a country of a repressive and authoritarian regime. Cuba comes to mind.
The people will become weak, in mind and body, and there will be no revolution or forced regime change as they will no longer have the strength, or will.
5
This is how the USA will be if Trump succeeds in his brattish promise to exact 2 more years of presidency regardless of the upcoming 2020 election. He says that Congress already cheated him out of his first 2 years...
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@Tournachonadar
The country should be so lucky to have 2 additional years of a Trump presidency! Our economy is booming! Record growth in all sectors.
unemployment for all minorities is at record level lows. Facts hard to dispute.
Biggest collapse outside of war? This isn't war? Total sanctions against a country's sole export isn't war? I'm astonished the Times frames this story differently than Trump's policies toward immigrants. They're utterly the same, but here you're playing like you don't understand the game. Quite shameful. If they were Norwegians with exactly the same government, Trump would be at the front of the line to buy their oil. Corrupt and autocratic regimes aren't really something he objects to.
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The political, social and economic situations in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala ... all run by US-supported and installed (in Honduras' case) right-wing governments ... are just as bleak ... and the cause of the "crisis" at our Southern border
It's not a matter of "socialism" ... it's a matter of corruption and fecklessness at the very top ... the twin hallmarks of this current administration ...
Venezuela is a textbook case in point of how quickly it can all fall apart. One hopes that ten years from now we won't be reading articles that start off "As recently as a decade age, the United States was the wealthiest and most open society on Earth; now, however ..."
8
And as the US freezes Venezuelan accounts and prevents that country from paying for life saving medications, the more desperation you will see. The US is determined to make Venezuelans suffer through a comprehensive economic and financial blockade, in hopes people will stage a rebellion or something truly horrible takes place. In the meantime, blame Maduro for it. It's not enough to suffocate the country, on top of that, naming a man who never run for president as "president", Bolton's and Pence's puppet, and bribe and threaten the Venezuelan armed forces, so that they finally produce a coup. Making up lies, like Cuban doctors are really troops and that "Middle Eastern terrorists" have found a base in Venezuela. Few countries would resist such pressure. Plus the disinformation campaign in the American media and in the media of those countries controlled by Washington.
9
Paying with what? The dollars they don't have? Bartering with the oil (which will only force oil prices down)? Oh, maybe with the good he's ALREADY SELLING surreptitiously.
Not sure he's getting his money's worth from the sellers of medical supplies--or just maybe, there are other things he wants to buy more?
@Julioantonio But when food and medicine were sent, Maduro blocked it at the border.
1
Our administration enforces sanctions which increase starvation of the Venezuelan people. In response: We lower the rate at which we grant asylum to Venezuelans who comes here and apply and refuse to grant TPS so that those who are here can stay here freely until Venezuela is able to support and feed her people. I love living in a Christian country.
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@dearworld2 If Venezuela was populated by white, English speaking and highly educated persons, what would Trump/Miller/Kushner's response to the crisis be....
1
Venezuela isn't collapsing because of their socialist government policies; it's collapsing because of the illegal, economic sanctions ravaging their country because the Empire (U.S. elites and their proxies) are displeased with Chavez/Maduro nationalizing their oil supply. This is also the source of contention with Iran going all the way back to the 1953 coup, which blew back to "us" with the Ayatollahs, and the current dilemma. The U.S. Empire and their foreign policy of strangulation of disobedient countries is what has caused this famine, epidemic, and pending collapse of Venezuela. But that's entirely the point.
20
@Rick Venezuela's government isn't actually socialist. It's a kloptocracy. It's a dictatorship. Chavez and Maduro called themselves socialist, but they have never actually practiced socialist policies. They had a top down authoritarian government that wrecked the economy. Full stop.
Socialism doesn't destroy countries. Authoritarianism does. History repeats itelf.
7
@Ricardito Resisting Exactly...if the government of venezuela is considerate, they would have let humanitarian aid into the country. The government fears foreign will lead to regime change.
2
When humanitarian supplies were previously sent to El Salvatore during their civil war, they contained weapons. The person in charge of that operation was Eliot Abrams, the same person that is the US person in that position today.
Not to be forgotten in the long list of failed governments has been the government of Cuba under Fidel Castro and communism. Now the latest is they are trying to get the people of Cuba to eat ostrich, as a source of protein! Cuba, like Venezuela used to be a prosperous country, with good economic standards. Now it is next to Haiti in its poverty, all because the government has no clue as to how the economy of a country should be run and has the people scared to complain under threat of imprisonment or worse.
8
Ostrich is good lean protein. I don't like the Cuban government either but I don't see the problem with that in particular.
1
@Bruni Baeza In the case of Cuba I believe the embargo imposed by our government resulted in a patriotism movement fed by the embargo.
As usual, with Latin America, including Cuba, our government backed the wrong horse in attempting to prop up Batista.
In Cuba there is universal health care which is high quality. This is in stark contrast to the US. Much of their economic difficulty is due to the US policy of economic strangulation.
Hopefully China will liberate South and Central America from our nefarious domination. May it happen speedily to relieve this horrid suffering.
2
What a heart-wrenching vision of the terrible suffering and the deaths brought on by communist thinking and the ravages of Socialism. People who haven’t studied these issues somehow wave away Any concern about the dying children and the despair that are synonymous with the rule of totalitarian communist kings and queens (usually kings).
10
This is the doing of a dictator, not socialism.
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@Parker Green An authoritarian, "I alone can fix it", leader who is clueless when it comes to governance and will use the military and ignoring their legislative bodies to stay in power, along with stacking the courts with his toadies.
Hmm.
2
Who justifies his actions and campaigns calling it "socialism."
Ah, the myriad benefits that socialism can bring to the masses. Thank you, Dem leftists, for offering to bring nirvana to us but I think I'll decline.
12
@Mike as some other readers are saying, Mike, this was't a socialist economy-this was a Dictatorship. Concentrated power, crony capitalism, income stratification, with the ruling class looting government coffers with no long term vision for true governance, or any care for the welfare of workers.
4
Going green will also destroy President Putin's government and the Saudi royal family. We can stop having wars in the name of energy and/or climatic disasters due to carbon dioxide & methane gases.
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Why is that? How much of Russia's GDP is attributable to hydrocarbon exports?
Venezuela's population is being decimated not only because around 3 million left the country but lots of others have died because there are no medicines or hospital supplies. Getting sick is a death sentence.
The "illicit means" of Maduro and his accomplices include drug trafficking. Venezuela's collapse is not only measured in economic terms but also with human lives. The world is witnessing genocide.
This like Bay of Pigs. If this administration is serious about ousting Maduro to favor democracy, sanctions should go in hand with an international military extraction of the heads of Maduro's criminal organization.
4
One might think that hanging onto power would take a backseat to the welfare of the people; something leaders like Maduro and his ilk could understand with a minimum of self reflection and empathy. But in this age of my way over the truth...something trump embraces wholeheartedly...the needed transfer of power for the Venezuelan people continues to wait.
For the sake of people all over the world who are stymied by the repugnant morals of their political leadership I say “take courage”, despots are always overcome. Perhaps the Venezuelans will have a new president soon; Godspeed to them. 2020 is coming for us here!
2
But if we could just try socialism one more time, I'm sure we could get it right this time!
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Zimbabwe, now this is how you destroy an economy. Venezuela: hold my beer...
It certainly does seem like we have a few truly disastrous leaders in some nations today.
3
Considering that economy of USSR collapsed during transition from socialism to capitalism, I am not so sure it is the right way for Venezuela to follow.
1
The USA is going to have to spend big dollars in Latin America to get it right. The population of the USA is going to see a rapid increase over the next few years as 10’s of millions of people give up on their homelands. Larger and larger parts of this region are becoming inhabitable for human beings.
The USA has made its contributions to this mess. But increasingly, these countries are becoming ungovernable. Venezuela, Suriname, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti. Lots of extreme poverty and environmental destruction.
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@Practical Thoughts. Name a black or brown ruled country in the entire world that doesn’t have terrible poverty and massive corruption. I wish I wasn’t so, but it is.
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It’s not a race issue. It’s a system issue. The imaginary lines drawn in North and South Korea and post WW2 West and East Germany prove that point. Same ethnic and genetic people yet starkly different outcomes.
Building a strong and resilient country with good institutions is tough work. Building a strong enough country with rule of law and a resistance to foreign coercion is very tough work.
When your leaders are corrupt and your wealthy are ruthless on protecting what is theirs.....you end up with disaster zones
2
A serious student of Venezuela's devastation must look back decades and focus on the rule of Carlos Andres Perez. CAP, as he was popularly known, oversaw and abetted vast corruption and dysfunctional government that ended with his impeachment.
But Venezuelans did nothing to root out the rot.
More to the point, the wealthy, white ruling elite were content to watch the nation sink as long as they were untouched.
Now the inevitable is happening.
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@Ricardo Chavira Corruption seldom leads to devastation. In fact many economists argue that corruption is often conducive to cutting red tape.
The example at home is that even with institutionalized corruption on K Street and in state capitols, the USA has not experienced across-the-board starvation.
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@Ricardo Chavira Nope. Corruption in Venezuela, and in Latin America, for that matter, dates back 500 years (at least). This is not a new phenomenon. I know Venezuela well. I have lived there. Even though Venezuela in the 1990s was no Singapore, it was still one of the most prosperous countries in the region. Yes, there was poverty, but there was also a social safety net, public healthcare, functioning schools, private industry, agriculture. This was all destroyed by a government that was not only corrupt, but also inefficient and intent on implementing the type of socialist economy that did not work in the Soviet Union, in Eastern Europe, in Mao's China, in Cuba, etc.
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@Ricardo Chavira
The exact same is happening in Guatemala now. There it is only the beginning compared to Venezuela. But the speed of change is begining to devastate the people who are rapidly realizing that now is the time to head north.
Economy is crashing behind criminal organization take over, drought, and the US administrations total indifference. A massive migration is only just gathering momentum and the USA is in a turmoil over what to do.
The asylum seekers are for real and their sorry state must be well received or all hades will break lose in Latin America.
Mexico BTW is all talk and simply ignores the movement. So there, Mr. Trump.
27
There are 2 important factors omitted from this article.
1. "Real incomes in Venezuela have fallen to levels last seen in the country in 1979" So why were things so bad in 1979? First of all the corruption deplored in the article goes way back before the rise of Chávez in 1998. But even more important was the extreme inequality in the country for many decades before Chávez. It may have been "at one point Latin America’s wealthiest country," but I'll bet poverty levels were high at that point whenever it was.
2. Venezuela basically has only one product, oil. The price of oil went from $103 in 5/1980 to $24.50 in 3 /1986 and from $150 in 5/2008 to $54 in 12/2008 and to $36 in 2/2016. There is no way it could have enjoyed stable prosperity under these conditions.
10
@Len Charlap on your second point, other oil producing countries have not been devastated as Venezuela has, millions of Venezuelans have fled the country or what is left of it. There are lots of them in my city (Sao Paulo). I do not see any Qatari, Saudi, Kuwaiti refugees, nor any from Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago.
3
@SFS - Qatari, Saudi, Kuwaiti are medieval monarchies. Their poor have no rights and are rarely even citizens. They have no way to flee certainly not to Sao Paulo. Ecuador and Trinidad & Tobago do not depend on oil as much as venezuela did (does).
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@Concerned Citizen -It is clear you have not understood my "many, many posts over the years" Here is one you should think about:
The inflation in Venezuela was not caused by the printing of money. Just as in Weimar, Germany, the printing of money was caused by inflation.
What you need to know CC, is that prices ARE proportion to the amount of money in the economy (times its velocity, but it's probably too much to expect you to know what that is, so let's forget about it), but INVERSELY proportional to the value of the stuff, goods and services, the country produces.
So in theory, excessive inflation could be caused by the printing of money, but what always had happened (at least since WWI) is that the printing of money causes production to increase so inflation is not too bad. HOWEVER IF THE ECONOMY IS CONSTRAINED, IF THERE IS NO WAY TO INCREASE PRODUCTION. THEN ADDING MONEY WILL CAUSE EXCESS INFLATION.
What has caused hyperinflation was a decrease in the value of the country's production.
In the case of Venezuela, of course, it was the HUGE plunge in the price of oil. The government was faced with a humanitarian crisis. People could not afford to buy food and shelter. Their response was then to print a lot of money. BUT THE ECONOMY WAS CONSTRAINED. Because of various technical factors and corruption, they couldn't pump more oil. So they couldn't increase the value of production. So they printed more money and the inflation got worse. Our economy is not constrained.
2
It's never easy to judge things like this but it is clear whatever the politicians are doing isn't working. I wonder if the US should lift the embargoes and end the efforts through sanctions to starve Maduro out of office. It's all just hurting the real people of the country. Could we help by joining with the international community to ease up on those efforts? I know, I'm probably wrong. It just seems if what we're doing is making things worse, then maybe we should change course.
12
@Ellen Blanchette Maduro is the one who is making it worse, not the US. He needs to leave but he is addicted to his power and money and oblivious to the suffering of the people. Yes, you are wrong.
7
"For every complex problem there is a simple solution-- and it is wrong." Mark Twain
It's easy to blame only socialism or corruption but the seeds of Venezuela's economic problems are decades old and formed from complex and intractable issues. There was an economic downturn in 1988 that caused runaway inflation overnight, and the Venezuelans learned nothing from that warning. In spite of having enormous natural resources (gold, bauxite, aluminum in addition to oil), an educated work force, and fertile land and an ideal climate, Venezuela has imported most of its food and consumer goods for decades. In the 1980s the cost of these imported goods was heavily subsidized by the government, to the point that in 1988 Venezuela was blowing through $1B of its $52B in foreign reserves A WEEK. Unsustainable. All past governments based their economic policies on having a never-ending supply of oil that would fetch a high price, and made no effort to diversify the economy. And Venezuelans got used to living in the land of milk and honey without having to work very hard. They joke that the one thing that they make in Venezuela are hammocks...
Chavez just took an unsustainable economic model and made it worse (The billions that his family and friends pocketed didn't help, of course).
Having lived and worked in Venezuela for 4 years and married a Venezuelan, I know a little bit more about this then the commenters who are terrified of socialism.
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Does it really matter to the citizens, particularly children, who's fault? Who's to blame?
Wealthy and motivated governments and NGOs have to move in to do some triage; forget the infrastructure for now, food, water purification, and medical supplies. Now.
24
@JS The trouble is that the current leadership of Venezuela would see that as an "invasion"
4
@JS You might have missed the part where aid trucks tried to enter Venezuela with food and medical supplies, back in February. Local citizens were there waiting to accept said aid. The Venezuelan military opened fire on the crowd, killing at least four people, and setting fire to three of the aid trucks. So "moving in", as you put it, isn't working out very well.
2
Can we get in there and help?
Too many readers are ascribing Venezuela's condition to US sanctions. That's simply not the case.
They are the direct result of Venezuela's presidential actions, starting over a decade ago, well before the first sanction; it was aimed at corrupt drug-dealing high-ranking ministers.
Sanctions in place originate in Canada, the EU, multiple Latin American countries -- and even Switzerland.
The US is not the villain, as much as the Left claims. Further, the first significant sanctions by the US were issued by Obama. The current administration is following that lead, and is line with the actions of much of the industrialized Western countries.
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@Austin Liberal ....US sanctions kick them when they're down and have no effect on the in-power elite..The people suffer. Where's our famous compassion and assistance? Steamrolled in the 2016 election.
7
@Austin Liberal The proposed cause of the first sanctions do not make them less brutal or illegal. Read the report by Weisbrot & Sachs, and also the judgement by the earlier UN observer. (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/venezuela-us-sanctions-united-nations-oil-pdvsa-a8748201.html)(https://www.globalpolitics.se/fn-rapportor-sanktionerna-mot-venezuela-dodar-manniskor-och-forstor-ekonomin/)
6
@Austin Liberal. The article clearly states that Venezuela’s collapse was not caused by U.S. sanctions. It started before that with the megalomaniacal Hugo Chavez. All in all, it’s an utter human tragedy.
23
The pictures certainly look bleak, the people forlorn. I certainly feel grateful to be here, despite Trump. Perspective is everything. Venezuelans I'm sure would take a Mueller report induced constitutional crisis any day over what they're having to endure themselves right now due to real crisis. My heart goes out to those who cannot escape the real, my sympathies to those that have to make believe.
17
When a country's only commodity is oil, watch out. This will be the fate of all countries that depend on oil as their only source of bread and butter. The value of oil, which is killing the environment and us, is going the way of the Dodo bird.
21
@kay
Oil matters because it is the center of the Venezuelan economy, but not for the reasons you imply. Oil prices have plunged since Maduro's election. From 2012 to 2016, oil exports fell by $2,200 per capita, of which $1,500 was due to the decline in oil prices. Nevertheless, the preceding boom should have allowed the government to save enough money to mitigate its worst effects.
The US has already been the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil for years, so I do not think the Trump administration's reaction is a ploy to "get a more tremendous deal."
China has paid for a great deal of Venezuelan oil in advance. So obviously they want to see Maduro remain in power so that they can collect it.
8
Re Venezuela:
Let honest people be entitled to wages for the work they perform, earnings of the businesses they build, and a government that works for the taxes they pay. With an autocratic government and blatant corruption, this doesn't happen in Venezuela anymore. Remember: as Venezuelans were starving and worse, when Chavez died in 2013, it was found that he had amassed (read: stolen) a fortune in the $billions.
Looking ahead, I wish a good government for all Venezuelans, and I hope this happens soon.
32
As a Cuban-American I feel their pain. My father was a cargo manager for VIASA (Venezuelan International Airways of S. America) that was our bread and butter. Thanks to VIASA my childhood was peppered with the privilege of world travel. We often spent summers in Caracas, Maracaibo, and the once pristine island of Isla Margarita. What my childhood eyes recorded most was the extraordinary natural beauty everywhere; that and the ridiculously sexy, gorgeous and classy adults, both men and women that peopled that world. I well remember fancy cocktail parties and our hosts’ magical accents and colloquialisms: Carajito, Pana, Chévere, Para Bola!
My mom would say it took weeks for my accent to return to the Cuban style as I’d remain “Venezuelan” for long after we’d returned home to Miami. The greatest tragedy is their having fallen for the Castro-demagogue’s playbook. The relationship between Chavez and Castro is well documented. And sadly, just as Cuba - once a singularly advanced Caribbean island - the chokehold of fraudulent thieving of these populist communist governments that “nationalized” private industry left nothing but destruction and the collapse of most industries in their wakes - as these pandering demagogues know nothing of real commerce. Their handiwork has disgraced both of my beloved countries, leaving a shambles of incalculable proportion
I fear what is to come at the hands of our own newly-minted despotic oligarchy and what it means to our average citizens.
135
@Rene Pedraza del Prado. Are you referring to the abuse riddled Batista regime as the real Cuban paradise?
5
Is our strategy really ethical? What if Maduro doesn't leave? Conversely, maybe he will leave anyways at some point. Pretty hard to justify this approach given unpredictable results and starving children. Maybe some of Trump's many evangelical supporters could raise a bigger stink about this..
15
The economic crisis in Venezuela can certainly be attributed to a variety of factors, both foreign and domestic; additionally, the economic sanctions being levied against the country are clearly not beneficial to the situation. It seems as though these US led sanctions are further alienating the Venezuelan people from the outside world and strengthening the hold of the authoritarian Maduro regime. While the US would almost certainly prefer a leader that would be more observant to American interests (particularly in regard to Venezuelan oil), we need to be mindful of the effects our actions are having on the Venezuelan people and the further escalation of instability in the region.
Sometimes it is better to permit an authoritarian leader to remain in power, at least temporarily, than enact sweeping and sudden change to a region that has the potential to lead to complete chaos and destabilization. We've seen the potential consequences in recent decades through the Middle East of encouraging regime change (which were often been motivated by control of oil markets, too), and I hope that we remain cognizant of that history in regards to Venezuela.
18
@Kyle I am so sorry but you have not idea of what's going on in my country. Economic devastation began some years before US sanctions. Without those sanctions, the dictator´s gang, supported by part of the armed forces would continue to still the national treasure. Just look at the figures at any GIP graph . People related to Chavez and Maduro are being prosecuted around the world accused of still billions of dollars.
It is not easy for a foreigner to understand our real situation but let me give you some figures. The regular price of a kg of "Harina Pan" a corn flavor to make "arepas", our national bread, is about $ 2,5 and the basic salary is less than $ 10. Past year, before the US sanctions, about 8% of the Venezuelans left the country, most of them walking thousands of miles to Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina....Beleive me, this is a tragedy without precedents, caused by an irresponsible man, Chávez, and the communists who are allies of ELN, drug trafficking bands and illegal miners who still gold, coltan, etc.
12
In case you are unaware, the US is a net oil exporter. Venezula's socialist government destroyed their country's oil producing capacity through two decades of their own terrible policies. The US does not need Venezuelan oil. But Cuba does, which is why those two tyrranies work so closely together. That, and a shared taste for totalitarian governmental control of the economy, to benefit the political leadership while pretending to care about "justice."
7
@Kyle Appreciate your input, but the situation in Venezuela has been rolling for the last 20 years... The NYT fails to mention that most sanctions the US has imposed have been personal to the corrupt elite. Since January this year, when the Assembly started to push hard to evict Maduro from his illegal second term, the US had begun to impose sanctions to PDVSA, The Central bank and other measures.
The regime change has been a Venezuelan civilian effort that started 15 years ago amidst the constant erosion of democracy by the regime. There are over 1000 political prisoners. The military is infiltrated with 35k cuban military operatives and their weapons are in hands of militia. Hezbola runs the south. The list goes on...
2
Things could be immediately made better if the US dropped the sanctions which are designed to cripple the economy .
Should the CIA stooge Guaido and his white supremacists grab power, it will be the 68th overthrow of a sovereign government by the United States, most of them democracies. How can we let this happen for oil?
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@BB
This type of Naiveté is exasperating. Nothing will change if the sanctions are lifted. The drop in oil prices which combined with continuous declined in oil production amplified the results of a decade of rampant corruption. This all happened WAY before the US sanctions took hold.
Yes, it is comforting to blame Trump for this. I wish it were true.
Corruption, incompetence and greed are the core cause of Venezuela's situation
240
@BB: a familiar strategy, isn't it?
- impose sanctions.
- strangle the economy.
- tell the world: "the current gov't can't run its country."
- then: let the US take [supposedly better] care of things.
[stephen kinzer states 80+ overthrows in US history.]
19
@Manuel Agreed 100%!
6
Sounds like the "sanctions" are having their intended effect. The GOP must be proud.
20
Sanctions assume a population and institutions similar to the US, where people will get angry enough to vote out the offending officials. They don’t assume a dictatorship, death squads, throwing opposition candidates in jail. Contrast that with how easy it’s been calling The Donald to task, similar ineffectiveness but on a smaller scale.
Look, after all, at the effectiveness of sanctions on North Korea, Cuba, etc. last look, they’re still hanging in there. The population in those countries has suffered. As for sunny VZ, I’ve traveled close to 30 times over 30 years and found it to be a basket case.
Maybe the GOP is proud but of the DEMS all I can say is Shame On You.
If you’re the Joe Biden running for the WH, please check this box: [ ]. Just for the record.
3
Let's not lose sight of the fact that many progressives in the U.S. abetted this horrific tragedy by lauding the lunatic economic policies of Hugo Chavez for many years, after it was clear to any unbiased observer that a calamity was brewing.
Columbia's Joseph Stiglitz, the left-wing economist who mentored the New York Times' Paul Krugman and who Krugman once called “an insanely great economist” palled around with Chavez like a tweed-jacketed Sean Penn for years.
He wrote long after it should have been impossible to be so naive, “President Hugo Chávez appears to have had success in bringing health and education to the people in the poor neighborhoods of Caracas.” He wasn't the only one, just one of the most prominent as a Nobel laureate. And what are the consequences for helping create such an immensely misguided perception of impending disaster? I doubt Stiglitz has missed a canape or apertif at a Manhattan soiree while Venezuelans starve.
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@NYT
For purposes of transparency I would urge you to have Prof. Krugman respond.
47
@Martin
Is that the same “Prof. Krugman” who wrote about the certain economic crisis to befall the US and the world following Trump’s election in a November 9, 2016 piece in the NYT, “So we are very probably looking at a global recession, with no end in sight. I suppose we could get lucky somehow. But on economics, as on everything else, a terrible thing has just happened.”?
21
@Philboyd The left "abetted this tragedy" by complementing economic policies? Really? As opposed to the people responsible for employing economic warfare through crippling sanctions that directly affect the Venezuelan economy? Nevermind all that, it's the people who rhetorically support the government of Venezuela who are ACTUALLY the ones to blame. Absolutely absurd.
38
Beware my Senator! Editorial: Rick Scott’s reckless, inaccurate rhetoric
https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-rick-scotts-reckless-inaccurate-rhetoric-20190516/
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Venezuela’s failed policies = socialism and central economy planning by bureaucrats. In an attempt to explain this away, expect to see scores of comments blaming the United States for Venezuela’s economic meltdown. This is a lie. Venezuela has been, and is, a corrupt socialist petro state that tightly controlled its people and economy, siphoned off the wealth to government pockets, and never diversified its oil economy, which funded the entire sinking ship.
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@Jack
Venezuela was a corrupt capitalist petro state before it was a corrupt socialist petro state. So let´s drop the political ideology and agree that corruption causes states to fail.
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@scott The issue in Venezuela is state control of the means of production. The government seized the oil industry and many others and staffed them with corrupt loyalists instead of technicians, with the predictable results we see. The corrupt socialist state is an order of magnitude less competent than the corrupt capitalist state was.
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@Jack I'm a liberal-lefty, but I also am aware that the four most destructive words of the last century were "I have a plan."
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Most of the people commenting this article blame the US sanctions for the debacle in Venezuela. However, the sanctions apply only to a few people in Maduro's government and have been in place since only 2017. Also as a Peruvian, my country has almost a million Venezuelans due to Maduro's disastrous gobernance.
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I do not know what to believe anymore. Venezuela would have likely recovered from its recession, when we recovered from ours, if it were not for US sanctions.
The incomes of Americans have barely risen since the 80's. We have significantly increased our deficit and the new tax break is a boon for corporations and the wealthy. We judge Venezuela and look on its citizens with pity, but will we be where Venezuela is in 20 years? It makes you wonder what we would look like without our own flavor of propaganda.
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@Dr. Girl Recession? The Venezuelan supermarkets are empty. Central planning does that.
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The wording on the effect of the sanctions seems too carefully written. It is true that "most" economists say the "recession" began before the worst sanctions, and I don't think anyone disagrees with this. But what is being described in the reporting is not recession but total economic freefall with few historical precedents. The Trump administration first started heavy sanctions in August 2017. It seems the only plausible goal is to make the population so miserable that they will overthrow the government. Your reporting since then confirms that they've been quite successful at the misery part. But does anyone feel any moral qualms at the idea of imposing this, even if it is only in a contributing role? Or is this a kind of just desserts because a good part of the population still sides with the wrong guy?
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@Peter R Mitchell the goal is to try to stop enabling the dictators of Venezuela to ravage what’s left of their country and killing their people. The communist mass deaths/killings in Soviet Union and China in the 1950s-60 didn’t just rival the Holocaust. They greatly exceeded it in terms of deaths. Shouldn’t the US object to Venezuela doing the same? Communism is a known killer of healthy, hardworking people on fertile lands filled with resources. History tells us that millions of Venezuelans may die this year. It seems ridiculous ONLY because Communism is ridiculously bad, not because it isn’t true.
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Venezuela and Zimbabwe should serve as cautionary tales for the happy-go-“democratic socialists” here in the US. The kind of “bandit socialism” that was tried there, based on expropriation of the wealth of the undeserving elites (doesn’t that sound familiar) only works once and only for a short time. After that an economic collapse follows and there is nothing else left to expropriate. The Soviet Union discovered the same thing early in its history, after the end of the civil war. The economy was destroyed, the population was starving and there was nothing else that the state could expropriate from anyone. Luckily for the Soviets, Lenin was sufficiently pragmatic to realize that at least a temporary economic liberalization was necessary. So started the “New Economic Policy”, which restored, on small to medium scale, private property and market economy. The country recovered, and remarkably quickly. However, it does not seem like Maduro is likely to do the same. He seems to prefer having his people starve if that means that he can hold on to power.
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Socialism doesn’t work.
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@Cecil Shepherd This is a result of greed and other corruption, which will erode any -ism -- O, and democracy, too.
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@Cecil Shepherd, it does in Europe, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, etc.
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@Cecil Shepherd
Tell that to the US farmers who accepted Trump's handout from his failed economic policies.
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SANCTIONS SANCTIONS SANCTIONS.........its not rocket science
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Interesting that although the 1990s decline of the post-soviet countries is noted, there is no comparison with Romania under Ceausescu.
There are similarities--a humanitarian crisis caused by failures of governance, and terrible suffering. I guess in that case there was still "economic output," it just didn't go to the citizens. Maybe that's why it doesn't meet the criteria for comparison.
When I see the photos of people in Venezuela, I feel tremendous sympathy because I remember the blackouts and being happy on days we got our hands on a few slices of disgusting bologna, or the month my grandmother spent her entire pension on powdered German milk on the balck market, because I was a child and there was no milk and my parents were afraid I wouldn't grow.
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Many famines and economic disasters are man-made. Famine in the Stalin Soviet Union, failure of Mao's "Great Leap Forward," South Sudan, great Britain's failures during the Irish potato famine, our "Dust Bowl' and Great Depression, the 2008 Economic collapse are just a few examples.
While the United States looks down on the "sxxthxxle" countries of the world, we have done little to help the people of countries around us in Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and even the American citizens in Puerto Rico.
There is no good reason to have US sanctions against Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, or other places where people struggle to survive day-to-day.
"Bullying" is not an enlightened or prudent foreign policy.
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@JMT
And an honorable mention for the starving Armenians at the start of the 20th century at the hands of the Ottoman Turks and the Ukrainian famine during the 1930s thanks to Stalin’s blood soaked hands.
Millions died in both incidents.
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I visited Caracas in 2005 as I had a friend from there, what a fantastic place that was, great trip. It was the first time I went outside of Europe. Most Venezuelans i know in Europe are now claiming Spanish citizenship if they can prove Spanish ancestry. Many are scattered all over Western and Central Europe. None want to go back.
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Yes, Maduro has not done the people of Venezuela well. Similarly, a certain "rocket man" in North Korea has not done his people well.
One has been meeting with our president. The other not.
What is the difference?
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@Chris
Has Maduro allowed the existing rail cars full of food, medical aid and supplies sitting at the border to those starving in Venezuela into the country and/or allowed the many, many other countries to come in and provide much needed assistance to the general population?
History has taught us that lifting economic sanctions on countries like Venezuela, N. Korea and Iran do little if service to the individual citizens the relief is intended to help.
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It's a familiar story. The partisans square off and the vast majority of people are caught between and suffer.
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Well when you put sanctions on a country, hold billions of dollars of the gov'ts money from exporting oil, have Saudi Arabia drown the market in cheap oil (similar to doing it to Iran decades ago), and propping up some blanco that 70% of the people have never heard of...
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The rulers of Venezuela seem to be following my advice to Lorenzo de Medici my boss in Florence. “People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.”
The Venezuelan people are being crushed.
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VENEZUELA A SOCIALIST FAILURE? Charles from Providence and others writers here repeat the shibboleth that Venezuela's failure is the outcome of its socialism. But there are scores of capitalist countries in the world whose people are suffering from hunger, massive corruption/theft, severe deprivation , violence - and MASS MIGRATION to the US, Europe etc.
Have you ever seen anyone attribute such disasters to capitalism? Plus Chavez made his socialist policies work for ordinary Venezuelans, quickly lifting millions out of poverty and becoming a much-loved people's hero.
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@Salim Lone That's simply not true. Chavez's time in office saw the precipitous decline in living standards for the poor as well as the working and middle classes.
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This is the clearest evidence that government controlled economic systems fail. Market economies pull literally billions out of poverty. Venezuela has been granted a giant news media pass as it nationalized entire industries.
If they had market driven economic policies they could be surrounded by socialism and they would flourish look at Hong Kong and West Berlin their economies flourished despite having totalitarian socialism surrounding them.
Venezuela blessed with fertile lands can’t feed themselves.
Blessed with some of the largest oil reserves in the world are impoverished. Once having the infrastructure that was the envy of Latin America now can’t maintain the roads and bridges to the coast from Caracas.
History is littered with Socialist experiments this is just one more huge failure, the science is in Marx is dead and Dead wrong.
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@peter mcknight, Europe, Norway, Sweden, Denmark are failures?
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@peter mcknight The American free market economy left how many people in poverty? It wasn't until the socialist ideas of FDR and Lyndon Johnson e.g. Social Security, Medicare, the war on poverty that the poverty rates started to decline. This administrations war on the war on poverty has ensured that the number of those living in poverty has started to rise. Unchecked capitalism and corruption leads to poverty.
Like Chavez or not, when he began he lifted millions of Venezuelans out of poverty. As his administration became power hungry and corrupt to be followed by an even worse one....that is what marked the failure of their socialist experiment.
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I think some people are putting the cart before the horse. They seem to think that all of the economic trauma facing Venezuela are the result of US sanctions. That's entirely untrue. The economy was in collapse well before the broader US sanctions took effect. Trying to argue that the US is the reason why Venezuela is in this morass requires that you ignore history in favor of propaganda.
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@Chris R, True. Depending only on oil to run an economy is a fool's errand. But the US, in fairness, has made it a lot worse for the people by sanctioning their country.
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the american architects of this crisis should--but won't--have to answer for this.
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So let’s get this right? Trump is pushing punishing sanctions to cripple the economy... forcing the government to collapse...
So it collapses- then Trump and his zillionaire including Koch come in - rescue the country- make zillions off of the assets - and the American taxpayer send money to Venezuela?
Am I missing something?
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Economics is not science.
Economists are not scientists.
There are too many variables and unknowns to craft the double-blind experimental controlled tests that provide predictable and repeatable results in economics.
Economics is gender, color aka race, ethnicity, national origin, sectarianism, education, history and politics plus arithmetic.
American imperial diplomatic and military hegemony commands and demands subservience by any nation with significant and substantial fossil fuel reserves.
Venezuela is 1st in the world in that nation state category. Replacing Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq in the center of America's evil inhumane malign immoral military-industrial complex crosshairs.
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Since, in the comments below, Venezuela is being held up as a failure of socialism why not hold up Scandinavian countries as successes.
Instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, we should be discussing what Venezuela did wrong that Sweden is doing right.
NYT and knowledgeable readers: please inform me on this topic.
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@Hakuna Matata Do Scandinavian governments own most businesses like Venezuela and Cuba? Does Venezuela and Cuba have companies like IKEA and Spotify?
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@JW NY
Neither country is really socialist
Scandinavian countries function for the benefit of their citizens.
Venezuela has been hollowed out and robbed blind by a military regime.
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Norway has oil second only to Venezuela. Its reserves are controlled by the government for the benefit of all its citizens, providing health, education and an equal standard for all. Venezuela has more oil than Norway. Its reserves are maintained by capitalists for their shareholders providing corporate welfare for investors and despotic rulers while starving citizens. The role of American corporations and politicians in maintaining support for oil-rich oligarchs is immoral, disgusting and killing people.
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This will be the USA if we vote for the likes of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
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@ABC123, totally wrong. The US economy is not based on one item, as it is/was in Venezuela. Democratic socialism is what they have in Europe, the Netherlands and Sweden. What they have in Venezuela is a country crippled by depending on oil for every dime they made. Add in the US sanctions and it's a dire situation. Same will happen to Russia who depends too much on oil.
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Britain after Brexit ?
The New York Times, in a pattern we have seen before--possibly prompted by certain interests--makes the case for intervention and war.
Did the same NY Times complain bitterly as Venezuela was assailed by big capital for decades, quietly torn asunder? Of course not.
Another demonstration if we needed it that although the Times may identify with certain "liberal" interests, in the end America is governed by a single party: its ruling class.
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Interesting that the word socialism, the real disease at the heart of Venezuela’s problems, is not mention once.
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I highly recommend the work of the economist Francisco Rodriguez in understanding the crisis in Venezuela. He was an early supporter of Chavez who was later blacklisted when he criticized the widespread graft in the government's "social missions." He is neither part of the lunatic right nor is he an mindless apologist for a government that has destroyed itself but is detailed in his descriptions and resolutely balanced in his assessments.
I thank the NYT for publishing his work in the past few years, and I hope they publish more of it.
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Socialism at its finest.
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Take a good long look at the photos.
They are the eternal face of socialism.
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@Frank,You got it wrong. What you are looking at is a petro state that failed. If you want to see democratic socialism look to the Netherlands, Sweden, etc.
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What form of government and economy did this country employ???
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Graft & greed, greed & graft.
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Citizens of every country seek “Regime Change” when they perceive that that top 5 percent of the population have massed all of the power and all of the wealth. The names change but the results are always the same.
Every country needs “Balance” to prosper. We need to look back at history including ours and take notice.
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Any one know how much money and gold Maduro and Chávez have swiped from the Venezuelan people?
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Considering the large number of spies and leaks for media within the Trump administration, I’m sure that some reliable sources in Venezuela will reveal the information.
@Krause Consider the following: Venezuelan oil is a little less expensive than Arabic oil (it is heavier). Since Chavez got to power in 1999, and assuming an average selling price of $65/barrel, and and average export of 1,500,000 barrels per day (it used to be over 2.3 M barrels but lately it is less than 1 M barrels) during 20 years (7300 days) the total oil revenue was about 0.7 trillion dollars. It has been estimated that Chavez, Maduro and all the mafia has stolen between 15% to 25% of that revenue, or about $100 billion to $175 billion. My estimate would be in the vicinity of 150 billion dollars stolen by the corrupt government officials of Venezuela.
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@Krause
About 7 Trillion dollars worth.
You reap what you sow. This debacle falls squarely on Chavez and now Maduro. They turned a prosperous cash cow oil industry into a socialized mess that benefited only themselves and their cronies. Now the oil industry is in shambles due the lack of regular maintenance because Chavez and Maduro made off with the repair funds.The people of Venezuela were stiffed by this bunch of gangsters who simultaneously bought the allegiance of the military with massive payoffs. if not for his military protection Maduro would be a dead man today.
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@paul
'...that benefited only themselves and their cronies...'
You're wrong about that. Look, at education, health care accessibility, all first available to the many after Chavez took over. He even helped poor people in Boston afford heat in the winter!
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@paul Thanks for your comment! Finally someone who understands the problem.
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Chavez cultivated the poor to serve as his foot soldiers while alienating the educated middle class. He was not a socialist hero-he was a demagogue. Likewise this collapse is not the result of socialist policies but of smash and grab self enrichment.
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Isn't socialism great?
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@JWThis is not socialism. It is corruption and criminal behavior at the highest levels- including the US involvement- at the expense of peoples lives for oil.
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@JW, when its in the service of cronyism? Not so much. The same holds true for capitalism as well.
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@JW, it isn't socialism; its corruption. If you want an example of socialism look at the Netherlands.
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Socialism, works every time its tried...
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@thlrlgrp I don't know that it was the socialist policies as much as the rampant corruption, cronyism and the curse of easy money that brought Venezuela to its knees.
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Socialism the cause of the US economic collapse 2008 or the Great Depression.
No it’s runaway uncontrolled capitalism. Rapacious greed has transformed us into a warmongering nation. We are societal pathogen.
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Only Venezuelans can change and correct this. Interference from outside, particularly from "gringos", will fail. Whatever goes wrong will be blamed on the gringos. The bulk of the populace will believe such tales originated and spread by the selfish oligarchs. That is part of the Latin American mentality.
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@Penseur Good ole US of A have demolished many of nations thru sanctions in South America and helped to install dictators who will do as US says and hand over their resources to American corporation.
Disaster Capitalism: Shock Doctorine by Naomi Klein
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@Penseur:
the gringos have a reputation of interfering
in other countries' business [for centuries].
study US history, relating to latin america, for instance.
this is far less an issue of mentality
than one of experience in history ...
the rest concerns the ever-present issue
of very greedy RICH vs very needy POOR.
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Really? Is Venezuela's situation worse than Yemen's, where millions face death from famine & a brutal Saudi war backed by the US? Why no outcry from Washington or the media? What the NY Times has consciously omitted in these past months of US plot against Venezuela, are facts on the devastating effect of US sanctions, robbing Venezuela of its oil income from CITGO properties, the banks seizing billions in Vz's funds, blocking major medical shipments, children's vaccines to dialysis supplies to insulin, by the US ordering banks to refuse Vz's funds. That is active U.S. attempt to murder civilians, and then blame Venezuela! I was in Venezuela Feb. 12 to Mar. 12. I saw the gov't's enormous operation delivering food to 6 million families regularly at a symbolic price, including meat, chicken, eggs, as Trump put on a show of "humanitarian aid" that Venezuelans reject. They don't need that false aid, they want the criminal sanctions lifted! Private supermarkets are packed with food but owners raise the prices so high it is only available for the elite. US/pro-coup conspirators sabotaged the electrical system twice. I was there the 1st 5 days of blackout, while Pompeo boasted, "No food. No medicine. Now, no power. Next, no Maduro." While Washington continues its plots, the U.S. media has played a deadly role creating the pretext for regime change, with distorted coverage as this. Many independent reporters as myself saw the people bravely resisting the US war. www.liberationnews.org
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@Gloria La Riva Maybe read the article? They said outside of war or civil war.
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@Gloria La Riva:
they did this in chile in 1973.
turned up all faucets, turned on all lights
to cause system breakdowns and make people believe:
"the democrats can't run their country.
we have to take over and take care of things."
remember september 11, 1973.
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@Gloria La Riva
I hope you meant rampant inflation raised those prices in the markets.
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The New York Times has been expressing and unrelenting hostility for years against the Venezuelan government. Because the New York Times, with its pre-eminent journalistic position, often sets the parameters of debate, the Times is probably one of the big reasons that crippling sanctions have been imposed on Venezuela. Much of the devastation can be attributed to those sanctions.
The Chavez regime was popular and repeatedly re-elected by resounding margins, but the New York Times repeatedly attacked it. The regime alleviated poverty and fostered human development for all Venezuelans, not just the rich. I guess the Times identified with the rich people who were squeezed by the Chavez regime, and that is the source of its, at times, unhinged hostility to the Venezuelan government. Perhaps things would have turned out differently if the New York Times had not set itself up as the arbiter of who gets to rule in South America and had supported an environment of peace and reconciliation rather than combative opposition and devastating punishment through sanctions.
The current situation is horrible. Maduro may be an authoritarian, but the Times is just pouring gasoline on the fire by backing Guaió's baseless claim to be the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
I blame the Times' biased journalism partially for the current catastrophe.
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@John Rundin
Actually, The NYT was a cheerleader of Chavez until it happened to criticize him once. Then it felt the weight of the tyrant. Then it became a critique.
Chavez was popular, yes. However he was immensely incompetent and corrupt. Oil production dropped during his watch to the levels of a decade prior to his election. His popularity was the result of a decade long oil price boom and immense personal charisma.
Chavez weakened democratic institutions and presided over rampant corruption. He created Maduro which was not as lucky to preside over high oil prices.
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@John Rundin Hip Hip Horay! thanks for saying it.
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Corruption, corruption, corruption. The downfall of all empires. Take heed, America!
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