Interesting: Venezuela Implements Socialism and now faces crisis in shortage of food

[TheDanold]

When the government tries to regulate and control the supply of food (or healthcare), the result of course is long waits. But hey at least oil is cheap, so socialists like BAC love the guy, nevermind that the car-less poor are left scrambling for basic life-giving staples.

"It takes a miracle to find milk," said Arteaga, who spent two hours in line outside a store in the poor Caracas neighborhood of Eucaliptus. "Don't you see I'm here slaving away to see if I can get even one or two of those (containers)?"

Venezuelan consumers are increasingly facing periodic shortages of basic food products as the economy shows signs of overheating amid record revenues from an oil boom.

The shortages have increased skepticism of Chavez's economic policies and provided a political backdrop to campaigning this month for a referendum on a new constitution that he says is needed to make Venezuela a socialist state.

Businesses say price controls on staple foods are so low they discourage investment and force stores to sell at a loss.
http://www.reuters.com/article/worl...eedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=22&sp=true

I wonder if they will follow other leftwing examples like the old China and USSR with mass starvation soon? Economic freedom loss leads to mass loss of lives.
Lack of social freedom

 

[blackascoal]

Typical irrationality that clouds the minds of most anti-Chavez Venezuelans

Typically, in Venezuela, and this dates from years before Chavez came into power, hoarding of basic foodstuff is a tactic used by the food mafias and monopolies to dramatically increase profits, especially in the weeks prior to Christmas.

This also applies to some non-food items, such as hardware. What typically happens is that food starts to become of short supply at the consumer end ... things begin to slowly trickle off the shelves until there is "no more" (which is usually not true). The effect is that people begin to be forced into paying much higher prices for the items (usually items of basic necessity such as chicken, meat, baby formula, flour, milk and sugar) on the "black market."

This happens in Venezuela year after year after year ... and it is something that the Chavez government has been seeking to find ways to control, albeit with little success. I find such business practices to be criminal and inhuman ... and so does Chavez ... particularly since it negatively affects mostly the majority poor while making the minority wealthy business people (the ruthless crooks) richer and richer.

more at link --
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=76795

So .. being the digger I am, I researched if food shortages have indeed occured in Venezuela before Chavez came to power and if the shortages are only affecting Venezuela ..

Could the food shortages only be affecting Venezuela?

Global food crisis looms as climate change and fuel shortages bite

Empty shelves in Caracas. Food riots in West Bengal and Mexico. Warnings of hunger in Jamaica, Nepal, the Philippines and sub-Saharan Africa. Soaring prices for basic foods are beginning to lead to political instability, with governments being forced to step in to artificially control the cost of bread, maize, rice and dairy products.

Record world prices for most staple foods have led to 18% food price inflation in China, 13% in Indonesia and Pakistan, and 10% or more in Latin America, Russia and India, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Wheat has doubled in price, maize is nearly 50% higher than a year ago and rice is 20% more expensive, says the UN. Next week the FAO is expected to say that global food reserves are at their lowest in 25 years and that prices will remain high for years.

Last week the Kremlin forced Russian companies to freeze the price of milk, bread and other foods until January 31, for fear of a public backlash with a parliamentary election looming. "The price of goods has risen sharply and that has hit the poor particularly hard," said Oleg Savelyev, of the Levada Centre polling institute.

India, Yemen, Mexico, Burkina Faso and several other countries have had, or been close to, food riots in the last year, something not seen in decades of low global food commodity prices. Meanwhile, there are shortages of beef, chicken and milk in Venezuela and other countries as governments try to keep a lid on food price inflation.
http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/...ent/2007/nov/03/food.climatechange&frame=true

NOPE

Could the "shortages" also be tied to increased food consumption given that Chavez has raised the REAL income of the lowest half of the Venezuelan population by 130% over the past few years .. an amazing accomplishment for it shows that not just has Venezuela boomed but that because of the deliberate and well thought out policies of the Chavez administration, it is the poorest Venezuelans who have benefited the most from this boom. .. which is a dramatic difference than here in America where economic growth has disproportionatly benefited the already wealthy.

 

[TheDanold]

Typical irrationality that clouds the minds of most anti-Chavez Venezuelans

Typically, in Venezuela, and this dates from years before Chavez came into power, hoarding of basic foodstuff is a tactic used by the food mafias and monopolies to dramatically increase profits, especially in the weeks prior to Christmas.

This also applies to some non-food items, such as hardware. What typically happens is that food starts to become of short supply at the consumer end ... things begin to slowly trickle off the shelves until there is "no more" (which is usually not true). The effect is that people begin to be forced into paying much higher prices for the items (usually items of basic necessity such as chicken, meat, baby formula, flour, milk and sugar) on the "black market."

This happens in Venezuela year after year after year ... and it is something that the Chavez government has been seeking to find ways to control, albeit with little success. I find such business practices to be criminal and inhuman ... and so does Chavez ... particularly since it negatively affects mostly the majority poor while making the minority wealthy business people (the ruthless crooks) richer and richer.

more at link --
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=76795

So .. being the digger I am, I researched if food shortages have indeed occured in Venezuela before Chavez came to power and if the shortages are only affecting Venezuela ..

Could the food shortages only be affecting Venezuela?

Global food crisis looms as climate change and fuel shortages bite

Empty shelves in Caracas. Food riots in West Bengal and Mexico. Warnings of hunger in Jamaica, Nepal, the Philippines and sub-Saharan Africa. Soaring prices for basic foods are beginning to lead to political instability, with governments being forced to step in to artificially control the cost of bread, maize, rice and dairy products.

Record world prices for most staple foods have led to 18% food price inflation in China, 13% in Indonesia and Pakistan, and 10% or more in Latin America, Russia and India, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Wheat has doubled in price, maize is nearly 50% higher than a year ago and rice is 20% more expensive, says the UN. Next week the FAO is expected to say that global food reserves are at their lowest in 25 years and that prices will remain high for years.

Last week the Kremlin forced Russian companies to freeze the price of milk, bread and other foods until January 31, for fear of a public backlash with a parliamentary election looming. "The price of goods has risen sharply and that has hit the poor particularly hard," said Oleg Savelyev, of the Levada Centre polling institute.

India, Yemen, Mexico, Burkina Faso and several other countries have had, or been close to, food riots in the last year, something not seen in decades of low global food commodity prices. Meanwhile, there are shortages of beef, chicken and milk in Venezuela and other countries as governments try to keep a lid on food price inflation.
http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/...ent/2007/nov/03/food.climatechange&frame=true

NOPE

There's only 1 giant massive huge problem with your conspiracy theory of food hoarding:
Read the article, it is increasingly happening and all the people (even the Chavez supporters) complain about it as such.

Could the "shortages" also be tied to increased food consumption given that Chavez has raised the REAL income of the lowest half of the Venezuelan population by 130% over the past few years .. an amazing accomplishment for it shows that not just has Venezuela boomed but that because of the deliberate and well thought out policies of the Chavez administration, it is the poorest Venezuelans who have benefited the most from this boom. .. which is a dramatic difference than here in America where economic growth has disproportionatly benefited the already wealthy.

Um no, basic economics state that when a people's living standard rises they spend less of a percent on staples like food and more on more luxury goods, like cars, electronics, etc... Doesn't seem to be any shortages there, now does there?

Here let me help you out in terms you may understand better.

1. Set price control.
2. Business no make as much money or make a loss.
3. Business no produce as much because no make as much money or no make at all.
4. Shortages in supply occur.

Also affecting it is that due to ridiculous laws against so called "hoarding", businesses are afraid to keep big supplies on hand in case of being charged for hoarding, so they keep smaller supplies on hand and thus run out easier.

It's really sad that you put out such a long winded response when all you had to understand was extremely basic economics.
Well more funny than sad.

 

[blackascoal]

I've noticed a recurring trait about your threads .. they don't last very long on the board. The moment facts, logic, and common sense shows up .. end of story.

I suspect that this one will be no different.

Look at all the poor Venezuelans lined up for miles to get food packets ... OH SHIT .. WAIT .. those aren't Venezuelans, THEY'RE AMERICANS.

It's only mid-morning in Logan, Ohio, but, as CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports, some of the food is already running out. Twice a month in this small town on the edge of Appalachia, groceries are given away. You could call it a "line" of the times, because in a growing number of American communities making ends meet means waiting for a handout.

The line stretches down the road and out of sight and most, like Ginger Walls, never imagined they'd be here.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/10/eveningnews/main562666.shtml

And who was the socialist dictator in office who didn't understand your "basic economics" .. none other than El Presidente' George Bush

DAMN you're easy

Don't you have an older brother or a smarter sister?

My analytical skills are eroding playing with your dumb ass.

 

[TheDanold]

I've noticed a recurring trait about your threads .. they don't last very long on the board. The moment facts, logic, and common sense shows up .. end of story.

I suspect that this one will be no different.

Look at all the poor Venezuelans lined up for miles to get food packets ... OH SHIT .. WAIT .. those aren't Venezuelans, THEY'RE AMERICANS.

It's only mid-morning in Logan, Ohio, but, as CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports, some of the food is already running out. Twice a month in this small town on the edge of Appalachia, groceries are given away. You could call it a "line" of the times, because in a growing number of American communities making ends meet means waiting for a handout.

The line stretches down the road and out of sight and most, like Ginger Walls, never imagined they'd be here.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/10/eveningnews/main562666.shtml

And who was the socialist dictator in office who didn't understand your "basic economics" .. none other than El Presidente' George Bush

DAMN you're easy

Don't you have an older brother or a smarter sister?

My analytical skills are eroding playing with your dumb ass.

You're insane.

1. First off this is not a food shortage, this is people waiting in line for FREE food.
2. There is no guarantee these people are poor, I mean your own fucking image has an SUV for Christs sakes. Most poor people I know growing up could not afford a car, let alone afford to wait in a car for free food.

Try again, too easy. You're such a stubborn, stubborn piece of shit, you have no hope here and you know it, there are no Americans waiting 2 hours in line for goddam milk here (unless we are talking after a hurricane went through or something). Give it the fuck up, for once...

 

[blackascoal]

You're insane.

1. First off this is not a food shortage, this is people waiting in line for FREE food.
2. There is no guarantee these people are poor, I mean your own fucking image has an SUV for Christs sakes. Most poor people I know growing up could not afford a car, let alone afford to wait in a car for free food.

Try again, too easy. You're such a stubborn, stubborn piece of shit, you have no hope here and you know it, there are no Americans waiting 2 hours in line for goddam milk here (unless we are talking after a hurricane went through or something). Give it the fuck up, for once...

I've decided to play a game on online chess while responding to your posts so I can have something to challenge my mind while talking to a dummy.

Hold up a minute ..

Bishop takes pawn ..

Ok, where were we? .. oh yeah

Food Shortage In The Homeland
Handout Lines Getting Longer As Supplies Are Drying Up

Did you even read the headlines dummy?

Besides .. wait a minute ..

Knight takes Bishop .. Check ..

OK .. besides ..

"And food inventories are dwindling."

"At the local office of America's Second Harvest, a hunger relief organization that gave away 81 million pounds of food last year in Ohio alone, donations are drying up at a terrible time.

"We've seen an 18 percent increase in the demand for services in just the first three months of this year," says Lisa Hamler Podalski. "We're seeing a new phenomena. Last year's food bank donors are now this year's food bank clients."

Queen takes Queen .. Checkmate

Look dude, if you aren't going to go get your sister just say so.

 

[TheDanold]

I've decided to play a game on online chess while responding to your posts so I can have something to challenge my mind while talking to a dummy.

Hold up a minute ..

Bishop takes pawn ..

I've decided to play a game of online Candyland while responding to your posts so I can have something more challenging than your Candyass.

Ok, where were we? .. oh yeah

Food Shortage In The Homeland
Handout Lines Getting Longer As Supplies Are Drying Up

Did you even read the headlines dummy?

Besides .. wait a minute ..

Knight takes Bishop .. Check ..

OK .. besides ..

"And food inventories are dwindling."

"At the local office of America's Second Harvest, a hunger relief organization that gave away 81 million pounds of food last year in Ohio alone, donations are drying up at a terrible time.
"We've seen an 18 percent increase in the demand for services in just the first three months of this year," says Lisa Hamler Podalski. "We're seeing a new phenomena. Last year's food bank donors are now this year's food bank clients."

AHAHAHAHA oh god, yes food inventories are drying up...at this charity! We are talking about regular people going out and buying things at the grocery store you insane idiot.
Holy shit what a moron!

I doubt Venezuela even has free food charities, hell even Chavez's program is for freezing food prices at reduced rates, NOT giveaways.

Queen takes Queen .. Checkmate

How bout Queen takes a hike? King me.