Have they been reading Robert Mugabe's 10 steps to agricultural success down there ?
Guardian has basically the same story:
http://www.theguardian.com/global-d.../26/venezuela-food-shortages-rich-country-cia
Venezuela food shortages: 'No one can explain why a rich country has no food'
Toilet paper, rice and coffee have long been missing from stores, as Venezuelan president blames CIA plot for chronic shortages
....
For Oliveros, an additional cause for the shortage of basic food staples is the decrease in agricultural production resulting from seized companies and land expropriations. "More than 3m hectares were expropriated during 2004-2010. That and overvalued exchange rate destroyed agriculture. It's cheaper to import than it is to produce. That's a perverse model that kills off any productivity," he says.
Venezuela's central bank, which has been publishing a scarcity index since 2009, puts this year's figure at an average of 20%, which, according to economists in the country, is similar to countries undergoing civil strife or war-like conditions.
...
Have they been reading Robert Mugabe's 10 steps to agricultural success down there ?
There is another country with a very different political and governing philosophy to the north of Venezuela that is also unbelievably wealthy yet is struggling to keep the machinery of government going and basic services operating, with abject urban poverty, a public health and crime crisis, wanton violence, horrendous inequality, and crumbling infrastructure. Its government is currently closing down some services because it cannot fund them.
Today, that country received a warning from the German Bundesbank suggesting it gets its house in order and to sort out its failing democratic structures. Class.
There is another country with a very different political and governing philosophy to the north of Venezuela that is also unbelievably wealthy yet is struggling to keep the machinery of government going and basic services operating, with abject urban poverty, a public health and crime crisis, wanton violence, horrendous inequality, and crumbling infrastructure. Its government is currently closing down some services because it cannot fund them.
Today, that country received a warning from the German Bundesbank suggesting it gets its house in order and to sort out its failing democratic structures. Class.
It is not a real crisis until a state cannot supply basics to the state supermarkets like loo roll.
It is always the little things that bring regimes down.
Indeed, it's so bad, 3% has been lost off the Dow Jones...
It's kabuki, there isn't a crisis as such.
The problem in America is that there is plenty of toilet roll but not everyone can afford it.
How much is it ?
Is it THAT expensive ?
At least they have a plentyful supply unlike some barmpot crumbling regime South of the border.
EVENT GUIDE - HIGHLIGHT |
Tombstome presents: Darsombra plus guest Magic Pockets Coughlan's, Douglas St. 30th May 2024 @ 8:00 pm More info.. |
Crawford Art Gallery, Tomorrow @ 10am