The Tragedy of Venezuela

Submitted by Jim Bolas (United States), Sep 14, 2018 at 13:17

My wife and I lived in eastern Venezuela in the early 70's. Notwithstanding the typical corruption which was common in those days there was a healthy level of prosperity and the people were generally satisfied with their lives. Foreign investment was everywhere. The Guri dam project brought reliable electrical power to the area and numerous mining and manufacturing plants were being built.

However, nationalization of industry followed as we returned to the U.S. which began the pullback of investment and economic retrenchment. Chavez followed by putting socialistic policies on overdrive and now the inevitable economic and humanitarian tragedy is firmly in place.

The left in the U.S. is blind to the reality which is immediately to the south. The media appears to downplay the tragedy and hopes it will solve itself which it can't. China, Russia and Iran have their own problems and can not bale out Maduro.

The only solution is for South America, Mexico and the U.S. in unison to demand change and continue to isolate Venezuela until it submits to internal reform. It may not be bloodless. The world has a severe and worsening humanitarian crisis on its hands in Venezuela which is entirely of the Venezuelans own making. It will be a true test of international institutions to remedy the situation.

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