Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Unexpected consequences of low oil prices

Feb 5, 2015 11:32AM PST

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
I doubt that oil prices are as much responsible...
Feb 5, 2015 6:11PM PST

...as the Marxist economics begun under the Chavez regime and continued after his death. After all, it's hard to buy food and even toilet paper in Nicolas Maduro's worker's paradise: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/sep/26/venezuela-food-shortages-rich-country-cia:

This time, however, food shortages have gone on for almost a year and certain items long gone from the shelves are hitting a particular nerve with Venezuelans. Toilet paper, rice, coffee, and cornflour, used to make arepas, Venezuela's national dish, have become emblematic of more than just an economic crisis.

"We used to produce rice and we had excellent coffee; now we produce nothing. With the situation here people abandoned the fields," says Jesus Lopez, in reference to government-seized land that sits idle. "Empty shelves and no one to explain why a rich country has no food. It's unacceptable," adds the 90-year-old farmer from San Cristobal, on the western state of Tachira, bordering Colombia.


Venezuela's real shortage seems to be one of capitalism...

- Collapse -
Smuggle some more...
Feb 6, 2015 3:24AM PST

Here's a country that had a lot going for it and then Chavez comes along. While certainly there were typical problems many were capable of at least feeding themselves. Now, if you can't get a condom what does that suggest. Other items are certainly in low supply too and i guess Cuba could supply more empty shelves. hehe! Oil prices may attribute to lessen necessities expect for prices, but they were long there before that happened. -----Willy Happy

- Collapse -
yes, that's what happens
Feb 6, 2015 5:20AM PST

when you train an entire country to depend on welfare, even to them leaving the farms to come live on welfare in the cities.

- Collapse -
The gas in Venezuela ...
Feb 6, 2015 5:30AM PST

is a few cents a gallon (heavily subsidised) and you certainly agree with condoms being expensive, since they only lead to promiscious behavior you don't agree with. I'd say it's an ideal country for the average conservative American.

Kees

- Collapse -
why should I care
Feb 6, 2015 6:29AM PST

how much sex they have with their wife?

- Collapse -
(NT) LOL.
Feb 6, 2015 6:40AM PST