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Last June the reports came of Venezuelan efforts to stop toilet paper and diaper shortages by raiding warehouses, and we knew at that time that it was the beginning of the end. The country had long ago swallowed the socialist poison pill, and when the predictable economic diarrhea arrived they were left with a nasty mess.
The protests, the murdered students, the jailed opposition leaders and intimidation — it was all very predictable, because socialism’s historical track record is one of pain and misery.
Today, NPR reported:
Alvaro Villarueda starts his morning the same way every day — putting in a call to his friend who has a friend who works at a Caracas, Venezuela, supermarket.
Today, he’s looking for sugar, and he’s asking his friend if he knows if any shipments have arrived. As he talks on the phone, his wife Lisbeth Nello, is in the kitchen.
There are 10 mouths to feed every day in this family — five of them children. The two youngest are still in diapers.
“The things that are the scarcest are actually what we need the most,” Nello says. “Flour, cooking oil, butter, milk, diapers. I spent last week hunting for diapers everywhere. The situation is really tough for basic goods.”
Again, completely predictable. Yes, over and over again individuals do not get the lesson. Perhaps part of the reason is because news outlets refuse to report the obvious:
As with everything in Venezuela, the reasons given for the food shortages depend on political affiliation. The government says it’s the result of unscrupulous businessmen waging an economic war and hoarding by regular people afraid of shortages.
Those in the opposition blame a system that imposes price controls, the lack of money to buy imports and problems in the supply chain after the expropriation of farms and factories by the socialist government.
Whatever the reasons, the shortages have meant that Nello spends a lot of time in long lines.
“Whatever the reasons”?! It is quite clear that socialism is to blame for Venezuela’s woes, but NPR can’t bring itself to do more than “report” on the symptoms of the disease. It doesn’t want you to know about the disease itself. All it can manage to “report” is a “whatever…” when it comes to the results of spitting in the face of basic economics.
Instead of looking at the very real history of price controls around the world — a dismal track record indeed — NPR would rather shrug its shoulders and essentially say, “Well, it could be those ‘unscrupulous’ businessmen. Who are we to say?”
The sad truth is that if you pick ten random people on the street in any country, then most of them will probably not have a firm grasp on basic economic principles. However, all of them understand hope and will gravitate to the person who instills it in them. When educational systems and news outlets fail to show people the dire consequences of socialism, the stage is set for generation after generation to fall victim to its smooth talking salesmen.
It is a very distinct possibility that Venezuela will lurch further to the left before the country collectively takes part in an ideological course correction. There are countless variables in the air at the moment, but the one constant is the cult-like addiction to the socialist vision by its advocates. As long as Western media outlets continue to engage in mealymouthed coverage of the truth that is staring them in the face — socialism doesn’t work — the cycle will continue to repeat itself.
Related: Venezuela: You can’t have a revolution without a few skidmarks; ignore the toilet paper shortage!
Douglas Ernst Blog 
No surprise there. Socialism fails everywhere it is tried. Some places take longer than others, but eventually a socialist system will collapse upon itself. When people realize they can vote themselves more money, a nation is lost.
NPR won’t report on it, because it is not an “unbiased” news organization. When you receive federal funding, it is hard to report on abuses of federal power.
Thanks for the read and comment, progressivewatch. I appreciate it. I was on an NPR show awhile ago to talk about Venezuela. The host interviewed me on what was going on for about five minutes, and then five seconds (literally) actually aired. I just burst out laughing when I heard it. I should have known… I figured it would be edited down, but that just took it to a whole new level.
gotta find just the right blurb I guess. That is extreme though.
So they edited the majority of your interview with NPR? That doesn’t surprise me one bit. Reporting the truth on Venezuela doesn’t fit their narrative, as Hube would say.
It was for a show where they give three news stories and a caller has to guess which one was the real story. Mine was the real story. I knew they would cut it to some extent, but the only thing they kept was “When I go to Best Buy I don’t want American troops with M16s pointed at me when I’m buying a refrigerator.”
The host asked me if I would be upset if American troops were sent in to enforce price controls and I thought, “What kind of question is that?” I just told him something would be really wrong if that ever happened in the United States.
Not surprising that NPR won’t blame the real culprit: socialism, which has failed everywhere it has been implemented and has caused nothing but pain and hardship. Since they’re funded by the government (I still think it’s beyond ridiculous that taxpayer money has to subsidize both a radio station and a TV station, but that’s a different topic altogether), they ignore government overreach.
What…Socialism does not work?? People getting something from nothing does not inspire people?
I wish our current leadership would wake up.
“I wish our current leadership would wake up.”
Sadly, I don’t think that will happen. They’re too drunk on power. Obama thinks he should become a dictator by passing executive orders and bypassing Congress so he can force his agenda down peoples’ throats. This is the kind of thing that would cause the left to scream for George Bush’s impeachment if he were still in office, but government overreach is considered OK when a Democrat is in office. It’s sad.
I agree Carl, I hope people wake up for the next election.
Another thing is that we’ve had Hollywood idiots support Venezuelan-style socialism in the past, while bashing America, the country that made them what they are. Oliver Stone, Harry Belafonte (who has really become a bitter, hateful old man), Sean “Rectal Cancer” Penn and Danny Glover are just a few of many.
Such a shame. My favorite band is from Venezuela (Los Amigos Invisibles), and they’re crushed at what’s happened to their country. Thankfully, they all moved here years ago, but they all still have family there. 😦
I’m sorry to hear that, Hube. It really is a shame… I’ll have to check them out. I’m always up for expanding my musical horizons.
April 19th in DC at the Howard Theatre! (I’m seeing them in Philly two days earlier!) 😉
Very cool.
That is sad. I’m sorry to hear that, too, Hube. I’ll have to listen to some of their music sometime. I’ve obviously read about them at Colossus and my curiosity has been piqued.
Try YouTube for some of their audio tracks (and vids, too, of course). They’re very eclectic — a pleasing mix of dance, funk, disco, rock, and traditional Latin rhythms. Also see their albums on Amazon, as, of course, I have reviews written of all their discs! 😉
Will do! I’ll be turning in early tonight because I have a dental appointment in the morning but I’ll be sure to check them out when I get home in the afternoon
BTW Doug — ever been to the Black Cat in DC? I saw the Amigos there in 2008. Cool place.
I know where it is, although I haven’t ever been in there. I saw STP up in Baltimore and then Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters at the Verizon Center. I’m sort of embarrassed that I haven’t been to Black Cat or 9:30 Club to see a few shows.
I know it’s sad but I’ve never been to a concert before. I keep saying that if any bands I like show up at Grand Casino or Mystic Lake, I’d consider going, but the tickets are always sold out by the time I think of it.
The Amigos have played the 9:30 Club before, too!