It has been less than two months since I visited Caracas, Venezuela. While things were already very bad when I was there, they are now worse.

Power shortages have deepened (and this in an oil rich country!); food is becoming scarce (some people have resorted to eating dogs and cats); people lie on concrete slabs in hospitals without medicine (if you thought medical care was bad, just wait until it’s free!); and riots and looting are growing worse.

I went to see the end stages of socialism, complete with hyperinflation. I wanted to see where Europe and the US are headed.

In hindsight, it was shocking to see how few people in Venezuela understood what was going on.  You’d think in this day and age, they’d just watch a few Youtube videos (like some of ours) and realize the reality: Almost all their problems are a direct result of government and central banking.

Yet, hardly anyone understood.  Your average person was miserable, that was for sure.  But they didn’t know what was causing their misery.

I didn’t find much interest in gold and silver, let alone much buying, even though it was obviously a good idea.  And, forget bitcoin. No one knew what it was… except for the government that predictably has banned it.

Bizarrely, large parts of Caracas still hang pictures of Hugo Chavez and still consider him to be a hero!

I met a few people who were open to rational discussions. They were making about about $20 a month and could barely survive.

“Why don’t you go somewhere else?” I asked them. “Colombia is close.  And Trinidad & Tobago,  Aruba,  Argentina or Chile.  All with economies that are functioning and sometimes doing very well.”

The general response was, “I don’t know anyone there.”

Very strange. Why choose to live in squalor and desperation just because the environment is familiar to you?

This is a mentality I often see in America.  Elsewhere, too.  Stressed, people have a tendency to live like serfs, never venturing far from their birthplace.

It’s really not necessary in this era of the internet. Spend five minutes on Facebook and you know some people.

In fact, our global reach includes  TDV Groups (also known as the Vigilante Expat Network).  If you’re a subscriber, you can converse with other dollar vigilantes anywhere in the world. They are a great bunch. I know from experience, they’ll practically pick you up at the airport and help you get situated if you decide to visit or move.

It’s just one of the many benefits of being a Dollar Vigilante newsletter subscriber (see more here).

The scary thing about Venezuela is that all the conditions already exist, and are nearly the same, in Europe right now.  And the only difference between where the US is headed and Venezuela, is the US hasn’t outlawed guns… yet.  Otherwise whatever I saw and experienced in Venezeula was already familiar to me from my travels in the US and Europe. (It’s one reason I got out and went to live in Acapulco.)

I was in Venezuela seven years ago and it was generally fine.  A beautiful place to visit full of bustling shops, restaurants, bars and hotels.  Two months ago when I returned, I was visiting the murder capital of the world. As I wrote, we had to carry backpacks of money to pay for lunch at the few restaurants that were open. We were told to not wear sunglasses or use our mobile phones or we’d get robbed. Our hotel barricaded the doors at night to keep criminals out.

Venezuela: Meet the destiny of Europe and the US.

Both Europe and the US are already tumbling further into socialism.  Nearly half of all millennials in the US say they like socialism over capitalism.

Just look at Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize winner in Economics (Keynesian/Globalist economics that is), who is one of the most respected economists in the US… He wrote The Price of Inequality and, excuse me as I hold back from vomiting, Making Globalization Work.  He’s also the former vice-president of the World Bank.

“Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appears to have had success in bringing health and education to the people in the poor neighborhoods of Caracas, to those who previously saw few benefits of the countries oil wealth,” he said.

In his latest book “Making Globalization Work,” Stiglitz argues that left governments such as in Venezuela, “have frequently been castigated and called ‘populist’ because they promote the distribution of benefits of education and health to the poor.”

“It is not only important to have sustainable growth,” Stiglitz continued during his speech, “but to ensure the best distribution of economic growth, for the benefit of all citizens.”

And, look at this tweet from one of the top politicians in England from only three years ago!

The West is headed the way of Venezuela. In fact, it’s all part of the Globalist one world socialist government plan being quickly put into place this Jubilee Year.

You can see it in Europe, where unrestrained Islamic immigration is being aimed at creating chaos within established cultures. And in the US, where the possibility of a Hillary victory would firmly establish a Venezuela-style paradise.

This Jubilee Year is all about putting in place the final foundation for the world’s oncoming globalism. Venezuela is just a little bit ahead of the curve. For a video on this Jubilee Year and its growing damages, please see HERE. And for our White Paper, please see HERE.

I had the opportunity to interview one of the only anarcho-capitalists in Venezuela for my program, Anarchast.  It took us nearly two months to put it live because I insisted on paying Daniel to translate it. It took him nearly two months because of the nearly constant power outages.

Have a look at this conversation I had with one of the few people in Venezuela who understands economics. See how quickly things fall apart under socialism and how the US, Europe, and many other places in the West are not far behind following Venezuela’s path:

245 Comments on "Venezuela Descends Into Chaos… Europe and US Next"

Charles Forbes on Mon, 23rd May 2016 10:42 am 



Don’t confuse ‘welfare state’ with ‘socialism’. The welfare state attempts to help the poor by redirecting wealth created by capitalists. Socialism is all about the replacing the capitalists with the state, replacing the market with planning and centralized control.

latinoamericano on Mon, 23rd May 2016 10:44 am 



Also,

still surprised that many around the world seem to believe this government was a failed socialism experiment.
They threatened opposition from the beginning to jail, exile them etc…….the put the army on the streets ( FOR 15 YEARS) scaring psychologically the population afraid of a coup…..they never worked with the opposition. Many countries around the world think this was a kind of government, they do not believe or understand that they tried by force to induce their ideas, the opposite of democracy and liberty………and stealing behind in the meantime while distracting the rest of the world.

Other important politicians in LatinAmerica don believe also or just shut their mouths seeing this looting for 15 years….

Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Mon, 23rd May 2016 10:45 am 



Lol a society using anarchy as an organizational model is the only option? Fuck are you retarded! Are you in grade 8 or what?

rwengogrm on Mon, 23rd May 2016 10:45 am 



“This is a mentality I often see in America. Elsewhere, too. Stressed, people have a tendency to live like serfs, never venturing far from their birthplace.”

As soon as I read that, I knew this writer was an idiot.

What kind of asshole suggests that people who want to stay in their homeland are serfs who don’t know no better.

This whole article is embarrassing, I’m no socialist, but this writer sure is dumb.

midwesterner on Mon, 23rd May 2016 10:48 am 



unfortunately there is no perfect system. Neither capitalism nor socialism in its truist form will work. Capitalism creates competion which means at some point in time a small group of individuals will end up with the majority of everything. However in socialism there is never enough money to spend for all of the good causes. No matter how much you spend someone will say I am hurting because I don’t have ??? (a 70 in TV or a 3rd car) and because I am as good as anyone else you owe me one. Venezuela was pouring all of their money into social programs and not into investments that would sustain the country into the 21st century. chavez got a huge number of votes from it. Who wouldn’t vote for a raise in benefits. Unfortunately Venezuelas day of reconing was quickened by the collapse of oil. Without the collapse they could have muddled around for another 20 years. I know that for a lot of you out there capitalism is a dirty word but without the incentives created by capitalism there would not be any money available for the social programs in this county. Ask Russia how their socialist program eliminated any incentive the Russian people had to work. One thing we do have to do is keep a lose leash on capitalism as the players in this game are all trying to figure out how to swing the rules for their advantage. Without capitalism we are a doomed nation. We just have to get the idiot politicians out of the wealth creators way. We do need to let the politicians decide how much of a tithe should be allocated from our GDP to use for government and social programs that benefit all americans. Unfortunately in my opinion the politicians are the worst group of individuals in the world to do the job because they are only care in the world is to stay in office. The world is DOOMED

Bob smith on Mon, 23rd May 2016 10:59 am 



LOL you live in Acapulco the murder Capitol of Mexico and talk about not moving.

Cari on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:00 am 



Well people are criticized for coming to the US illegally, because they are living countries that treat their own people like serfs. This article criticizes people that want to stay in serfdom because is comfortable. Venezuela never became a socialist country but a renovation of an oligarchy. A small group of people was in power before Chavez benefiting friends and family. During Chavez and Maduro a small group of people in power benefiting friends and family. Poverty always present, the former oligarchy was able to hide it best. Chavez and Maduro formed an inept oligarchy. Some think that the US is an oligarchy. There are some Scandinavian countries that experienced some success with socialism. To me is just semantics, a society will work its best when people are allowed true freedom, when people are fairly paid for their labor. When we accept that big corporations that don’t pay fair taxes, don’t pay their highly productive employees fair salaries and we call this capitalism, then capitalism is not as good as it should be.

david on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:02 am 



I can’t believe the posts here. Well, yes I can. People are so stupid in general they never see it coming. Well I saw it while Slick Willie was selling us out. So I cashed in and bought property and a small house in a small country with a small honest Gov. with nothing that the U S wants. My Ele. contracting business here in the U S was finally ruined by Governments and it is about time to go to paradise. I do not feel sorry for any of you because any person can do what I did. You F ed up your children and now are deep into the slide to socialism. Name a successful socialist country. Come on. Just on in human history. Then why are you allowing, even helping, the elite drag you into it? When I found my new country 10 years ago I found Americans all over the place and British, with their eyes open like mine. My cost of a good living there will be around 8 thousand a year and I have 20 thousand to spend for life even if I do not want to work. Hell no I will not tell where. Liberals are not allowed anyway, but we do not want low IQs dragging us down there like here. Tourism is not allowed there, an indepth application and through back ground check are required. And proof of enough money to last your life. Politics are illegal, Banks are privet owned and the Pres. of them are elected every year by the people. There is no President or national Gov. Each town is on it’s own like the states here before the illegal Fed. gov. took over. so I say to you idiots fare well and enjoy your demise. I will watch with some satisfaction on the WEB while you get what you are asking for. Damn fools.

onlooker on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:03 am 



Good analysis T.S. Ravindau, the entire planet is racked by the corrupting influence of money. Also, by interference by the elitist Institutions of the West especially the Banks, IMF and World Bank. In this environment, whole countries can be punishes and be held as outcasts if they do not follow the Capitalist course. Venezuelas problems are diverse and to some degree self created. However, in large scope of things the poor countries have been vassal states of the rich, providing them with resources. The wealthy and elite of poor countries betraying their own people for the sake of retaining power, privilege and wealth.

Neil Smith on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:08 am 



interesting, so on yahoo.com, you can buy space for an article, put in under the heading “world” and in small letters showing its coming from an oil company peakoil.com “news and message board” interesting I saw a program the other day saying Venezuela economic issue stems from corrupt government, not investing in the countries infrastructure, and embracing new technology. And the main fact all those things were kept in check, when their biggest revue is oil prices were high. The prices were high so they were seeing a profit, now that oil has dropped they are feeling the pinch. The focus on one resource has changed, maybe peakoil.com should focus on a change as well or another choice, a corrupt government is a big hurdle, under any doctrine including capitalism.

Gail Windless on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:11 am 



Between the author and the comments, as usual the actual problem/s must be viewed through the distorting lens of long-held beliefs, fears, and arrogance. The biggest problem I see is we cannot seem to separate ourselves from our own precious opinions to see reality.

The reality is, every single human-ruling-over-human system we have had has failed eventually, as history tries to teach those who refuse to listen. Every government cracks and falls apart in time due to some unique combination of the usual negative influences: greed with wealth distribution always moving upward, war mentality, beaten-down poor, and resource control, to name only a few of those traits varying sub-sets of humanity uses to rule over other sub-sets.
The system of government is only as good as those who are empowered by that system, and in the end, no matter what system of human government is in place, it breaks under the simple rule of “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
For the past 40 years, I’ve watched my own government here in the US failing under the weight of that simple truth. Yet, we are just as incapable of doing better here in modernity than we did in antiquity, and aided by abounding technology, perhaps worse.

zardoz on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:15 am 



yeah they down in S. America have really screwed up huh? and soon , if Hillary”what does it matter now” Clinton gets into office geesh America will really go down the tubes then!

Not A Liberal on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:18 am 



Honestly it really is Venezuela’s fault, should we really blame ourselves for their complete and utter failure to diversify their economy? Fuck that. Comparing Venezuela to like Saudi Arabia is fun, a country with more reserves (Venezuela) with two similar amounts of population (roughly 30 million). One is a fabulously wealthy state with autocrats ruling and one is a poor, crime-ridden shithole with socialists ruling. Looks like that whole “Democratic socialism” didn’t work out so well, did it? Looks like the Saudis are benefiting just fine from that, whatever Marxist scum call it, “Imperialism”.

Richard on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:20 am 



let’s be realistic and start using excuses, countries are run on two different methods, gluttony or greed. You can name these two primary forms of government what you wish but as long as mankind is a facilitator the results of these two will be chaos and corruption. What we are dealing with is the percentages of these factors in any government. The worst country the United States of America, in the good old days the percentage of corruption was at a minimum but gluttony has transformed this government into a shark frenzy of greed and hope life for all understand and see. Address the problem and find a guillotine and start with a president and start slicing until you find an honest man. And crown this man and let the guillotine be a permanent image on all currency for all the greedy to come to see.

Harry B on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:26 am 



What an idiot this author is. Nice heading followed by stupid wastage of time.

Koba on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:27 am 



Venezuela would be better off if they let the major oil companies back in and run everything.

For that matter, let the Europeans or the Americans run their country. The only people who would lose would be the government people on the take. The average person would live better.

Buckster on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:35 am 



What a retarded analysis. This is where Europe and the US are headed? Venezuela is a failed pseudo-communist state, dependent on one export – oil. It’s not a social democracy. Stop taking all the Ayn Rand shit seriously

Usef on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:40 am 



I live next door to Venezuela in the island of Trinidad and Tobago and as of right now, the Venezuelans are coming. President Maduro is expected to meet with our Prime Minister today to discuss what kind of aid our island can provide to our next door neighbor.

sulaiman on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:45 am 



Donald Trump must be the writer’s uncle! He probably sponsored this article coz its stinks of his ideals!

Frank on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:46 am 



Chavez and Maduro are not alien invaders. They were Venezuelans, for the most part, chosen by their countrymen. Latinos can’t escape the Caudillo culture and love to experiment with socialism and fascism.

I feel bad for the minority of limited government, self-repsonsiblity who remain in Venezuela, but otherwise, its their own fault and I don’t care – let them “feel the Bern” long and hard.

James Maxwell on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:48 am 



Welcome to the wonderful world of the
Socialist. coming to you courtesy of
the Democrat Socialist in America.
This is typical of the Socialist party
and its platform of giving you everything
courtesy of Other Peoples money. As
long as they have Other People Money
they can just spend, spend, spend until
they run out of others Peoples Money and
no one else has any money for them to take away from you. Then every thing
gets cut off and you have anarchy and
revolution as the masses starve while those who got rich run for the hills before the masses wake up and realize where the money is at.

James Rowe on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:49 am 



Well, well ,well,whats that boys name down there ? Chavez thats right,if i recall this leader also questioned Obama’s leadership but can’t back it up with a winning policy in his own back yard. One by one every leader which mocked Obama’s presidency have greater then the normal problems. While Obama only,brought the world’s largest economy back from the brink,housing market up,autombile market the best ever recorded,stock market “through the roof ,interest rates low and stopped two unnecessarry Wars. Obama’s last enemy will fall come Nov.2016 when those right wing nuts come to vote and be rejected.

frederick on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:50 am 



Let Americans and Europeans run their country? As long as they keep parasites like Goldman Sachs and Wall Street and the Rothshild banks out they might have a chance

Joseph Cavallaro on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:56 am 



You lost all credibility for me when you mentioned that you had moved to Alcapulco to escape what you saw in the States and elsewhere. Give me a break. Any person who know anything about international crime statistics knows that Alcapulco is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico now and even a desperate tourist will avoid it like the plague. That is why Mexico has stationed military forces there in an effort to try to stem the daily violence there that is second only to the violence ISIS commits on people in the Middle East.

John on Mon, 23rd May 2016 11:57 am 



Funny thing, every time a society tries Socialism it fails, it either ends up in poverty or the govt have to start killing off it’s own citizens. I cannot think of any socialistic society that has actually persevered as it was intended. Now we have Bernie who want’s to bring Socialism here to the US and some people are welcoming it with open arms. I do not understand the stupidity of people that want it. They say it is “Democratic Socialism” but honestly it is just one step closer to becoming Venezuela. You might trust Bernie now, but can you trust the next Socialist?

Gemini78 on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:00 pm 



Well, well, I see that someone is using the good old “scare” tactic to paint his own ideas and views more rosy and positive.
In the USA it doesn’t matter whether it will be Drumph; yes, that is his real family name, or Clinton who will be elected. The system is so corrupt and undermined that the country will continue the slide due to a very odd way of taxation. Both extremes of capitalism and socialism are equally bad. You need to find a golden middle way, and all need to understand that they are contributing to the common good. Not all need help with the same things, and they have different skills, but together they are a nation, a team if you will. But as long as you can’t make them think like a team, then the project is doomed to fail; in the USA it has become very bad; the power hungry little elite has for decades wanted to enslave the rest of the nation by different methods of mind and body control. As a foreigner observing what is going on on the other side of the pond, it is very scary; the populations in many of the countries the USA usually criticize are doing way better than the average citizen of the USA; better education and better infra structure, lower crime rate and living a lot healthier.

Apneaman on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:07 pm 



James, the world needs more super competent people like these running things eh?

Texas Republican party inadvertently suggests most Texans are gay
Grammar trouble in state party’s platform appears to say ‘homosexual behavior’ is ‘shared by majority of Texans’

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/21/texas-republican-party-gay-grammar-wording

Archibald Bomwitz on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:12 pm 



This so funny! He says to Venezuelans that they should go to a neighbouring country with a functioning economy. And a little later he states that the problems of Europe is in the people, migrants from the Middle East, who are looking for countries with functioning economies to support them.
The biggest problem for Europe is not socialism but a capitalism gone wild and moved factories to countries with extremely low wages and with economies that do not function!

Country Codger on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:13 pm 



Hello Sir,
I know Pastor Cahn made the shemitah year famous but he chose the wrong year. This spring began the sabbatical year for the 3rd sabbatical cycle (the cycle of famines, pestilences and earthquakes). There will not be another Jubilee year until 2045. Please view proof here:
https://codgerville.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/why-i-was-wrong-about-americas-destiny-part-one-the-curse/

and here: https://codgerville.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/why-i-was-wrong-about-americas-destiny-part-two-the-sin/

and here: https://codgerville.wordpress.com/2014/09/06/why-i-was-wrong-about-americas-destiny-part-iii-the-timeline/

Click on the link entitled Sabbatical Year Template on Part III.

Hope this helps.
Shalom,
CC

Greg Zaytzeff on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:14 pm 



Garbage Article. Venezuela has no water. Venezuela has a water crisis, can’t supply cities or power generation. Amazon deforestation destroyed rain patterns. Don’t take my word on this, Google “Venezuela water crisis.” Tired of crap articles like this.

Guy on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:15 pm 



You listen to PHD’s who only live by the wisdom of this world which is full of vain deceit from their hearts that are full of rottenness and corruption. You do not study divine wisdom which is found in the uncorrupted versions of the Holy Bible, the Word of God.
Here is a taste of what you are missing.
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave to the lender.
Proverbs 28:8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.
Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Proverbs 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
Proverbs 28:16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life.

andrew zwick on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:17 pm 



Just right wing tripe. I haven’t been to Venezuela. Huge problems with price controls. Don’t buy premise that U.S. and Europe are headed in Venezuela. Mismanagement of economy does not mean all Socialists are incompetent.

Apneaman on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:17 pm 



The Role of Politicians in an Oligarchy…

http://www.ianwelsh.net/the-role-of-politicians-in-an-oligarchy/

Hoss on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:20 pm 



Hey, Ringworm, You missed his whole point.

crystle on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:21 pm 



It is so true that at least one third of the USA loves socialism. Just look at Bernie Sanders and how popular he is. He is a known socialist. WHY would anyone want to live in a socialist country were the people have ZERO say over anything and the government controls everything. THE last people in the world you would want controlling anything is a government full of self righteous idiots who are there for the big money and free best health care they receive nothing else!

That Guy on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:22 pm 



Wake me when Denmark and Sweden turn into Venezuela. I feel for anyone who would believe this ignorance. You probably think America is a Democracy lol..

Al Finnell on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:23 pm 



Look south of the USA.

Do not look ‘over there’. Look HERE AND NOW.
The only difference between Muslim and Catholic is the continent they destroy.
According to Pelosi (Catholic traitor) there are more than 60 million illegal alien
Catholic invaders in the USA right now.
Remember the phrase of the Catholics — “god before country”. The
translation is “Vatican oppressors before the USA” The Vatican oppressors is a foreign
hostile nation to every other nation. This is treason. They cannot
faithfully perform duties for the USA.
Catholics are joined across both parties and because Rs and Ds fight, they are
more powerful than either R or D.. Catholics are in lockstep and are
keeping the borders open, and free debit cards to every one of the 60
million illegal alien Vatican Catholic invaders that comes to the USA. It is
time the USA citizens recognize that the Vatican oppressors has destroyed every
nation it kisses.

Al Finnell on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:23 pm 



Look south of the USA.

Do not look ‘over there’. Look HERE AND NOW.
The only difference between Muslim and Catholic is the continent they destroy.
According to Pelosi (Catholic traitor) there are more than 60 million illegal alien
Catholic invaders in the USA right now.
Remember the phrase of the Catholics — “god before country”. The
translation is “Vatican oppressors before the USA” The Vatican oppressors is a foreign
hostile nation to every other nation. This is treason. They cannot
faithfully perform duties for the USA.
Catholics are joined across both parties and because Rs and Ds fight, they are
more powerful than either R or D.. Catholics are in lockstep and are
keeping the borders open, and free debit cards to every one of the 60
million illegal alien Vatican Catholic invaders that comes to the USA. It is
time the USA citizens recognize that the Vatican oppressors has destroyed every
nation it kisses.

Eric Wainwright on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:24 pm 



…And don’t confuse “welfare state” and “socialism” with fascism which is private ownership of the means of production (i.e. factories) with government control of the production.

Lorraine Tufts on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:25 pm 



Venezuela Descends Into Chaos-Europe and US Next, is one of the dumbest, disjointed articles i’ve ever read. The writer should be embarrassed to put his name on such a mumble jumble of disassociated thoughts. Are you for real man???

crystle on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:28 pm 



Socialism is what most young liberals in this country would love to have. The younger generation liberals who are so spoiled that Mommy and Daddy makes life so pleasurable for them, do not understand that the government will not be like your parents. The government is in it for themselves. Sanders, the socialist, has promised these naive and very ignorant young liberals free life forever. THAT is not sustainable and a complete farce! Most socialists in Europe are NOT happy with what the government is choosing for them. EXCEPT they have NO choice. Be careful young liberals what you wish for.

Josiah on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:29 pm 



I cant believe the comments here. All I see is comments on how the author is ignorant, etc etc. But the truth is self evident. Venezuela IS socialist. Venezuela DOES have hyperinflation. Venezuela DOES have price controls which HAVE resulted in massive shortages. The problems ARE directly caused by the form of government they have. More importantly the parralells he draws to the US and UK are true. These types of socialist policies are indeed being instituted here in the US. There IS a huge gun control push, the anti capitalist propaganda IS being pushed(not that we have had anything resembling true capitalism in the last 100 years anyway). Its all happening here as well, but people are being willfully blind or think it will magically turn out different because America is somehow special…but its not, the laws of economics are universal. It was the founding fathers who said that people will bear burdens as long as they are bearable before rising up to do something about it. The author makes a great point in that people are unwilling to leave the familiar for the unfamiliar, regardless of how bad the familiar gets.

Apneaman on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:30 pm 



Guy, what about this “divine wisdom which is found in the uncorrupted versions of the Holy Bible, the Word of God.”

Sounds like your god has a taste for raping, murder, pillage and slavery. Yeah, real big on the raping.

(Deuteronomy 20:10-14)

As you approach a town to attack it, first offer its people terms for peace. If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you.

(Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NAB)

If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her.

(Deuteronomy 22:23-24 NAB)

If within the city a man comes upon a maiden who is betrothed, and has relations with her, you shall bring them both out of the gate of the city and there stone them to death: the girl because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbors wife.

(Deuteronomy 21:10-14 NAB)

“When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. But before she may live there, she must shave her head and pare her nails and lay aside her captive’s garb. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her, and you shall be her husband and she shall be your wife. However, if later on you lose your liking for her, you shall give her her freedom, if she wishes it; but you shall not sell her or enslave her, since she was married to you under compulsion.”

(Judges 21:10-24 NLT)

So they sent twelve thousand warriors to Jabesh-gilead with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children. “This is what you are to do,” they said. “Completely destroy all the males and every woman who is not a virgin.” Among the residents of Jabesh-gilead they found four hundred young virgins who had never slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.

The Israelite assembly sent a peace delegation to the little remnant of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon. Then the men of Benjamin returned to their homes, and the four hundred women of Jabesh-gilead who were spared were given to them as wives. But there were not enough women for all of them. The people felt sorry for Benjamin because the LORD had left this gap in the tribes of Israel. So the Israelite leaders asked, “How can we find wives for the few who remain, since all the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead? There must be heirs for the survivors so that an entire tribe of Israel will not be lost forever. But we cannot give them our own daughters in marriage because we have sworn with a solemn oath that anyone who does this will fall under God’s curse.”

(Numbers 31:7-18 NLT)

They attacked Midian just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed all the men. All five of the Midianite kings – Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba – died in the battle. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. Then the Israelite army captured the Midianite women and children and seized their cattle and flocks and all their wealth as plunder. They burned all the towns and villages where the Midianites had lived. After they had gathered the plunder and captives, both people and animals, they brought them all to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and to the whole community of Israel, which was camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho.

Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the people went to meet them outside the camp. But Moses was furious with all the military commanders who had returned from the battle. “Why have you let all the women live?” he demanded. “These are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD’s people. Now kill all the boys and all the women who have slept with a man. Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves.

HALLE -FUCKING-LUJAH

Dan on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:30 pm 



Y2K, 2012, the end of the world, the sky is falling! The sky is falling! If only those who prophesy doom and gloom would get over themselves, and would help find solutions to the problems, instead of simply aggrandizing the problems (for their own profit), the world might actually be in better shape!

zoomzoom on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:31 pm 



Socialism is the misguided notion that governments somehow have the right and duty to make sure we all live a minimum lifestyle. What a misconception. Government’s only legitimate role is as a punish-er of those that do or are in the process of doing harm to other individuals. Any other role government plays, puts it in a position of master, and that signifies slavery. Welcome to the serfdom.

Boat on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:34 pm 



Ya’ll are all wrong on everything. Our problems could all be solved by having a “Hate the Germans month”.

Lynda on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:36 pm 



The reality is, there will always be the ebb and flow to good vs. evil. The common good vs. Corruption. In a perfect world, all will work toward all that is good. Mankind is not a perfect being. Greed and Power take root. We will and have been embroiled in battle for centuries. Manipulation of minds through propaganda and opinion is well sampled above. The struggle continues…

R on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:42 pm 



I equate capitalism to wind on a snowy plain, and snow to being the money supply.
When it snows, the snow is distributed equally across the plain. But when the wind blows all that snow is blown one direction. If your a business owner, your business is like a snow fence. Eventually all that snow piles up at your fence and there is none left on the plain.
The businesses get all the money and the only way you get any back is if your lucky enough to have a job and even then it’s not the same amount you could of had when it was falling equally across the entire plain. Capitalism is no more fair that socialism they all have failings that damage lives and ruin people.

Bad8 on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:42 pm 



they need to get maduro out but the problem is that castro is the one who controlling Venezuela, that’s why chaves have them cause he does not trust his own military. our own president is socialist and does not give a shit about nobody.

Yodelinmonkey on Mon, 23rd May 2016 12:51 pm 



“Very strange. Why choose to live in squalor and desperation just because the environment is familiar to you?” If these people are barely surviving on $20 per month, how the hell could they afford to move to another country to to better themselves? If you have no money and don’t know anyone in this “new country” that instantly makes you homeless. The writer needs to think more before he talks about what very poor should do. Btw, almost every country uses a Fiat money system that is non-sustainable. If our money systems don’t change it will happen everywhere. Then the rich will have all the wealth while the poor starve to death.