How's Socialism Doing in Venezuela? | 5 Minute Video

Venezuela is falling apart. Its economy? Ruined. Its people? Hungry. Its government? Corrupt. What happened? In a word, socialism. Debbie D'Souza, a native Venezuelan and political activist, explains.

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Script:

Once there was a South American country with a promising future. It had a functioning democracy, a rapidly developing economy, and a growing middle class. All the important indicators, including education, health care, and foreign investment, were pointed in the right direction.

It was far from perfect, but the mood was hopeful – and with good reason.

But now all that promise is gone. The country is a failed state, a hollowed-out shell of its former self.

Services like power and water are sporadic. The most basic consumer goods, from bread to toilet paper, are in chronically short supply. Crime has skyrocketed. Freedom of the press is almost non-existent. Democracy has been replaced by a virtual dictatorship.

The country is, I’m sorry to say, my beloved Venezuela, a place in which my family has deep roots.

I can tell you what happened to it in one word: socialism.

In 1999, then-candidate for president Hugo Chavez promised to lead the people of Venezuela to a socialist paradise. His theme was “Esperanza y Cambio” – “Hope and Change.” “Venezuela is a nation of great wealth,” Chavez said, “but it’s being stolen from its citizens by the evil capitalists and the evil corporations.” This wrong would be righted, he assured the voters, if they elected him.

And they did.

To their everlasting regret.

Chavez drew inspiration from his mentor, Fidel Castro. Like his mentor, he enjoyed giving speeches – some that lasted as many as seven hours! He even gave himself his own weekly television show where he would spontaneously break into song.

Here’s a rule: When your nation’s leader starts singing on national television, you’re in trouble.

Under Chavez, the government of Venezuela took over industry after industry. The government, he assured everyone, would run these businesses better than private enterprise, and the profits would be “shared” by the people. With great fanfare, he tore up contracts with multinational oil and gas companies and demanded that they pay much higher royalties. When they refused, he told them to leave. They did.

His image was burnished by Hollywood celebrities who flocked to see the great work he was doing – taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor. Progressive politicians from the US and Europe also praised him lavishly.

Here’s another rule: When Hollywood celebrities visit your country to praise your leader, you’re in trouble. When the leader sings on national television and is praised by Hollywood celebrities, you’re doomed.

Socialism always works in the beginning, so people are fooled...in the beginning. It’s easy for governments to confiscate money, but eventually there’s no more money to confiscate. In the case of Venezuela, I mean that literally: People who could get money out of the country, did. Many left the country altogether – nearly 2 million, according to Venezuelan sociologist Tomás Páez. The wealth creators continued to create wealth, but they created it somewhere else – Miami or Madrid and other places around the world.

When Chavez first ran for President in 1999, he said he would leave in two years if people weren’t happy with him. But, like Castro, Chavez never had any intention of giving up power. He died in office in 2013, replaced by his vice president, Nicolas Maduro. Maduro is Chavez without the charisma or the voice.

[Thesongcritic]

As a venezuelan born and raised in caracas. I can certify that this video is very accurate and easy to understand

[edgardavidcamposcanizales]

As a venezuelan, I tell you all, please, share this video. This is true.

[watchdealer]

Socialism: the best diet ever invented.

[vitharakhay]

Venezuela's doing wonderful. I know because their government told me so.

[KTHfan]

Everyone who disliked should go live in Venezuela for a year and see if they like it.

[khaos]

"The goal of Socialism is Communism"
Vladimir Lenin

[falkyrie]

I live in Brazil and here we can easily see how the Venezuelan people are suffering. Many are emigrating from the country and coming to Brazil. My state does not have the capacity to receive this massive amount of immigrants, which causes many to be homeless and having to beg for job opportunities on the streets.

[TopRanky]

Socialism: At least everybody is equally poor and hungry.

[Atecubanos]

To anyone saying that the problem was the drop on the Oil prices.
Let's remember that the Oil prices began to fell in september 2014.

Now search these news on google and see the dates:

Venezuela food shortages: 'No one can explain why a rich country has no food' (Sep 2013)
With Venezuelan Food Shortages, Some Blame Price Controls (Apr 2012)
Food shortages worry Venezuelans (Dec 2011)
Chavez pushes Venezuela into food war (Jun 2010)
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez tightens state control of food amid rocketing inflation and food shortages (Mar 2009)
Venezuelan price controls lead to food shortages(Jan 2006)

No, it was not the oil prices, it was socialism.

[samuellortscher]

Margareth Thatcher once said: "The trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."

[neuromancerk]

“The strongest argument for socialism is that it sounds good. The strongest argument against socialism is that it doesn't work. But those who live by words will always have a soft spot in their hearts for socialism because it sounds so good.” - Thomas Sowell

[maliabletick]

When your socialist system collapses but it's okay because it wasn't real socialism so you try again

[AdvancedMarketingGro]

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”

- Margaret Thatcher

[JohnDoe-dlub]

Ah but socialism gave them equality - 90% living in poverty and 10% hugely rich

[AndrewArminRyan]

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.
-Margaret Thatcher

[Ultramendoza]

In the capital, Caracas, you get 3.5 days of water a week in the best cases.

[morethancharacters]

"When your nation's leader starts singing on national television, you're in trouble."
I live in South Africa.
My president sang for the death of Afrikaaners and farmers while he was on the campaign trail.
He would often break into song during speeches and on national TV.

Well shit.

[Rockhound]

Hope and change, huh. Now where did we hear that before?

[gregwall]

Yes, the saddest issue, is how do you get back. You destroyed the work ethic, the entrepreneurial spirit, innovative problem solving, profit motive energy, competition and upward mobility of a people. Thank YOU LEPTARDS.

[driveman]

Anyone in the US that thinks socialism is a good idea is a damn fool.