The Devil's Excrement

This is my list of incongruous things going in Venezuela, I welcome new additions:

–            The Government that wants to block an election at all costs is democratic; the opposition that wants to have an election at all costs is accused of plotting against the Government.

–            The poor are with Chavez, 80% of Venezuelans are poor, but Chavez only has 40% support.

–            Chavez won an election with close to 90% of the popularity, but never got more than 60% of the vote.

–            We want everyone to respect our sovereignty, but ask for Chile to give Bolivia access to the sea.

–            We want to be independent and self-sufficient, but are destroying PDVSA

–            We hate capitalists, but love American oil companies.

–            We are poor, but give away to Cuba 2% of our income every day.

–            We want rural land reform, but 80% of the population is urban.

–            This nationalistic Government gives foreign investors and banks free money.

–            Chavez is so popular he would easily win any election, but he refuses to have one.

–            We are socialists, but our social services don’t work.

–            Gasoline in Venezuela is cheaper by volume than water.

–            Inflation is 30%-plus per year, but you can borrow money at 24% interest per year. Despite this, there is no credit demand.

–            One can get dollars at the official rate to import stuff, which one can then export at the parallel rate.

–            Government imported food at the official rate is sold at the same prices than private imports at the parallel rate.

–            This is a militaristic Government, which reduces the military budget.

–            The man who said Chavez had resigned in April 2002 is today his Minister of Interior and Justice.

–            The People’s Bank has no deposits.

–           The People’s Ombudsman does not defend the people.

This entry was posted on April 1, 2004 at 7:39 pm and is filed under Venezuela.