Today, a user of Caracas’ subway system was escorted out to the surface and denied access to the Caracas Metro system.
Why?
Because he dared take this picture:
and tweet it to the user @caracasmetro under his own name @alfredoahh
And who is @caracasmetro? Well, it is just a bunch of students who have taken it upon themselves not only to keep people who used the Caracas subway informed, but also to report problems, lack of maintenance and why not? The mistreatment of users.
The ironic thing is that what they are doing should be a perfect example of Chavez’ “social control” imposed by the “people” on the Government. Except the Government does such a lousy job that it does not want to be controlled from below. What it wants is to control the media so people believe that things are “normal” in Caracas’ subway system.
But neither the picture above, nor only 17 out of 41 trains working is normal. For those that use the system or have ever ridden the Caracas system, this picture below is not normal either:
The problem with the subway is that it is the victim of the same management style used by Chavez elsewhere. There have been a string of Presidents of the subway system, few of which had any clue not only about the subway system, but about how to run such a complex entity.
In the last three years alone, I recall General Gonzalez being President of the Metro, he has been sent to newer pastures as Head of the Bolivarian Militia. There is also the current Legal Advisor of Chavez at Miraflores, Dra. Guevara, Deputy elect Diosado Cabello, who the voters rejected at the Governorship of Miranda, as well as Claudio Farias, another former President of the Subway sent to the National Assembly and who was elected under the party slate.
Since there was also lots of problems and accusations of corruption, Chavez decided to go for an honest man, something that it is hard to find in his close circle of friends and coworkers. So, in his infinite wisdom, Chavez has decided to name as the new President of the Metro none other than the ideologue of XXIst. Century Socialism Mr. Haiman El Trudi. Mr. El Trudi has the reputation of being honest, is an engineer, but is also a poet and has devoted the last seven years at least to conceptualize the revolution and indoctrinate people in how Marxism/Socialism/Bolivarianism will save Venezuela.
Of course, he also has under his belt an underwhelming stay in the Minister of Planning, during which his biggest success was one month when he cut inflation in half. but in the end he promised to lower it and did not manage to do it and was removed. Thus, Mr. El Trudi now faces the task of running an organization orders of magnitude larger than the largest he ever managed (The Ministry). Except this one has trains, grease and angry users. Lots of the latter.
And now he has to assume his job under the watchful eye of @caracasmetro and its contributors, where no amount of BS or lies will placate the users, even if you try to kick them out. Because from now on his world and that of the other Metro authorities has been shaken up forever!
No more lies, no more excuses!
The Devil's Excrement 
May 21, 2011 at 1:51 am
I love reading your blog good. I can provide you with invaluable information. Fell intothis opportunity to blog, but I’m sure glad I clicked the link. You must answer all the questions I have been scrambling to answer for some time. Will come back to this moretrouble
November 13, 2010 at 9:08 pm
[…] become one of the Government’s Achilles Heel’s as it seems to break down almost daily, like I wrote about before. But clearly, the Government is getting increasingly sensitive and and intolerant on the issue. […]
November 4, 2010 at 8:44 am
OK, let’s get concrete. Can someone start? Let’s do something simple:
some opens an account on Google to set up a site, a very simple site.
Then she puts the following:
promesas del chavismo – realizado
tomas del chavismo – antes y después
corruptopedia – nombre de expedientes por orden alfabético
fotos Venezuela antes y después
And we all cooperate. Use a very strong password.
I am already too busy with my blogs. Can someone start up that one?
November 3, 2010 at 1:37 pm
The repercussions could very well be diluted by having several admins, and welcoming as many contributors as possible.
Hosting the thing outside from these (almost stygian) shores helps too.
Maybe our tropical Donkey Kong and his flaming balls (idiots?) can commit the grave error of moving against a lone twitterer and/or photographer. But there can be much more than just one.
In a time and age where having a 2 Megapixel camera is equivalent to having a good cellphone (or an old camera), my opinion is that it is very doable.
November 3, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Loroforoz wrote: “A photoblog is a nice idea and if allowed, I would take out my camera to photograph what I see. While some people might doubt a single image, a complete gallery, complete with some landmarks at the background and maybe somebody holding the day’s newspaper cannot be doubted. Plus, commentary is always necessary.”
If such a thing could ever be set up so anyone could download images, and the thing became a communal enterprise, perhaps some movement could start to happen. But I think the repercussion scold be grave, for you are talking about hoisting the curtain on Oz, so to speak, and Oz is ape to get mighty pissed off in the process of having his dirty laundry aired for he world to see.
J
November 3, 2010 at 9:03 am
A photoblog is a nice idea and if allowed, I would take out my camera to photograph what I see. While some people might doubt a single image, a complete gallery, complete with some landmarks at the background and maybe somebody holding the day’s newspaper cannot be doubted. Plus, commentary is always necessary.
November 3, 2010 at 8:25 am
I certainly can understand why some cannot leave.There are many valid reasons for it and only each person can know what is good for them, which is why I NEVER tell people they should leave.This is disrespectful.
What I do feel valid to criticize is when people are so ‘caida de la mata’ that they think things will soon improve, or that in a year or 2 Chavez will surely be out.Anything is POSSIBLE but this is not PROBABLE.
If people stay they should stay with their feet on the ground, knowing fully what the probabilities are, and have a good plan.In this way they can be sure of making the right choice, whatever the outcome.
November 3, 2010 at 2:53 am
The idea of a public and easily accessed blog showing before and after pics of
nationalized assets is really an invaluable idea, but one sure to get someone shot. Understand that the real truth about virtually all appropriated assets totally tanking is a huge secret that even now, many people simply don’t believe. So when we see pictures of bodies stacked in a Caracas morgue, thousands cramming into subways, fish and milk farms in Merida trashed in mere weeks, the administration threatens harsh action since there is no explaining away these failures.
But I doubt anyone is willing to risk their lives to keep such a thing going. Imagine the fireworks if somebody figured out a way to do this. Valle (how’s that for 80s Ven.), that would be the shizat, actual photos and a running blog of all the actual truth.
Juancho
November 2, 2010 at 10:02 pm
MO, it sounds as if you need to go ahead and leave, no matter what you feel about Venezuela. I’m so sorry. Being forced to leave your country is reprehensible. However, I’m pretty sure that Chavez is not sympathetic with you. He’s such an idiot…
November 2, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Kepler, I don’t disagree with you. That said, the sooner things fall apart, the sooner the rebuilding can begin.
And as Miguel points out, that is happening at an ever-increasing rate. I can imagine a PDVSA producing less than a million barrels a day within just a few years. Oil doesn’t just shoot out of the ground anymore. Just as businesses don’t respond to commands of know-nothing leaders.
All of it takes work.
I believe that those who can leave, should. The sooner the better. Still, I would never tell someone what to do with their own lives. We’ll leave that to the Chavistas of the world. (Yes, this virus lurks everywhere.)
November 2, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Mick -“In Venezuela, some Bozo has a temper tantrum on Sunday and the army shows up on Monday to take over your property.”
Its quicker than that. Some Bozo closes his eyes, spins around pointing a finger, and whatever he is pointing at when he stops rotating is expropriated. It is one part of the Chavez bureaucracy that really is efficient, cost effective, fast, and has a strong record of approval from Venezuela courts and legislatures. Wouldn’t it be great if Chavez could fix the Metro as fast as he expropriates?
November 2, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I read something similar in Regnum. Funny, experts say:
“Nevertheless experts are skeptic about the possibility of the evaluating specialists. How can a company that is not safe calculating the perspective of the gas market in Russia in the new future give counseling to Venezuela?”
Dmitri Akeksandrov, from the investment analysis company Univer, said that Moscow and Caracas are taking both political and economic interests into account. In Venezuela there are less limitations both in terms of investments as of ecological norms (!!!!!).
– oh my God – (Kepler’s comment)
“it’s possible to say that experience in Venezuela is a step to diversification…” If not Gazprom, another competing company will take its place in Venezuela.
Verga, pues.
November 2, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Isn’t it interesting how all these socialist leaders need to constantly threaten their own people with military aggression.
In the U.S. when a business gets taken over, it’s usually in the form of a letter addressed to their attorneys after a months and maybe years of litigation. Most of the cases of foreclosure happen after a year of no payments.
In Venezuela, some Bozo has a temper tantrum on Sunday and the army shows up on Monday to take over your property.
November 2, 2010 at 12:53 pm
http://www.ng.ru/economics/2010-10-18/ published an article on Gazprom activities in Venezuela, that lost 300 000 000 of USD as the claim given by Chavez was empty, so changed it for another, but stated, that this cuban style help (paying for nothing) is not possible now. Chavez offerred the gas industry to Gazprom, but they said, they cannot forecast russian market, not even that of Ven. Try to read if you know Russian a bit.
November 2, 2010 at 10:32 am
deananash, I think your idea has been going on for a while now, it’s just natural, for people to leave if it’s in their best interest. Unfortunately, after the Devil’s Excrement ceases to exist, and if Venezuela were to start a new beginning, many of those “minds” who left many years ago will never come back, and thus the sacrifice will be useless.
November 2, 2010 at 10:13 am
Deananash,
I do not live in Venezuela, I have it easy. I know quite a lot of Venezuelans who are doing their best by not cooperating with the regime, by being witnesses in areas C, D and E, by driving people to vote, by talking to people, by denouncing things, by protesting and what not. Still: even if they limited themselves to cultivating an orchard to eat their own food, that won’t be enough to get rid of Chávez. Why? Because if nothing more happens, 35% of the population can control the rest as they do in Cuba. How? There is enough oil to buy food, zinc for shanty towns and beer.
That’s all they need to become Chávez’s eternal “guardianes”…that is unless people do something more than “taking out their minds from the system”. In tropical, oil-rich Venezuela you don’t need much in the sense of mind or work to survive. In the US or Europe you starve if a large amount of the population just stops using their minds.
So, we do need to do more. I recently talked again to a couple of people living in sectors that can be classified as “D” but are very accessible. They told me they haven’t seen a single opposition politician in their municipio.
There were more people voting for democracy there last elections, but there could be more if we were more pro-active.
There are ways.
November 2, 2010 at 9:54 am
Side by side photos showing land expropriations, once productive, now in ruins would be a great addition to a photo blog.
November 2, 2010 at 9:48 am
Here’s more good news for those of you who don’t follow links (from the same as above):
“Chavez also ordered the expropriation Sunday of six residential complexes and what he called “the temporary occupation” of eight gated communities in Caracas and other cities. The president says that will allow the consumer protection agency to investigate complaints that construction companies are illegally charging buyers high interest on unfinished apartments, even though the buyers settled on a price years ago and made downpayments.”
Sorry for hijacking the conversation, Miguel.
And Marc, a photo blog is the perfect complement to Miguel, Alek, et al’s. work.
November 2, 2010 at 9:46 am
The linked article gives a perfect example of what I just wrote: “Dozens of workers protested outside, holding up a banner that read, “Expropriation equals more unemployment.”
November 2, 2010 at 9:45 am
And without SACRIFICE, Andres, how do you propose to rid the country of this insanity?
Yes Kepler, if you can leave, you should. If you can’t, then you should do what you can to become self-sufficient and NOT contribute to anything that Chavez can simply expropriate.
And in the meantime, the more Chavez takes over, the quicker it (and the rest of society crumbles.) It’s more than apparent that you can’t “beat” him, so join him.
Mock him and encourage him to take over ALL the stores. ALL the means of production. Etc…his HUGE ego won’t allow him to ignore your mocking.
The sooner the country falls, the sooner reconstruction can begin. Producing for the monster merely extends his life.
November 2, 2010 at 9:40 am
I ride the Washington DC Metro daily and I can think of only 2 instances where it was anywhere near as crowded as in the Caracas Metro picture above. That platform is dangerously packed and people should have been stopped before entering the station. Seven or eight empty trains would be needed to clear the platform.
Chavez is spending money on submarines, fighter jets, tanks, guns, etc. More support for domestic infrastructure like the Metro system would be far more helpful to Venezuela than buying arms to protect against make-believe enemies.
Maybe Chavez plan is to make everyone unemployed so no one goes to work. This would certainly lower the load on the Metro.
November 2, 2010 at 9:29 am
Withdrawing your minds- easier said than done. Even if you could separate the minds from the lack of them, a lot of them like Miguel, have reasons not to leave.
November 2, 2010 at 7:30 am
“WITHDRAW YOUR MINDS from the service of this monster”
Like in Cuba or in the best seller book by fiction writer Rand?
Venezuela lives from/off oil. Withdrawing your mind means nothing but leaving
Venezuela.
November 2, 2010 at 7:16 am
Deananash writes good sense in my opinion.
Photos will serve for nothing as long as so many people are serving the ‘revolution’.
People have to withdraw ” En Masse” to this travesty instead of working and thinking for it- albeit reluctantly.
Not that folks shouldn’t gather photos.They should.But they will only help AFTER the withdrawal ( or together with):
“WITHDRAW YOUR MINDS from the service of this monster
Well said Diananash
November 2, 2010 at 6:06 am
Why don’t we do something cooperative, little by little? A Google site can be used.
One should be very careful to put there only things really proven. Some of you have probably seen the Photoshop picture going around with barbed wire around the National Assembly.
I have better charts showing violent crime in Venezuela.
Also list proven records of haciendas, like the ones Chacin has…or the whole processes “engavetados” by the National Assembly.
corruption dossiers
promises (including reduction of poverty and promises of housing
murder rate
lands and companies taken over
And any comment should be done in Spanish.
November 2, 2010 at 5:36 am
Kepler,
I agree with you and Marc. In addition, side-by-side with the failures, should be photos of the mansions, luxury cars, and or extravagant events of the chavista bureaucrats who were responsible for that failure.
November 2, 2010 at 3:37 am
Marc has a very good idea.
November 2, 2010 at 3:28 am
“El Trudy the Honest” It has the sound of a Roman gladiator, or a character in a historical novel. One of a kind, a hero, the saver of something or other. But above all, it has the sound of a fictional character. Isn’t “honest chavista” nowadays a contradiction in terms?
People like this reminds one of a scientist, about to test his latest theory. The XXI century boloivarian revolution is one social theory, soon to be tested in the bowels of the city, with the assistance of the hapless users of the Caracas Metro Laboratory.
What right, human or otherwise, do these people have to play our lives, as if we were guinea pigs? The experiment will fail, like all the others. The results will prove inconclusive in their minds, at which point El Trudi the Honest will be given another chance, somewhere else, to prove that salvation comes only from XXI century socialism. Sadly, El Trudi the Honest will die one day thinking he was right, even if nothing worked in the lab.
Meanwhile, buy yourselves walking shoes.
November 2, 2010 at 2:18 am
I just wanted to say that this blog is doing a spectacular job of explaining the problems of Venezuela to the outside world. I am from Canada, I was never a fan of Chavez, but I couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams how corrupt and inept he and his cronies are. The sad thing is, many in the western world are still stuck in some idealised version of the 1960’s and think that because Chavez is anti-American then he must be the best thing since sliced bread. Case in point: Oliver Stone. I think his last name should be changed to “Stoned”. Anyway, congratulations on this fantastic blog, you are an extraordinarily brave and intelligent person, a true journalist and patriot of your country.
November 1, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Is there anyone currently keeping a photo blog of failures attributed to Chavez’ failures? It’s one thing to bring these up every week in dialogue, quite another to have empty food shelves in Mercel or others and to keep a link to it on your side bar. A photo can speak volumes, especially when it can be linked to in any other language.
Daniel and some others had a list of photos of the protests and strikes from a few years ago, to keep it in mind…. just a thought.
November 1, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Che Guevara once said his greatest accomplishment was the destruction of the Cuban middle Class, because he new that they were the politically active class (himself as an example)
Chavez’s game plan is to replace the technocrats and managers of Venezuela (middle class) with Cubans and Chines, leaving just the masses and his party supporters, until the day he can breed a new Venezuelan administrative class, loyal to him as Fidel has in Cuba (over 50 years).
To do this he has to force out the current group of managers etc, through nationalization, and then bring in Cubans, Iranians, Russians, etc,
excuse being they have been run into the ground (by himself)
He needs help to run these businesses, till the day he has people he feels are loyal to him, to manage them.
So what happens to the present middle class, managers and technocrats? musical chairs, a steady shrinking of private sector jobs free of political intimidation.
November 1, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Menwhile: From the US NEWS>>>
http://www.azdailysun.com/business/article_38071833-cb59-5002-bbf3-76d8803f12a4.html
Good luck to the steel company. S.
November 1, 2010 at 7:53 pm
What a shame. I remember with great fondness using the Metro way back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. If I’m not mistaken, they had a wonderful – because it was true – slogan that went something like: “El mejor del mundo”.
Of course, like PDVSA, it is nothing but a crumbling skeleton of its former self. That’s what happens when you remove brains and professionalism from an organism. It dies a slow death. Or as the Chinese would say: Death from a thousand cuts.
I continue to say that the best remedy to cure Venezuela of this madness is to WITHDRAW YOUR MINDS from the service of this monster. Yes, that will cause whatever remains to crumble, but the sooner the better.