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February 8, 2007
Food Shortages in Venezuela Already Beginning As Socialism Descends
History has taught us again and again that in addition to being morally depraved, socialism simply doesn't work. Our refusal to take this lesson to heart causes one tragedy after another. Currently the lesson is being retaught in Venezuela, where Hugo Chavez's attempts to impose socialism are predictably resulting in food shortages.
Meat and sugar have vanished from Venezuelan supermarkets, as government price controls wreak havoc by eliminating profits and distorting market prices. One supermarket chain was shut down completely for 48 hours because it would not sell meat at the economically unfeasible price set by bureaucrats. The price at which Chavez and his goons will let retailers sell beef is $1.82/pound. The price of getting it to market is $2.41/pound.
Food shortages have sporadically plagued Venezuela since 2003, when Chavez started trying to dictate prices. As he tightens his grip on power, they will only increase. The oil wealth pouring into Venezuela has been so mismanaged that inflation has hit an accumulated 78% over the last four years. Consequently even basic food staples are hard to find except on the black market.
Government-controlled television is running tickers instructing the regime's slaves to "denounce the hoarders and speculators." A toll-free phone number is given, so that you can turn in your neighbor to be tortured by authorities for trying to feed his family. Not even Stalin offered that service.
For an idea of what kind of future awaits them under Chavez, Venezuelans can look to North Korea, where subjects of the communist regime have resorted to trying to eat grass.
Meanwhile, America marches toward socialized health care, like a herd of lemmings headed toward the sea.
On a tip from Metalgarth.
Posted by Van Helsing at February 8, 2007 7:00 PM
Comments
When the government controls the prices, they become 'fictive' -- they are no longer controlled by demand and supply, and thus are meaningless. Meaningless prices cause misallocation of resources and a (significant) lowering of productivity.
/I learned that in my Economics class. :)
Posted by: White Cane at February 8, 2007 8:31 PM
Even worse is the FOOT shortage! What about hands? LOL!
"Foot shortages have sporadically plagued Venezuela since 2003"
Then again Venezuela and Iran have been working closely and under Sharia law, feet do get chopped off.
Posted by: General Jack D. Ripper at February 9, 2007 5:56 AM
North Koreans also eat "special meat" - yep, in some places its just like that Heston classic Soylent Green - Special Meat is People!!
Posted by: General Jack D. Ripper at February 9, 2007 6:03 AM
Thanks for catching the typo, General Jack.
Posted by: Van Helsing at February 9, 2007 7:41 AM
Since Chavez is teaming up with Joe Kennedy to sell Americans cheap heating oil, perhaps this will be turned around and blamed on us for not paying full price, draining Venezuela's coffers.
Economics 101 should be mandatory for all high schoolers and college students. Then maybe we won't hear so much about how great socialism and Communism are.
Posted by: Pam at February 9, 2007 8:47 AM
They DO teach Economics 101 in high school, it starts with "Capitalism is evil because...."
Plus it's Chavez that needs some econ classes, he only took Evil Dictator 101.
"Economics 101? We don't need no stinkin' Economics 101!"
Posted by: NudeGayWhalesForJesus at February 9, 2007 11:11 AM
Should we send Hugo Chavez the book Atlas Shrugged? LOL!
Posted by: Tom at February 15, 2007 12:40 AM
