Venezuela proves it can be done.
Millions of Venezuelans were left without running water Monday amid a series of massive blackouts, forcing President Nicolas Maduro to announce electricity rationing and school closures as the government struggles to cope with a deepening economic crisis.
Maduro announced 30 days of power rationing on Sunday, after his government said it was shortening the work day and keeping schools closed due to blackouts.
The measures are a stark admission by the government — which blamed repeated power outages in March on sabotage — that there is not enough electricity to go around, and that the power crisis is here to stay.
Angry Venezuelans meanwhile took to the streets of Caracas to protest the power cuts and water shortages.
“We have small children and we aren’t able to give them a drop of water to drink,” said Caracas resident Maria Rodriguez.
With no electricity, pumping stations can’t work, so water service is limited.
Street lights and traffic lights go dark, pumps at fuel stations stand idle, and cell phone and internet service is non-existent.
If they can do it, we can do it.
The utility linemen can pretty much hold the country hostage and bring everything to its knees. Why bother fixing the wires what good will that do?
And the NDP consider Venezuela to be a great example of successful socialism.
Joining East Germany, North Korea, and the Soviet Union. All wonderful examples of human rights, good environmental policies, and great equality.
@Joe
I have no use for moron socialists but I highly doubt that even the NDP would say Venezuela is a great example of socialism.
Surely you are pushing ‘fake’ news.
If you have a link proving me wrong, I would be delighted to eat crow.
However I could see that it is a plausible NDP comment if the comment was made during the very early years of Venezuela’s great socialistic government.
Canuckguy
“However I could see that it is a plausible NDP comment if the comment was made during the very early years of Venezuela’s great socialistic government.”
you got it
Canuckguy, I provided some links but they are “awaiting moderation” so I don’t know if they will show up. Didn’t think I had too much cut and paste.
Joe, You answered the question to my satisfaction.
Plus I don’t have to eat crow with my disclaimer.
If they can do it, we can do it.
Correction: If they can do it, you can do it. Don’t think for a second that She Guevara would want to sacrifice her comfort or entitlements. Sacrifices are for the proles and she’s, well, more equal than them.
The kind, humanitarian, proper course of action would be for the UN to declare war on Maduro, and have an international force remove him and his generals from office. It could save millions of lives.
Naturally the UN couldn’t even imagine such a thing. Saving millions isn’t a priority.
No Killer Marmot, actually it isnt.
The Opposite is more like it.
Maurice Strong had a very strong personality and he used that strength for many many years at the UN advocating for Planetary DE-Population – interestingly enough he also chaired the first climate-environment “Congress” in Brazil in 1992… funny that eh.?
Pretty sure that is where they decided to weaponize CO2 – knowing full well ya just couldnt do that with Solar Rays….
Don’t make America into another Venuzuelia don’t elect Democrats into the Whitehouse in 2020 we don’t need rolling blackouts and cut off of water
Um, doesn’t California already have those? …
Water rationing? …
El Raza colectivos? …
Elect another liberal socialist government and you will see Venezuela here in the frozen north and it will be much worse than just hunger.
” – And ALL OUR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS stem from the EVIL UNITED STATES and its wanton SABOTAGE! They are trying to DERAIL Bolivarian SOCIALISM! They are TRYING TO CRUSH the Workers’ PARADISE! But our RUSSIAN and CHINESE friends will SAVE US!!!”
*Loud clatter in the background, large chunk of rusty metal falls through some tangled wires; a few desultory sizzles and sparks*
” – SEE? See how LONG they’ve HATED US? The Americans started LONG AGO, making our transformers RUST-OUT very QUICKLY!!!
Uhhh, hello? Hello? Is this mic still turned on?”
Interesting that when some people (right thinking) equate socialism with Venezuela others (left thinking) prefer to link socialism with the UK, Sweden, or Norway. UK has free medicare, therefore it is socialist. America gives away food stamps, but somehow it is not socialist. This is because people (on the left) equate socialism with a loving government and more free stuff and others (on the right) equate socialism with higher taxes and less personal freedom.
When the Rolling Stones needed a heart valve replacement for their lead singer, did they head to London, England (their home country) or to New York, USA? Because Mick Jagger thinks he’s the Premier of Newfoundland and he wants the best healthcare money can buy.
Just came back from 3 months in Bolivia. Under Morales they are following similar “Bolivarian socialist program” as Venezuela under Chavez, e.g. raised taxes/royalties on resource extraction Co’s to invest in public infrastructure. Economy is fastest growing in South America. Mothers allowance is $300 per year for kids under age of 2. $30 per year for school age kids. Disability pension for those over 60 is $40/month. A can of beer costs $2 CAN. They have private & public health care. No welfare. Don’t work-don’t eat. Grow a chicken, sell a chicken without having the TRU raid your farm. The corruption in these countries stems from the Spanish system they inherited. In Venezuela the corruption predated Chavez and led to his election. Plus neo-liberal imposed policies in 80’s & 90’s crippled economies and privatization provided opportunities for more corruption.
Bolivia’s debt to GDP is half Canada’s. I expect our private debt to be 10x more. Like Venezuela they got hit by US & Saudi led campaign to drive down oil prices to damage economies of non-allied oil producers, e.g. Venezuela. I expect next the US will undermine Bolivian currency like they did to Venezuela to cripple economy and bring about social unrest.
Bottom line is we are more socialist a than they are. Here they are floating the idea of a universal guaranteed income. They exported jobs to commie China. Now our economies are kept going by ever increasing debt to pay for entitlements. With QE & ZIRP they bail out the bankers and prop up the financial system while they destroy our savings. The G7 can print money for nothing to pay for these scams. Countries like Venezuela had to go begging (and give concessions) to the IMF & WB. Now there’s China & Russia.
Suck it Venezuela; YOU VOTED FOR IT, YOU DESERVE TO GET IT GOOD AND HARD.
No sympathy.
No charity.
No prayers.
No aching heart.
I will not even help digging your mass graves.
Anyone who sees this, and still supports Bernie, or Elzar Ocasio, deserves the same.
Please reconsider your stance on “digging mass graves”. Do it for the children.
All those bodies lying about present a serious disease risk to the survivors, if any.
“What did socialists use before candles?”
Electricity.
Wow Spurwing Plover, doing well.
It’s like “Atlas Shrugged” without the John Galt.
Shut off all water to Hollywood so they have to reuse the water for their swimming pools