Venezuela on the path of recovery?

[Papewaio]

Again mineral and oil dependent nations do not do enough to develop there people just rely on a get rich quick extraction.

Venezuela got some of it right (like nationalizing the resources).

But did they pump the money into diversification, education or have a sovereign fund?

Most of the nations with easy access oil get over dependent on it. I can only name one that has used its own oil to improve its nation in a meaningful manner.

[Strike For The South]

Chavez was a dictator who used bread and circuses to remain in power.

Live by the petrodollar, die by the petrodollar.

[Idaho]

Chavez was a dictator who used bread and circuses to remain in power.

Live by the petrodollar, die by the petrodollar.

Lolz.... From an American this is hilarious.

[Strike For The South]

Lolz.... From an American this is hilarious.

Do you have anything to add, other than your outdated 80s communist talking points? I realize "Manufacturing Consent" and Benedict Anderson were eye opening as footballer trying to fit in with the cool kids at uni during the height of Thatcherism but we have moved on.

Even if we were able to lay the entirety of South Americas problems at Yanquis feet, an argument for which there is a mountain of evidence for, you would still have to explain everywhere that ever tried to implement these far left policies. There is a reason people from Poland are emigrating to the UK. It's all about the blue jeans.

Sure, this relentless drive for material production will probably doom us a species, causing War, Famine, and Pestilence. But we aren't there yet and quite frankly that's another thread.

I'm putting the kettle on, tuning the station to radio 4, and cracking the Times, if you need me.

[Crandar]

Wow, they're fast.
Fedecamaras (the organisation of large, Venezuelan industries and corporations) already called for a "reconsideration" of the workers' chart of rights. Not surprising, but matching with the increase in the assassination of union leaders before the elections.

But yeah, let's all whine about the political prisoner, Leopoldo Lopez with the sexy shaven face. Muh revolution!

[a completely inoffensive name]

Wow, they're fast.
Fedecamaras (the organisation of large, Venezuelan industries and corporations) already called for a "reconsideration" of the workers' chart of rights. Not surprising, but matching with the increase in the assassination of union leaders before the elections.

But yeah, let's all whine about the political prisoner, Leopoldo Lopez with the sexy shaven face. Muh revolution!

Many African countries, China and India have all seen standards of living rise among the poorest from liberalization of markets. At a certain point you need to stop blaming capitalism and accept that your country is so fucking corrupt that neither left nor right wing economics work.

[Sarmatian]

I can only name one that has used its own oil to improve its nation in a meaningful manner.

Interested to hear which one.

[Beskar]

Interested to hear which one.

Norway? I know they invested the money into a massive stockpile so they can finance themselves in the future. I believe they have roughly kr1,000,000 per citizen or so saved or something like that if I remember correctly.

[Papewaio]

Norway of course

[Husar]

I would generally agree, but on the other hand Norway is already developed enough to be able to afford spending that oil money on other things. It also has the benefit of oil + small population, so there is more oil money per citizen than in some larger countries like Venezuela.
Of course that does not excuse the lack of infrastructure and other developments in Venezuela, which could have been financed using the oil money. That does however seem to be a problem not entirely unique to Venezuela, infrastructure does not always seem to be at the top of mind in Colombia for example either. And I heard the roads in Dubai are a mess as well.
However, these other countries do not have empty shelves as far as I can tell. They've got to do something better.

[Sarmatian]

Norway of course

That's natural gas mostly, though, so I wasn't sure if you're talking about Norway.

Anyway, is there a comprehensive research on the state of the infrastructure in Venezuela, pre and after Chavez? I'm pretty sure there's a significant difference.

I know the line is Chavez ruined Venezuela, which is the narrative championed by US and supported by the western media agencies, but numbers paint quite a different picture. From the few sources I encountered, Venezuela has the largest and most developed highway network in the Latin America, electricity in more than 90% of households, and in general it is the most developed country in the Latin America.

[Husar]

I know the line is Chavez ruined Venezuela, which is the narrative championed by US and supported by the western media agencies, but numbers paint quite a different picture. From the few sources I encountered, Venezuela has the largest and most developed highway network in the Latin America, electricity in more than 90% of households, and in general it is the most developed country in the Latin America.

http://lpi.worldbank.org/international/global

I don't know about the development over time, but it is certainly not the most developed Latin American country.
On the overall logistics performance sore you will find Chile, Peru , the Dominican Republic, Panama and El Salvador before Venezuela if I didn't miss any during a cursory glance. The infrastructure score alone is also not really the highest as all the mentioned countries seem to have a better score in that department than Venezuela as well.
None of that does however change that the people can't buy sufficient things for their daily needs and that the capital city is one of if not the most dangerous city in the world.

[Montmorency]

That's natural gas mostly, though, so I wasn't sure if you're talking about Norway.

Anyway, is there a comprehensive research on the state of the infrastructure in Venezuela, pre and after Chavez? I'm pretty sure there's a significant difference.

I know the line is Chavez ruined Venezuela, which is the narrative championed by US and supported by the western media agencies, but numbers paint quite a different picture. From the few sources I encountered, Venezuela has the largest and most developed highway network in the Latin America, electricity in more than 90% of households, and in general it is the most developed country in the Latin America.

Your information is 20 years out of date. Shocking...

[Sarmatian]

Your information is 20 years out of date. Shocking...

Might be. I don't have in depth knowledge of Venezuela infrastructure or economy. Almost none, actually. I just opened the first few links google came up with.