How’s Socialism Doing in Venezuela? | 5 Minute Video
Venezuela is falling apart. Its economy? Ruined. Its people? Hungry. Its government? Corrupt. What happened? In a word, socialism. Debbie D’Souza, a native Venezuelan and political activist, explains.
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Script:
Once there was a South American country with a promising future. It had a functioning democracy, a rapidly developing economy, and a growing middle class. All the important indicators, including education, health care, and foreign investment, were pointed in the right direction.
It was far from perfect, but the mood was hopeful – and with good reason.
But now all that promise is gone. The country is a failed state, a hollowed-out shell of its former self.
Services like power and water are sporadic. The most basic consumer goods, from bread to toilet paper, are in chronically short supply. Crime has skyrocketed. Freedom of the press is almost non-existent. Democracy has been replaced by a virtual dictatorship.
The country is, I’m sorry to say, my beloved Venezuela, a place in which my family has deep roots.
I can tell you what happened to it in one word: socialism.
In 1999, then-candidate for president Hugo Chavez promised to lead the people of Venezuela to a socialist paradise. His theme was “Esperanza y Cambio” – “Hope and Change.” “Venezuela is a nation of great wealth,” Chavez said, “but it’s being stolen from its citizens by the evil capitalists and the evil corporations.” This wrong would be righted, he assured the voters, if they elected him.
And they did.
To their everlasting regret.
Chavez drew inspiration from his mentor, Fidel Castro. Like his mentor, he enjoyed giving speeches – some that lasted as many as seven hours! He even gave himself his own weekly television show where he would spontaneously break into song.
Here’s a rule: When your nation’s leader starts singing on national television, you’re in trouble.
Under Chavez, the government of Venezuela took over industry after industry. The government, he assured everyone, would run these businesses better than private enterprise, and the profits would be “shared” by the people. With great fanfare, he tore up contracts with multinational oil and gas companies and demanded that they pay much higher royalties. When they refused, he told them to leave. They did.
His image was burnished by Hollywood celebrities who flocked to see the great work he was doing – taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor. Progressive politicians from the US and Europe also praised him lavishly.
Here’s another rule: When Hollywood celebrities visit your country to praise your leader, you’re in trouble. When the leader sings on national television and is praised by Hollywood celebrities, you’re doomed.
Socialism always works in the beginning, so people are fooled…in the beginning. It’s easy for governments to confiscate money, but eventually there’s no more money to confiscate. In the case of Venezuela, I mean that literally: People who could get money out of the country, did. Many left the country altogether – nearly 2 million, according to Venezuelan sociologist Tomás Páez. The wealth creators continued to create wealth, but they created it somewhere else – Miami or Madrid and other places around the world.
When Chavez first ran for President in 1999, he said he would leave in two years if people weren’t happy with him. But, like Castro, Chavez never had any intention of giving up power. He died in office in 2013, replaced by his vice president, Nicolas Maduro. Maduro is Chavez without the charisma or the voice.
For the complete script, visit https://www.prageru.com/videos/hows-socialism-doing-venezuela
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Funny how the video skipped over mentioning that the country has faced crippling sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western powers, which have further exacerbated the crisis. And let's not forget that the United States has a long history of intervening in the affairs of Latin American countries, including Venezuela. The CIA has been involved in numerous coups and destabilization efforts in the region. Now, I know that the video tries to paint socialism as some kind of utopian fantasy that always ends in disaster. But the truth is that democratic socialism is a viable and necessary alternative to the failed policies of neoliberal capitalism. We can see this in countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, which have implemented socialist policies and have achieved some of the highest standards of living in the world. Socialism is not a dirty word, and it's not a failed ideology. It's a necessary step towards creating a more just and equitable society, where everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
In Capitalism, inequality is a dynamic condition, everybody has equal opportunity to climb their wealth level
In Socialism, inequality is…. STILL EXIST! But, the cause of inequality in Socialism is because of the use of coercion to confiscate property & wealth from 90% ordinary hardworking people and entrepreneurs and giving it to the 10% "Selected Elites" who control the political power of a nation that implementing Socialism
Venezuela has become much richer, far more than its history, in the period of Chavez's presidency! GDP and GDP per capita (both).
But US is also Socialist country: Doesn't US also intervene in market?
they would scream if someone told them that police and fire department are technically socialism
❤
Havent watched the video, but how is socialism doing in sweden and norway? They're ranked some of the best countries to live in, far past the US btw.
No more socialism and communist
Only capitalism is the best
People are attrating to socialism due to free stuff.
This is authoritarianist socialism, which is far removed from democratic socialism which is what every socialist in America has actually been wanting
Sanctions and restrictions, attempted overthrow of their government, a disinformation against Maduro. We did this in Chile installing Pinochet.Oil companies don't give a damn about democracy and ethics they only care about money not human rights.
When it becomes about the government it no longer socialist it’s communist. Socialism can work you just got to not be a self invested person if you’re in government. Capitalism can be just as bad, the elites live a lavish lifestyle while you work 40 to 50 hour weeks scrounging around for scraps. If capitalism was so great there would be no poor people unless they where poor of there own accord.
You know your country is in rough shape when the leader is also by far the fattest guy in the country. Fidel, Hugo, Nicolas, Kim-Jong… I'm looking at you.
Yeah one it’s gone 🤦🏻♂️🤷
Venezuela is such a human tragedy these days.
I mean, socialism is not the problem in Venezuela. It's corruption and militarism. America please.
SO REAL
As a venezuelan, I'm getting the hell out of this country the moment my mother stops existing
*Critique and Counter-Argument: "How's Socialism Doing in Venezuela?" After Watching the Video*
*Critique:*
1. *Overgeneralization of Socialism:* The video implies that the failures of Venezuela are solely due to socialism, ignoring other factors such as poor governance, corruption, and external economic pressures.
2. *Misrepresentation of Chavez's Policies:* The video portrays Chavez's policies as purely socialist without acknowledging that many of them were populist in nature.
3. *Hollywood Celebrities as a Metric:* Using the admiration of Hollywood celebrities as a measure of a country's impending doom is a weak argument. Celebrities do not represent the complexities of economic and political policies.
4. *Simplification of Economic Failures:* The video simplifies Venezuela's economic challenges, attributing them solely to socialism without considering the role of falling oil prices, economic mismanagement, and sanctions.
5. *Ignoring Previous Economic Disparities:* The video paints a rosy picture of pre-Chavez Venezuela, overlooking the significant economic disparities and social challenges that existed.
*Counter-Argument:*
1. *Complex Causes for Venezuela's Crisis:* While socialism played a role in Venezuela's current situation, it's reductionist to blame everything on socialism. The country's over-reliance on oil revenues, combined with a sharp decline in oil prices, played a significant role in its economic downturn. Additionally, economic sanctions, corruption, and mismanagement exacerbated the situation.
2. *Different Forms of Socialism:* Socialism exists in various forms worldwide. Countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have socialist policies but are thriving due to a mix of free-market practices and social welfare. It's essential to differentiate between the policies of Chavez and Maduro and socialism as a broader ideology.
3. *The Role of Governance:* Good governance is crucial, regardless of the economic system. The failures of Chavez and Maduro's administrations are not inherent to socialism but rather their specific policies and governance styles.
4. *Economic Diversification:* One of Venezuela's critical failures was its over-reliance on oil as its primary source of revenue. A diversified economy is resilient to global market fluctuations, whether under capitalism or socialism.
5. *Dependency Argument:* The video's claim that socialism creates dependency can be countered by pointing out that many capitalist societies have safety nets for their citizens. Social welfare doesn't necessarily lead to dependency; it can also empower citizens to contribute more effectively to their country's economy.
6. *The Role of External Factors:* It's crucial to consider the role of external pressures, including economic sanctions and global market dynamics, in Venezuela's crisis. While internal policies played a part, external factors significantly influenced the country's economic trajectory.
In conclusion, after watching the video, it's evident that the situation in Venezuela is complex and cannot be attributed to socialism alone. Economic systems are not inherently good or bad; their success depends on how they're implemented and the broader context in which they operate. It's essential to approach such topics with nuance and a comprehensive understanding of the factors at play.
How capitalism doing in Liberia?
How is Socialism doing in the Nordic Countries?
I am sorry to open your eyes but the US detroyed this country with they intervaintions, US propaganda, fake news mass disinformation about the socialism that was working for a while, yhe truth is that when a country goes socialist, United States comes and put fire to the country detroyed all and you are lying to all people with your false beleaves, so if you mind making a good video about all the US intervantions in the country that pulled the socialism in caos you should, and if you are up to delete my comment note that spreading lyes about socialism is like saying i am a slave and i will work for capitalists just not to think about a brighter future.
Socialism comes in a package of democracy.
https://youtu.be/mwyjlmEAcYM
Hey! You don't like America? Why don't you move to *insert country ravaged by us intervention*?
Go look up us meddling in venezuala, including some of the harshest global sanctions, many attempted cues and oh yeah funding militant groups who killed and are still killing innocent people all in the name of fascism!
Venezuela is the worst example of socialism this is pure capitalistic propoganda😂😂 enjoy making the rich even richer and bowing before your bezos & musk god. I’m living it up in Europe with Democratic Socialism and its never better.🙏🏼
I love how these right wing morons always use Venezuela (a Third World country) as an example of "failed socialism", but never mention how well it works in Scandinavia and pretty much all of Europe, and Canada as well.
Vuvuzuela
Sounds like modern day Soviet Union.
Great do fascism in venezuela then
What about Vietnam? I think socialism is doing alright over there.
I literally can't believe people are falling for this. Venezuela isn't even socialist. Also, it was the U.S that tore apart the nation into impoverished bits.