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"Now There's Not Even Soap" Maduro Heads To China To 'Save' Socialist Utopia Venezuela

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Social media is awash with striking images of #EmptyShelvesInVenezuela (#AnaquelesVaciosEnVenezuela) as the evaporation of basic human staples such as toilet paper has now been hyperinflated to total chaos at warehouses and supermarkets. As President Maduro decries the loss of $100 oil "stability", vowing to return oil prices to their rightful places (and heads to China for help), lines reach for miles for milk and soap... and the people defy governmental bans on photographing empty market shelves... "We couldn't find shampoo, so we washed our hair with soap. Now there's not even soap."

* * *

The line for soap...

And the shelves are bare...

* * *

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro begins a trip to China and OPEC member countries in search of financial support as his country reels from falling oil prices and a tattered economy.

  • *MADURO SAYS TO WORK ON ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL MATTERS W/ CHINA
  • *MADURO SAYS WILL VISIT VARIOUS OPEC COUNTRIES ON TRIP
  • *MADURO SAYS PLANS ON DEVELOPING OIL PRICE STRATEGY ON TRIP
  • *VENEZUELA TO RESTORE `NATURAL' PRICE FOR OIL, MADURO SAYS
  • *OIL MARKET MECHANISMS AT $100/BARREL WERE STABLE: MADURO

As AFP reports,

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro begins a trip to China and OPEC member countries late Sunday in search of financial support as his country reels from falling oil prices and a tattered economy.

 

The South American oil giant confirmed Tuesday that it has entered recession, while annual inflation topped 63 percent, exacerbating the outlook for an economy already hit by global crashing oil prices and import shortages.

 

"It's a very important tour... to tackle new projects to address the circumstances affecting our country, including the depletion of revenues due to plummeting oil prices," Maduro said in a radio and television address from the Miraflores presidential palace.

 

Maduro said he would discuss economic, financial, energy, technological, educational and development projects with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

 

Maduro had been expected to announce exchange measures to address these issues. Instead, the president announced the creation of a strategic reserve, appointed a new board for the entity that manages currency exchange controls and created new agencies to control the distribution of commodities.

President Maduro has an increasing problem...

  • 22% self-identify as pro-govt vs. 42% when former president Hugo Chavez died March 2013

But as long as he can keep the military paid (off), things will be under his control.

 

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Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:58 | 5622411 lakecity55
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Krugman Prints Trillion-Peso Bolivar!
          Heads South to Deposit Bill

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 22:53 | 5622268 q99x2
q99x2's picture

What's a fat person without soap called?

Answer: a fat person.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 00:05 | 5622466 Miffed Microbio...
Miffed Microbiologist's picture

Some need a stick to accessorize their soap. Alas, in Venezuela this probably means another line.

Miffed

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 00:24 | 5622488 Sub MOA
Sub MOA's picture

Hey Miffed for some reason this made me think of you from a post you made a week or so ago any way Happy New Year

 

 What do women really want?
Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.

The question was: What do women really want?

Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men, and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.  Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer.
But the price would be high as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.
The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.
The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table, and Arthur's closest friend!
Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden, but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur.
He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table.
Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: "What a woman really wants," she said, "is to be in charge of her own life."
Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared.
And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.
The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen, lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.
"Which would you prefer? she asked him. "Beautiful during the day ... or at night?"
Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day he could have a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch! Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wonderous, intimate moments with?

(If you are a man reading this ...) What would YOUR choice be?

(If you are a woman reading this ..) What would YOUR MAN'S choice be?

What Lancelot chose is below. BUT ... make YOUR choice before you scroll down below. OKAY?

Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his question, said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.

Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.

Now ... what is the moral to this story?

(scroll down again)

The moral is ..

(scroll down one more time)

If you don't let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:19 | 5622553 Miffed Microbio...
Miffed Microbiologist's picture

Dear MOA,

That was a very sweet story but let me tell you a secret. Do you know what women really want? The same things men do. To be loved, honored, cherished and respected. Really, it is that simple no matter what anyone says.

To be honest with you, I'm a bit of a nitwit. I am constantly coming up with crazy ideas and things I wish to explore ( mr is convinced I have ADHD, just functional) Some of my ideas involved quite a bit of capital investment. When Mr would run the numbers and determine my scheme was not viable, he would confront me with a resounding "No". Because I loved, honored and respected him and his rationality, I listened. I must say, looking back, had I got my way, we could be insolvent today.

Men love to please their women. They innately like to see them happy and be providers but without balance, this can go in the crapper. If women get their way all the time things can ( and often do) get ugly.

I think if I were the person in the story, I'd chose to be beautiful all the time. Not for narcissistic reasons but that I think it would make my husband happy and whenever I see him happy, it fills me with happiness too. But this too is probably unnecessary. He seems content with me as I am.

My newest endeavor is letter boxing and geocaching! I am fascinated with the idea. I have asked for a good compass and maps with hopes for an eventual GPS. Mr miffed has laid out the budget...

Miffed;-)

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:25 | 5622569 Sub MOA
Sub MOA's picture

I am fully aware of the facts you have pointed out ...all to well LOL anyway I wish I could have found this at the time you posted as well as the previous post as it would have much more made sense then.  It's the thought that counts er sumthin ;)

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:07 | 5622642 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

It's funny.  I have one friend who should have sued for a devorce years ago.  It's not that his wife treats him like shit, it's because they treat each other like shit.  Somehow, they made it through some really fucked up things that they did to each other, and their marrage has gotten better.  I'm flummoxed, and can only say that when they weren't treating each other like absolute shit, the times were really good.  Then I have another friend who has an overwhelming sense of the golden rule.  You would think that would make his marrage last, but nope.  He has issues trusting people, and since I've known him longer than he has known his wife by a good margin, he trusts me more than he trusts his wife, and it's not something that he can help.  He's used to a world where having some distrust is healthy, and he has a hard time shutting it off at home, starts an argument based on that, then later realizes that he overreacted, but still cannot shut it off.  It's funny, because I do trust his wife.  I think he picked well.  The funny thing is, this was over trust and arguments, and the other couple has done some really fucked up things to each other that make trust issues and stupid but nasty arguments seem pretty fucking tame.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 05:41 | 5622820 ebear
ebear's picture

"To be loved, honored, cherished and respected."

You left out "obeyed" but then, that's to be expected.

 

<edit>

Just after posting the above I posed the question "what do women really want" to my wife.  Her reply?    EVERYTHING!



Mon, 01/05/2015 - 08:05 | 5622971 CaptainObvious
CaptainObvious's picture

Just posed the same question to my wife and her reply was, "For the government to leave me the fuck alone!"  Attagirl.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 07:22 | 5622923 Flagit
Flagit's picture

 

What Lancelot chose is below. BUT ... make YOUR choice before you scroll down below. OKAY?

 

Well, in my story it would have been different. As soon as my ass set foot back on my turf, I would have rallied the troops, raised an army, and surprised the hell out of that s.o.b. with a midnight raid.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 22:56 | 5622272 alexmark2013
alexmark2013's picture
Four risks facing the U.S. economy: overseas turmoil, weak housing, oil jobs, Fed turbulence http://investmentwatchblog.com/four-risks-facing-the-u-s-economy-overseas-turmoil-weak-housing-oil-jobs-fed-turbulence/
Sun, 01/04/2015 - 22:59 | 5622276 Bumbu Sauce
Bumbu Sauce's picture

An Airdrop campaign of liberator .45's would be the most humanitarian way to help.  Although the people would likely reorganize the country right back into a command-control clusterstook.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:01 | 5622284 Duc888
Duc888's picture

 

 

Plenty of smokin' chicks down there.....mind numbingly hot (I've been there).... mebbe he can work them into the program.

 

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:04 | 5622295 orangegeek
orangegeek's picture

Monthly picture of WTI oil looks disastrous for those hoping for higher prices

 

http://bullandbearmash.com/chart/wti-oil-monthly-continues-tanking-forec...

 

We could be in the 30's by summer - considering both price and the rising USD

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:49 | 5622741 HardlyZero
HardlyZero's picture

assuming everthing hangs together that long.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:06 | 5622301 joego1
joego1's picture

What you don't see in those lines is all of the Venezuelan's making their own soap.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:11 | 5622317 HardlyZero
HardlyZero's picture

So, Venezuela wants to default first and get in front of Brazil...interesting.

China gets Venezuela and deep sea oil for 100 years.

Bet Venezuela joins The Eurasian Economic Union before they land in China.

In a New York minute.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:40 | 5622407 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

 

 

Cuba, Venezuela Join Greece in EEU!
               Xi: Navy Bases for All!

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:11 | 5622321 ThroxxOfVron
ThroxxOfVron's picture

"

  • *MADURO SAYS TO WORK ON ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL MATTERS W/ CHINA
  • *MADURO SAYS WILL VISIT VARIOUS OPEC COUNTRIES ON TRIP
  • *MADURO SAYS PLANS ON DEVELOPING OIL PRICE STRATEGY ON TRIP
  • *VENEZUELA TO RESTORE `NATURAL' PRICE FOR OIL, MADURO SAYS
  • *OIL MARKET MECHANISMS AT $100/BARREL WERE STABLE: MADURO

 "

 

Aside from a brief period around 1990 Oil NEVER traded above $50 per barrel before 2004.

 

http://www.fedprimerate.com/nymex-crude-oil-price-history-chart.htm

 

Maduro & his Cronies can't even manage to run their socialist branded oligarchy with 100% free oil and nearly 100% stolen oil extraction infrastructure!

I would not at all be surprised to find that Maduro loaded that plane with the last of Venezueala's Central Bank's gold and US Dollars; -and is in fact never to return.

Don't blame the Citizens of Venezuelan: the judiciary, and the military and police forces have sold them out for a cut of the blood money. 

These assholes are the plague.  They are destroying a beautiful nation.  

God help poor Venezuela.

...& God help the rest of Us; -for an army of sociopaths with the very same ideological illnesses, and insatiable greeds, and horrendous propensities for unlimited cruelty, are hell bent on doing the same to the United States of America.

 

Indeed, Hedgless: it is damned well time that people learn to make soap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNov04_O9Vo

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:54 | 5622439 HardlyZero
HardlyZero's picture

Maduro's lineage started with Taxis and moved up to Busses.  It's not clear he drives automatic or manual transmission.  Does he have a valid driver's license? What grade did he graduate ?

Crazy times a comin'.

Bet Maduro becomes a founding member of the South American branch of the EEU, ahead of Cuba and Brazil.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:11 | 5622323 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

Cuba and Venezuela have TP shortages.  You'll know when the US has achieved perfect socialism when the same happens.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:27 | 5622353 HardlyZero
HardlyZero's picture

So, Cuban leaders are going to China next to setup their new Dachas in the superdelux Chinese Zombie Cities...all expenses paid.

For free use of their ports for Russia and Chinese Navy ?

Ho Lee Boomerang !

 

Will Cuba join The Eurasian Economic Union too ?

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:10 | 5622324 jonjon831983
jonjon831983's picture

You know what's nice?  The floors at those grocery stores actually look f'n clean.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:26 | 5622376 Sub MOA
Sub MOA's picture

they used all the soap to clean em

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:29 | 5622383 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

That's what happens when you lick the last few grains of food off of them.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:07 | 5622590 zebrasquid
zebrasquid's picture

Lots of cheap cheap labor...they work a week for a bar of Dial..

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:14 | 5622332 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Venezuela will be the next hotspot in the world.

The Amongst controlled west cannot allow the control of Venezuela's gold and oil to fall into Chinese hands.

And the west's Amongst banksters also need to possess Venezuela's gold reserves, the same as they did  Libya's.

This trip speeds things up.

Look for a false-flag or other involving Venezuela, and DC US wardog boots on the ground soon.

The banksters need to repay us.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:15 | 5622343 surfersd
surfersd's picture

Where is Sean Penn when you need him? He needs to go down there and explain to the people that his man Hugo and now Maduro are great leaders.

 

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 00:02 | 5622400 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

..and he has enough money to buy everyone some soap.

Meanwhile, Danny Glover can cover for the TP!

Winning!

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:21 | 5622366 VWAndy
VWAndy's picture

 A country is out of soap? Riiiiiight? Barter here we come.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:10 | 5622538 harleyjohn45
harleyjohn45's picture

nookie is going to get really cheap there.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:34 | 5622586 DaveA
DaveA's picture

Yeah, but the girls you nookie might have some nasty body odor.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 06:38 | 5622879 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

and hairy legs and pits....eeeeewwwww!

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:34 | 5622393 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

He better hope for some relief flights from Russia, I do not know if Celstials use TP.

They may have some soap.

I hope Maduro was able to get a lot of planes and a big loan from Xi or he is outta there!!

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:33 | 5622396 Bangalore Torpedo
Bangalore Torpedo's picture

#BringBackOurSoap

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:39 | 5622406 Porous Horace
Porous Horace's picture

Not to defend their socialist policies, but the US government has certainly done everything it can to help tank their economy. But, when has human suffering ever stood in the way of our foreign policy goals?

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:42 | 5622409 Bangalore Torpedo
Bangalore Torpedo's picture

Not that I agree with US foreign policy, but please enumerate those things that we've done to "tank their economy?"

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:22 | 5622562 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Where is Jimmy ***cking Carter?   The guy who vouched for Chavez riigged elections?

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:39 | 5622408 Bangalore Torpedo
Bangalore Torpedo's picture

World to Maduro..."go pound sand."

This clown is going to being hanging on a tree with a noose around his neck when it's all over.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 06:37 | 5622878 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Why burden a tree when streetlamps will do nicely?

Much more symbolic too...

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:44 | 5622422 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

Intelligent people can learn from the mistakes of others, as well as mistakes of their own. Take a look at the imagery flooding in from everywhere around the world and recognize it for what it truly is-- a warning of things to come.

It can and will happen here-- no matter where here is for you personally. You still have a little time.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:48 | 5622435 Bangalore Torpedo
Bangalore Torpedo's picture

Agreed, just think about how stupid the "average Joe" that you know happens to be. Now realize that half of America is stupider than that. I know the Brits like to chuckle at how stupid Americans are...and they are right! Cept methinks they are only marginally more intelligent!

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:07 | 5622533 Lore
Lore's picture

Bless the British sense of humor. They know how to turn anything into a compliment. "You're all ignorant, but the British perfected it." 

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 06:35 | 5622870 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

So smart they turned their country over to the Muzzies and put a camera on every corner...

Just how many nannies does the little newborn royal really need?. We piss and moan about all the presidential vacations, but the poor Brits gotta keep the Windsors in posh digs permanently.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 00:01 | 5622458 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

No shit, this is the very picture Leisure Suit Barry dreams of at night.

Sun, 01/04/2015 - 23:54 | 5622445 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

So, they ran out of everyone eles's money, did they?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 04:39 | 5622792 css1971
css1971's picture

Plenty of money. They ran out of value.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 00:01 | 5622459 Fuku Ben
Fuku Ben's picture

Communists and Socialists teaming up again

What could go wrong?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:05 | 5622467 HardlyZero
HardlyZero's picture

No TP.

No Soap.

SHTF ??? !

J. Rickards correct...crash within 6 months ?

 

No TP.

No Soap.

man!   what a shitty way to tip off the crash.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 00:17 | 5622479 topspinslicer
topspinslicer's picture

China? Why not get one of the Castro brothers on the line?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 00:19 | 5622481 VWAndy
VWAndy's picture

To think that a government cound not see this comming and remedy it before they run out is bullshit. In a money making venture so fast. It would take longer to do the paperwork/red tape than to build it and get into production.

This smells like a chainyank!

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:40 | 5622594 luna_man
luna_man's picture

 

 

Heck, Maduro, just may have gone to China, to apply for citizenship...Might lose his head (literally) sticking around home.

 

what would you do?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:41 | 5622601 Bemused Observer
Bemused Observer's picture

A little lye, a little fat, and you can make soap. A clever person could generate some cash flow...

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:33 | 5622678 Ginsengbull
Ginsengbull's picture

The best fat comes from liposuction clinics, says Tyler.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:25 | 5622726 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

So this could become America's next great export industry?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 04:36 | 5622789 css1971
css1971's picture

You can make lye from wood ash.

The real problem is too much cash. Not too little. Or rather it's numbers don't match it's value.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 10:31 | 5623370 Polymarkos
Polymarkos's picture

Can you make lye from cash ash? Burn da money, use da bacon grease, voila! Bacon Scented Soap!

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:42 | 5622603 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Well, he will have no problem having a wash and blow in Beijing. And I do mean blow...

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:56 | 5622624 zebrasquid
zebrasquid's picture

Maybe if there is a popular uprising, a Venezuelan Spring, there will be a return of Irish Spring..

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:12 | 5622650 Conax
Conax's picture

Went shopping earlier, found 3-packs of Irish spring for three 'dollars' at Kroger's. I thought it was a little steep til I saw this story.  I wonder what a smelly, skuzzy, sweaty, no bath, matted hair Venezuelan bidness man would gimme for em right now.

Checking E-bay...

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:56 | 5622693 zebrasquid
zebrasquid's picture

Forget drugs, the big opportunity now is trafficking Pert and Ivory in Venezuela..

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:43 | 5622737 HardlyZero
HardlyZero's picture

Shipping to Venezuela is a bitch...probably need ViaMat or Brinks to handle it...for 3 cakes soap.

 

Why does this sound like Soylent Green...

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 07:09 | 5622904 B2u
B2u's picture

maybe the people of Venezuelan need more Zest?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 01:58 | 5622630 CTG_Sweden
CTG_Sweden's picture

 

The Chinese government should probably not lend Venezuela money unless the following requirements are met:

1. Drastically raised import duties for goods produced in other countries than China.

2. The Venezuelan government should not distort the way the Venezuelan economy works internally by imposing price controls etc. Respect for private property. No wealth tax and inheritance tax. Reasonable capital gains taxes (30 % or less). No corruption. Give judges enough pay.

3. Raise taxes and/or cut spending rather print money.

4. Encourage domestic production of goods for which there are sufficient domestic economies of scale. Tax incentives and loans on favourable terms may encourage domestic production.

5. See to that ownership of the big media winds up in China. Thereby China would also appoint the those who rule Venezuela in case the current Socialist government loses future elections due to raised taxes, cut spending and more expensive imported products. That would resemble how it works in Europe and the US where a rather homogeneous group controls all the big media and appoints both socialist, liberal and conservative governments :D . Unemployed former socialist MP:s can be hired by Chinese think tanks and PR companies just like American conservative and liberal politicians who have difficulties finding new jobs wind up in think tanks and PR companies controlled by about the same people as those who control the big media.

On the other hand I doubt that the Chinese need more losers in their team. They need the Venezuelan oil, but not the problems that perhaps always will be associated with countries like Venezuela. I suspect that China´s southern neighbours and Russia would be more valuable long-term friends for China. But perhaps the Chinese should try to create sustainable economies in unstable societies like Venezuela and other countries in South America in order to see whether it will work or not. If the Chinese want Venezuela to work they probably have to manage it themselves, indirectly. But that would definitely not be the Chinese style of foreign policy. China still applies some kind of “anti-imperialist” principles which mean that other countries should mind their own business like China. China has refrained from aggressive behaviour abroad except for neighbouring countries, especially Vietnam. And they have not tried to operate other countries like the US and Britain.

 

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 18:33 | 5625612 CTG_Sweden
CTG_Sweden's picture

 

Maybe it would be hard for the Venezuelan Socialist government to explain why they have to end their socialist experiment. But if they just keep the cooperatives and use large-scale cooperatives as a power base for the ruling socialist party they may be able keep enough socialist credibility for the enthusiasts. Cooperative companies and the trade unions are the power base for the Swedish social democrats. However, over the past three decades the cooperative supermarkets in Sweden have lost market share and are now struggling. It seems hard for bonus-driven cooperative executives to compete with traditional supermarket owners.

I suppose that it takes some idealism in order to make cooperatives work. My late father worked as storeman and truck driver for a Swedish cooperative wholesale chain store in the summers in the late 1950s and early 1960s when he was a high school/college student. His foreman stole everything he could steal from the warehouse. He didn´t get caught until he gave his boss a TV-set as a birthday present. His boss thought that it was fishy that his foreman gave him a present which adjusted for inflation would be worth about $2000 today (TV-sets were more expensive 50-60 years ago). So he checked the serial number and found out that his foreman had stolen the TV-set from the warehouse where he worked. Also keep in mind that people in Sweden generally were more idealistic and altruistic in the late 1950s than now. Perhaps the foreman thought he could bribe his boss with a TV-set and thereby make him turn a blind eye to his thefts since the stores and the warehouse was not his property. I suspect that the boss would have turned his foreman in even if the boss had not been a socialist with a genuine affection for the cooperative movement and socialism. But I guess that more people get caught if the decision makers in cooperatives have some kind of genuine affection for socialism and are not too greedy. One problem with socialism and cooperative companies is that some people want to apply socialism for everyone except themselves.

 

Tue, 01/13/2015 - 22:18 | 5658287 CTG_Sweden
CTG_Sweden's picture

Edit:

3. Raise taxes and/or cut spending rather than print money.

 

 

But perhaps I was wrong on respect for private property – from a Venezuelan government point view. Suppose that the Venezuelan government would take most of the land owned by the big land owners and give it to poor peasants. The peasants, who are more numerous ( = more votes) than the rich land owners would probably like that. They would probably also not vote for parties and candidates that would might return confiscated land to the land owners.

 

 

 

During the Inter-war period governments in the Baltics took about 90 % of the land owned by the aristocracy and gave it to peasants. I guess that the peasants liked that. And that was before the Soviets invaded.

 

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:06 | 5622641 Conax
Conax's picture

They are going to learn a hard lesson- that government can't run everything, can't provide for their every need and shirley can't be their mommy. Nobody has that ability, much less the sort of jagoffs that go into politics and gov't jobs.

All govs can do really well is kill, loot and destroy.

They've pissed off their suppliers, made a shambles of their people's lives, and they now have nothing in the stores.  ruh roh.

 

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:17 | 5622657 nah
nah's picture

dude the US has 11 billion barrels of oil a day production capacity and can bring more on line with technology

.

you cant uninvent the USA

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:17 | 5622716 Richard Head
Richard Head's picture

Try million smart guy.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 07:50 | 5622953 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

Sept 2014 numbers:

Oil production 8.9 million barrels/day.

Other liquids 3 million barrels/day

http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=268&t=6

 

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 09:41 | 5623142 forwardho
forwardho's picture

What's an order of magnitude between friends?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 10:53 | 5623453 FrankDrakman
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What's an order of magnitude between friends?

What's three orders of magnitude between friends?

fixed it for you

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:26 | 5622667 ihatebarkingdogs
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Why are the lights still on in those empty-shelf stores?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:45 | 5622739 HardlyZero
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they have to 'no show' the bare shelves or its riot time.   See...we got nuttin'.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 02:46 | 5622688 Augustus
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Maybe they can get the Cubans to repay some debts?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:18 | 5622717 Duude
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the Cubans are current with the Venezuelan government. Cuba arranged for a barter exchange of goods for medical services.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:17 | 5622711 zebrasquid
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Michael Moore, Danny Glover, Oliver Stone, Sean Penn, and the usual progressive suspects, all championed socialism in Venezuela. Maybe now they can get together a few containers worth of soap for the little folks there....

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:15 | 5622714 Duude
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On the bright side, year end inventory count was finished early.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 03:25 | 5622723 Peter Pan
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One day we might all become like Venezuela so let's not get judgemental.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 04:19 | 5622749 Rusputin
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Oil could go to $20 and gas $1, trading up to $40 and $2 medium term, the historical energy price corridor, but only for a few years - forget good oil and gas revenues long term, beyond 5 years is a long time to hope, with design technology moving so fast.

China will expand domestic solar and heat pump technology to make these items as cheap as chips, solar panels are already dirt cheap compared to what they were in 2013. This kit will solve the bulk of household energy needs, removing coal and gas completely.

Koreas and China will introduce more efficient cars, light trucks and buses, based on hybrid and pure electrical power, with rail always electrical and getting faster; heavy truck technology will likely become hybrid within 5 years or earlier. These satisfy many commercial needs to reduce energy costs, remove petrol completely and reduce diesel considerably.

Russia is likely to miniaturise nuclear technology for domestic use, think of ship and sub-sized reactors using Thorium, such generators could power outlying villages, who have no existing or reliable mains gas, electricity or water, and will be sealed for life and designed to last 50 years, without maintenance, connect-and-go for low cost power and hot water. Ships will increasingly be Thorium nuclear powered. China will also drive this demand for safe domestic nuclear, because of their desperate need to get away from coal. These will resolve many national and localised utility needs, removing the need to expand the national grid, coal and wood fuel usage removed.

The down trend for oil and gas demand is clear already, coal is already dead; based on new design applications of existing technologies (design technology), in 5 years this trend will become even steeper downhill.

Basing your economy on fossil energy is daft, and the writing has been on the wall for 20 years, so no excuses. Better ask China to build a solar, heat pump factory (or 10) in your country, and get a couple of Kia factories going - that would be a start, oh and a Russian soap and shampoo factory, nuclear powered of course!

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 04:04 | 5622755 Platypus
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Thats what countries get for going the easy way and depending on imports. Every country should have the basics of life manufactured internally, so when something goes bad the domestic industry will flourish and the country will be able to survive without losing its sovereignty. Unfortunately what happens is that moronic governments waste in time of plenty instead of investing in domestic manufacturing. Than the tide changes and they are cot with their pants down. And who always pays the tab? The people!!!!

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 07:34 | 5622935 Village-idiot
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Governments investing in manufacturing? That's what causes these problems in the first place.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 04:23 | 5622768 22winmag
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We stunk up some people.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 04:33 | 5622784 Batman11
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Russia and Venezuala are experiencing the conditions Central Bankers are desperately trying to create everywhere else.

Central Bankers can only dream of:

1) Currency depreciation on this scale

2) Consumers purchasing and emptying stores

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 04:42 | 5622795 withglee
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people defy governmental bans on photographing empty market shelves...

 

Think it might be time to give "all" government a great big middle finger salute?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 05:23 | 5622825 Retired Mercenary
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This is what is wrong with the world!

Make your own damn soap!

What is wrong with the people in this world?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 05:41 | 5622833 tyrone
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Koreas and China will introduce more efficient cars, light trucks and buses, based on hybrid and pure electrical power, with rail always electrical and getting faster; heavy truck technology will likely become hybrid within 5 years or earlier. These satisfy many commercial needs to reduce energy costs, remove petrol completely and reduce diesel considerably.

 

Yeah right.  I can't wait to get one of those new cars with a BIG propeller on the roof.  or a even BIGGER solar panel

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 06:00 | 5622850 Joe A
Joe A's picture

Unlike the capitalist system in the West, socialism cannot print money out of thin air and not suffer the consequences (but the West will suffer that too one day unless something like a big war breaks out or something)

Anyway, as long as they have their TV Soaps. They have plenty of those.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 06:23 | 5622862 Zodiac
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All the negativity.  This is a Picketty Paradise!

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 06:34 | 5622874 Quinvarius
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Government only has the power to destroy in economics.  Economics is two entities exchanging.  The government can only take from that exchange or block it.  That is it.  Even when it forced you to make an exchange, it is stopping a better exchange you would have made elsewhere. More government involvement in your economic choices is always bad.  Its only role is as enforcer of law and contracts.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 06:35 | 5622875 Shropshire Lad
Shropshire Lad's picture

The empty shelves are being prepared also for all the consumers in the western economies also -- courtesy of the banksters and their peons in western governments.  It's just that Venezuela is an earlier target.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 08:12 | 5622906 GoldSilverBitcoinBug
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What a choice for Venezuelan people:

Getting crushed by communism and socialism.

Or getting crushed by crony-capitalism and USSA imperialism.

Jesus, can't have the third way: Free markets, Gold, no CB and trading peacefully ?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 07:15 | 5622914 gwar5
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So Sad....  just when socialism was looking so good, they have to go to Chinese capitalists to beg for another 6 months worth of soap and toilet paper.    /s

 

Fuck socialism. Fuck Socialists, because they don't give a fuck about you either.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 07:37 | 5622936 SoDamnMad
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Ecuador pledged all their future oil to China and now Venezuala is going to do the same.  Nicaraugua is pledging itself to a Chinese businessman for a 100 yr lock on a canal route.  Hey, don't blame USSA for this shit. Blame Socialism.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 07:50 | 5622954 Grimaldus
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VENEZUALA! Peak Progressive.

Progressives cheer for that shit.

Grimaldus

 

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 07:54 | 5622957 CaptainMoonlight
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Completely unrelated: I was in Lowe's this weekend buying huge bags of fertilizer and blasting caps, and noticed several entire shelving units with *two* plastic bins on each 6 foot shelf, and a price tag for the bins...

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 09:29 | 5623102 freedom123
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Russia will have same destiny as Venezuela

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 09:49 | 5623177 Pullmyfinger
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Heads up, boys and girls. What we're seeing here has nothing whatsoever to do with "socialism." I remember the gas lines in this country (USA) back in the 70's, when we were far more prosperous than we are today. The epicenter of all this lies precisely in the nature of the modern monetary system, with its genetics grounded in massive financial fraud and manipulation at the highest levels coupled with geopolitics.

What is happening in Venzuela is already guaranteed to come home to roost here in the good 'ol U.S. of A as well. But if you think that, say, voting for politicians that decry "socialism" as the fundamental issue is the solution, then you are most certainly sitting low down in the back seat of a clown-car.

Don't confuse me with being an apologist for socialism, however. I personally advocate a Constitutional meritocracy with a banking system of no greater scope than that of a public utility. As for the vampire trillionaires in the world today that are --ultimately-- at the root of all the turmoil in the world today, I say, "let them eat cake..." ; )

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 10:23 | 5623338 Polymarkos
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Guillotine all socialists and fascist/crony capitalists.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 09:51 | 5623189 ThisIsBob
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Problem with socialism is socialists.  Try to keep everybody quiet and gather all the feathers for your own nest.  Much like EBT.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 10:10 | 5623284 Mike Honcho
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When you send the grocery clerk instead of the errand boy, you have become obviously weak.

They (the leach class) wanted this, voted ole Chavy in for free stuff, promises promises.

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 10:17 | 5623314 Polymarkos
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They did get a lot of FREE nothing. All the nothing they could use and more!

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 10:16 | 5623306 Polymarkos
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Where's Hillary, Sean Penn, Clooney, Obama, and all the other socialists coming to the rescue?

 

Where's the Hollywood/DC twitter campaign, #soapandtoiletpaperforVenezuela?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 12:41 | 5623942 EffingHell
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When this shit hits the USSA, it will be like Black Friday but instead of morons brandishing credit cards and social security handouts it'll be hungry folk brandishing guns and machetes. Don't you just love socialism?

Mon, 01/05/2015 - 13:57 | 5624372 gallistic
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I have read every post up until now, and it is pretty astonishing that there is a huge blind spot among the generally well-informed ZH crowd.

It is a meeting of CELAC countries and China, and it is quite a big deal.

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