Banana Republic Newsflash

[Cyborg Girl]

Jesus. Life in Venezuela immitates a bad Frank Miller comic.

It's just hard for me to understand what's going on there. I mean, justice here often doesn't happen, and I'm way leftie and all by US standards. I am very critical of many, many US government policies. But, holy fuck. Mobsters never do stuff that brazen here. They just don't, because the government actually gives a fuck, at least on the level of violent crime.

There are things the government doesn't give a fuck about, or at least not enough fucks. Homelessness, poverty, racism. Malnutrition. Lead poisoning. But by God, if you take fifty hostages and threaten them with injury or death, you will get your ass handed to you whether there be Democrats or Republicans in charge. The system as a whole will not stand for that shit.

I just can't grasp the mentality at work. You can't back down from bastards like this "El Raton". They're sadistic bullies to the core, they'll just get more brazen every time. The only reason they'll listen to is force of arms.

I don't know. If the people on top are after the same mold as Donald Trump, then maybe they see El Raton as a kindred spirit.

(That is the most insanely optimistic explanation I can think of, BTW.)

...

I hope you can get out of that place some day, Sigma. The idea seems to be dying out these days; but I really do think people have a right to live, and to be considered worthy of life by their governments. My government, for all its flaws, makes an effort at that for most of its citizens.

Your government, though... I really wonder.

*hugs*

[Sigma_Orionis]

I don't have to wonder. I know very well how this happened. We're a Feudal Society. Or did why do you think left wing politics are so fashionable here? However, we have one additional twist. Our culture is oriented to power (much more than yours, for example). This leads to both continuous struggle between factions and short term thinking. The rest just follows. This is prevalent here regardless of political ideology, economic condition, social status, whatever. So, as I said on the other thread. Even if we get out of this one, we'll be back into something like this in 20-30 years.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well look at this

Venezuela envoy disputes UN chief's "humanitarian crisis" remarks

But Mr Ramirez called Mr Ban's description "strange" and questioned where the UN secretary-general got his information.

"We have problems here, but it's nowhere near a humanitarian crisis," he said.

He also said that President Maduro would speak to Mr Ban in September during a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Caracas.

The Venezuelan government blames the shortages on an economic war being waged against it by its enemies and the United States.

Opposition politicians, however, argue the government has mismanaged the economy for years and is therefore responsible for the shortages.

They simply can't admit to the size of the problem because they caused it. 10 years from now, when this is all over, they'll be all in North Korea, or wherever, and will still be saying the crisis was caused by an "Economic War" waged by the US and its allies on Venezuela. IF they admit they caused this mess, they'll have to explain a lot more things than they'll ever be willing admit. They can't and won't admit there's a problem, and We'll all have to pay for it.

[Sigma_Orionis]

And here we have another achievement for the Revolution

Malaria is Back

Edited for spelling

[Cyborg Girl]

Officially, the spread of malaria in Venezuela has become a state secret. The government has not published epidemiological reports on the disease in the past year, and it says there is no crisis.

Jesus. And they say the US is bad about abusing secrecy.

[Sigma_Orionis]

THIS is why nobody trusts the Police around here, and considering how the Military have behaved throughout Latin America why I am skeptical of them DESPITE that they have behaved reasonably SO FAR

It’s Cops-vs.-Cops in Guayana

Those Bolivar state cops are getting quite a reputation. Earlier this year, CONAS arrested six Caroni (Puerto Ordaz) Municipal Police officers for extortioning the relatives of three people detained during a prior raid.

[Sigma_Orionis]

GJ, remember when I said we're a Feudal Society?

Venezuela public workers face sack over referendum

Take it from me. Maduro and his Cronies ain't the only ones that behave like this.

[Cyborg Girl]

Wait, isn't that, like... the socialist version of union-busting?

[Swift]

GJ, remember when I said we're a Feudal Society?

WOMAN: I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective.
DENNIS: You're fooling yourself. We're living in a dictatorship. A self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working classes--
WOMAN: Oh there you go, bringing class into it again.

[Sigma_Orionis]

GJ, remember when I said we're a Feudal Society?

WOMAN: I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective.
DENNIS: You're fooling yourself. We're living in a dictatorship. A self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working classes--
WOMAN: Oh there you go, bringing class into it again.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Wait, isn't that, like... the socialist version of union-busting?

Remember, ALL roads lead to Feudalism

[Sigma_Orionis]

I knew the name "Bolivar" was at one time popular in the US, but didn't know where it came from.

Now I know

What the baby Bolivar boom tells us about how we used to view South America

[Sigma_Orionis]

GJ, remember when I said we're a Feudal Society?

WOMAN: I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective.
DENNIS: You're fooling yourself. We're living in a dictatorship. A self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working classes--
WOMAN: Oh there you go, bringing class into it again.

Kafkian Feudalism indeed

[SciFiFisher]

Social Systems just like everything else evolve and/or devolve. Entropy is King! At least until we perfect cold fusion.

[Sigma_Orionis]

I supposed this was bound to happen sooner or later...

Utah man describes 'nightmare' conditions in Venezuela jail

[Sigma_Orionis]

Quite believable if you ask me....

[SciFiFisher]

cue the music from the Twilight Zone and a monologue by Rod Sterling.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Yeah

[Thumper]

Serling.

[SciFiFisher]

Serling.

Sterling.

[Sigma_Orionis]

it WAS a sterling comment, but the guy's name is Rod Serling

And the music of the Twilight Zone keeps playing....

A Bang on the Door at 3 in the Morning just like the KGB, ain't it grand

And this was the excuse

[SciFiFisher]

it WAS a sterling comment, but the guy's name is Rod Serling

I know. But, I swear in every episode I ever watched I heard him say: This is Rod Sterling; welcome to the Twilight Zone. Good thing the Army and the VA never realized my hearing loss was a pre-existing condition.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Today, there's an opposition rally about the referendum, one that has been announced several weeks in advance.

The government as usual made all sorts of dire warnings.

Just so happens that access to the Capital is blocked and from what my sister tells me, the Subway has been shut down for "maintenance". Surprising isn't it?

[SciFiFisher]

Oh my! Did they really. I am so totally shocked.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well, didn't end up in rioting, so I guess I can be thankful for small favors.

I presume that the government will now say they thwarted the latest "Coup Attempt". But, this is funny.