UN survey ranks Venezuela happiest nation in South America

[Zater]

But....they don't have toilet paper!

Article: http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/10033

Report: http://unsdsn.org/files/2013/09/WorldHappinessReport2013_online.pdf

[ehcross]

1. Venezuela happiest nation in South America?

It is hard to know where the U.N. obtained its data on Venezuela that would reward that country with such a qualification.
For what Venezuelans themselves vigorously claim the country in the middle of the worst and most chaotic state of affairs they have known.
The media is full of reports and stories that lay bare a disastrous state of affiairs, from incontrollable crime, to generalized scarcity of basic foodstuffs.

The economy is in shambles, power failures are an everyday nuisance, the government is unable to restore a minimum of normalcy and life is thus reduced to a difficult survival level.

There is widespread daily protests, usually controlled by water cannon or brute force.

Zater ought to visit Venezuela to ascertain the true state of affairs, before even venturing to expose himself. Mind you, scarcity is rampant, so be prepared to have to stand hours in line for food. And, very important, never carry more cash than you can get along with.

[bvar22]

3. I worked in Venezuela before Chavez.

You gave a perfect description of Venezuela pre-Chavez.
Yes, Venezuela has these problems,
has had them for a LONG time,
and is still struggling with them,
but they weren't CAUSED by Chavez and the Populist reforms.

Venezuela is making progress under Chavez.
Chavez has diverted a percentage of the Oil Profits to:
*Feed the Poor

*Educate the Ignorant

*Clothe the naked

*Heal the sick

*Empower the disenfranchised.

Relieving misery and making tangible PROGRESS is what makes people HAPPY.

I can see why you hate him so much.

[sabrina 1]

6. I have friends in Venezuela, they agree that their country is now a free, far more

democratic nation than it has ever been thanks to Chavez' policies. Women are 100% better off in every way especially educationally and in equality.

I have no clue where you are coming up this clearly misinformed nonsense, sorry but there is no other way to describe what you just posted.

Although it isn't hard to guess. The Corporate controlled media here is an obvious suspect.

[frazzled]

2. Because it's a major cocaine hub?

I dunno. Being ranked the happiest country in South America a meaningful designation? They're still less "happy" than the United States, apparently. They're no. 19, while we're number 11, but then, we have toilet paper. But neither compares to the annual winner, Denmark. People there are apparently happy because they are able to pay big bucks to eat things like braised nettles.

I've never understood how they rank happiness anyway.

A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance.
Anatole France (1844 - 1924)

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. "UN survey...But....they don't have toilet paper!"

They do now.

[sabrina 1]

5. Which only goes to show how deceptive Western Propaganda against Venezuela

has been, not that we didn't know that if we have remained informed, which means not listening to the Corporate Controlled Media.

And it also shows that people can be happy even without all the 'luxuries' we in the Predatory Capitalist nation we live in, think are essential to 'happiness'.