Oil Cash Waning, Venezuelan Shelves Lie Bare

[brooklynite]

New York Times:

Venezuelans have put up with shortages and long lines for years. But as the price of oil, the country’s main export, has plunged, the situation has grown so dire that the government has sent troops to patrol huge lines snaking for blocks. Some states have barred people from waiting outside stores overnight, and government officials are posted near entrances, ready to arrest shoppers who cheat the rationing system.

Because Venezuela is so dependent on oil sales to buy imports of food, medicine and many other basics, the drop in oil prices means that there is even less hard currency to buy what the country needs.

...snip...

One of the nation’s most prestigious public hospitals shut down its heart surgery unit for weeks because of shortages of medical supplies. Some drugs have been out of stock for months, and at least one clinic performed heart operations only by smuggling in a vital drug from the United States. Diapers are so coveted that some shoppers carry the birth certificates of their children in case stores demand them.

Now economists predict that shortages will get even more acute and inflation, already 64 percent, will climb further. The price of Venezuelan oil dropped this month to $38 a barrel, down from $96 in September.

How does Maduro get anything done if he has to stand in line all day? Or does he get special privileges?

[COLGATE4]

1. I doubt if Maduro has any special privileges -

after all, he still doesn't live in the Presidential Residence. (Chavez' widow and daughters have refused to move out and so still live there).

[Adrahil]

2. Sarcasm?

'Cause if you think Maduro suffers along with the poor, you're crazy.

[COLGATE4]

5. Sarcasm nt

[Adrahil]

6. Good. :). Wanted to be sure! n/t

[KG]

3. obviously it's time to turn that country back over to the oligarchs!

[Starry Messenger]

4. I'm so glad to hear we've eradicated poverty in the US.

I'm sure the 25% of children in our country going hungry today will sleep well tonight knowing that they aren't suffering under the tyranny of left-wing economic policy.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Hunger In NYC- from New York City No Kid Hungry

"More than 474,000 children in New York City—about one in four—face hunger.

Hungry children have trouble concentrating, get more headaches and infections, are more likely to be hospitalized and are less likely to perform well on athletic fields and in classrooms. It's simply much harder for children at risk of hunger to thrive."

Link to make donations:

https://secure.nokidhungry.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=9EFF93E0DA3C7AD46F0A5B12BCA019B0.app252b?idb=465893266&df_id=5200&5200.donation=form1&s_subsrc=New%20York%20City