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MADem

(135,425 posts)

154. They can't get to the oil because they haven't maintained the wells and fields.

Thu Nov 14, 2013, 03:20 AM

Nov 2013

Their oil requires a lot of handling--it's funky stuff and USA has refineries that can process it efficiently (and we do--and we also send it back to them as motor oil, gasoline, etc.).

They also have people in the government who skim, steal and divert the product. Then there are "businessmen" -- private citizens who are friends of the regime who are doing the same thing; selling the stuff to smugglers in Colombia, Brasil, etc.

It's a corrupt shithole. Everyone is out for themselves. They should have used the oil to lift themselves up as a nation; instead, the "Boligarchs" use the oil to enrich themselves personally, and they trade it to Cuba in exchange for doctors and some governmental management assistance (which isn't too good, if you ask me...).

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Maduro urges calm as Venezuelans jam stores again [View all] Zorro Nov 2013 OP

business is good! strong demand! ..nt quadrature Nov 2013 #1

See Maduro fans? Socialism works! Archae Nov 2013 #2

Socialism, Communism ... same thing, right? 1000words Nov 2013 #4

Well then. We can all go home now because Venezuela is just like North Korea and Soviet Russia. pa28 Nov 2013 #5

A hell of a lot better than Venezuela, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #20

Why do the stories keep talking about TVs? That other stuff is more important. freshwest Nov 2013 #50

Those countries aren't being interfered with bitchkitty Nov 2013 #55

Ooooooooh, the big bad boogie man to explain the train wreck that Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #71

14 years of chavismo got Ven to where it is today Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #72

Why did all that happen? Nationalization should have paid for all of that. freshwest Nov 2013 #146

Not if oil production steadily declines hack89 Nov 2013 #156

US interventionism ronnie624 Nov 2013 #100

the US hasn't forced Maduro to rule by decree or maintain a failed economic policy n/t Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #102

No one is forcing VZ to make very poor economic decisions hack89 Nov 2013 #103

Epic fail. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #105

Bankrupt? Once again, where did the money go? freshwest Nov 2013 #150

They spent it hack89 Nov 2013 #157

Declining oil production while Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #158

Pulsa Merica: "IMF says Venezuela�s economic situation is �not sustainable�" Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #106

the US is the debbil! that's it i'm throwing down. dionysus Nov 2013 #121

Yup. It's always us. Any world leader that's in trouble at home, can always divert by blaming.... Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #123

'Course.....we did that bad thing somewhere... EX500rider Nov 2013 #128

Ya got that right! Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #133

Back in 1953? bitchkitty Nov 2013 #174

It reminds me of the Iraq War cheerleaders. There must be a war. Where is it? freshwest Nov 2013 #142

Members of OPEC, huge exporter of oil, nationalized the goodies... WTF? freshwest Nov 2013 #144

And as for freedom of the press? It exists only in the minds of the Snowdenistas. Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #108

you're darn tootin it was! dionysus Nov 2013 #124

EVIL! EVIL, I say! Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #127

I keep hearing that in the voice of the old lady in a Doctor Who episode. Campy, but scary. freshwest Nov 2013 #145

I know, bad us, buying their oil and all...n/t EX500rider Nov 2013 #126

Those are democracies. Venezuela is NOT a Democracy dbackjon Nov 2013 #26

The Democracy watchers sent by the U.N. and other voter dotymed Nov 2013 #75

So, you're asserting that the reason their economy is coming apart at the seams Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #77

CARTER CENTER warns about unfairness of Venezuelan elections spanza Nov 2013 #78

that is not what the Carter Center said during the last election Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #80

"aggressively trying to topple" EX500rider Nov 2013 #130

LOL. Let me know when I can move to that Norwegian hellhole... freshwest Nov 2013 #46

Last month it was proven dotymed Nov 2013 #13

No it was not hack89 Nov 2013 #15

^^^^^^^^^ *****THIS, exactly!**** ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ MADem Nov 2013 #53

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10109 dotymed Nov 2013 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author hack89 Nov 2013 #67

A mini-mart hoarding 3800 rolls of toilet paper is your proof? hack89 Nov 2013 #69

Holy Acronym! seveneyes Nov 2013 #97

"Read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" EX500rider Nov 2013 #132

Come over here to this woodshed! RedCloud Nov 2013 #161

I like this, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #3

Feeling low in the polls? Fearless Nov 2013 #6

Wow, your third wankfest in as many days! bitchkitty Nov 2013 #7

A masturbation reference? Really? And a personal attack? That's all you can come up with? MADem Nov 2013 #9

Don't I recall seeing references to excretory functions from you? Comrade Grumpy Nov 2013 #23

I don't call DUers "shit." And I don't think calling 'em "jerk-offs" is terribly cool, either. MADem Nov 2013 #34

Golly. bitchkitty Nov 2013 #28

any thoughts on the "revolucion" these days or you just gonna wank yourself? n/t Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #29

So, anyone who disagrees with your POV is a masturbator? Real nice. nt MADem Nov 2013 #35

Well, there's always mental masturbation. No sex involved. I think... freshwest Nov 2013 #48

No. Only the wankers who start wankfest. bitchkitty Nov 2013 #54

... MADem Nov 2013 #56

No. I am calling a spade a spade. bitchkitty Nov 2013 #57

No you aren't--you're using crude language and accusing people who don't MADem Nov 2013 #58

No. I haven't called you a right winger, have I? bitchkitty Nov 2013 #59

Well, gee--you wasted no time, there, I see. Real classy. MADem Nov 2013 #62

If one chooses to hang out with bitchkitty Nov 2013 #64

Yet you obviously gain great pleasure gleefully participating in these wankfests you criticize Zorro Nov 2013 #79

It's turned into a dogfight. I don't even remember the topic now. TVs? freshwest Nov 2013 #148

Well, I think people can disagree without being disagreeable, or calling people petty names. MADem Nov 2013 #151

Elections are coming. joshcryer Nov 2013 #11

Like we didn't know Socialism fails when Capitalists get their hands on it. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #8

But capitalism doesn't fail when socialists get their hands on it? Psephos Nov 2013 #30

The US determined long ago to reduce the rest of the hemisphere into it's "backyard". Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #33

Not that I'd argue with that, but it's a non sequitur. n/t Psephos Nov 2013 #38

Tell that to the victims of the "School of the Americas". Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #40

The pattern for treatment of leftist governments has been repeated endlessly. Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #44

More to consider, same article: Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #45

The USSR failed due to a boycott by the West. This is the playbook for Venezuela... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #51

Economic war with continual propaganda is much easier to accomplish, Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #52

Desperation wages and no vote? What's not for Republicans to love? Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #91

"The USSR failed due to a boycott by the West. This is the playbook for Venezuela.." EX500rider Nov 2013 #134

And the hits against the Chavezistas apologists talking points keep on coming. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #136

It's the IMPORTS that matter.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #137

Yes and they currently import.. EX500rider Nov 2013 #138

That must come as a blow to UNICEF. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #139

So shall it be written! ronnie624 Nov 2013 #141

Same attitude reflected by Richard Nixon's bloody, filthy puppet dictator, Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #42

Yup, and Henrique Capriles Radonski would have brought freedom,...by locking people up. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #43

Absolutely. He's precisely their kind of guy. Creepy. n/t Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #47

He's really wishing China gave that loan right about now. joshcryer Nov 2013 #10

What's the t-shirt-color of those "volunteer civilian militiamen"? Brown? DetlefK Nov 2013 #12

This wont end well... Gary 50 Nov 2013 #14

Nah, I don't think he's got the country organized well enough for that. And not saying he would. freshwest Nov 2013 #147

ROFL, I wonder if this dude actually believes what he says- snooper2 Nov 2013 #16

Chavismo is all about the cheap LED HD tvs, what more can you ask? Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #17

The focus on consumer electronics seems odd. A lot left out of these stories. freshwest Nov 2013 #49

Will it impact us? bobGandolf Nov 2013 #18

Very little hack89 Nov 2013 #19

Ah, the old devil Oil packman Nov 2013 #21

No impact on the USA whatsoever. Socialistlemur Nov 2013 #32

We "buy" their oil to refine it and send it on, to a very great extent. MADem Nov 2013 #36

Not exactly. Citgo sells in the US. spanza Nov 2013 #81

no, Venezuela imports gasoline from the US Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #84

Bacchus, Venezuela has around 3/5 of the refining capacity for the whole country's consumption spanza Nov 2013 #89

Another basic economic lesson they have failed hack89 Nov 2013 #85

the subsidy also just benefits the car owning segment of society which is not poor n/t Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #87

3. People drive 30 year-old cars which use 1 liter/ 3km, pollution and traffic jams multiply spanza Nov 2013 #90

4. Smugglers haul as much as they can across the border. n/t EX500rider Nov 2013 #135

I'm not saying they don't have the reserves, but they do have a problem getting to them. MADem Nov 2013 #149

I don't understand, with all that oil, they'd have an unemployment, poverty, crime, etc. problem. freshwest Nov 2013 #152

They can't get to the oil because they haven't maintained the wells and fields. MADem Nov 2013 #154

Thanks so much for answering that, best yet on the thread. Sans ideology, great answer. freshwest Nov 2013 #171

What I don't understand is why Venezuela excites such scorn and derision. Comrade Grumpy Nov 2013 #22

What I don't understand is the fanatical Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #24

Venezuelan people are great--it's Maduro that is a thief and the head crony. MADem Nov 2013 #37

I agree - they're wonderful. bitchkitty Nov 2013 #60

They haven't been allowed to pick their own leader, and you know that. MADem Nov 2013 #63

Oh, the election was stolen. I see... bitchkitty Nov 2013 #65

No, those were purchased, not stolen. nt MADem Nov 2013 #143

How does Venezuela compare with, say, Mexico or Honduras or Colombia? Comrade Grumpy Nov 2013 #104

in terms of what? Those countries do not lack toilet paper Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #114

Even Mexico, with their drug cartels, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #116

thats correct, over the past few years we hear of the horrible violence in Mexico Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #117

Mexican grocery stores are well stocked with staples like flour and chickens, too, MADem Nov 2013 #167

You can't really blame them for attempting to place the blame for the state of the economy Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #168

IF USA really wanted to screw with them, they could do it. MADem Nov 2013 #169

It's not Venezuela, it's Maduro Socialistlemur Nov 2013 #31

I don't think it is VEN. as much as it is the President of the country. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #39

Whom they elected. n/t bitchkitty Nov 2013 #61

Yep, and you gets what you pays for, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #74

Then why was Chavez bitchkitty Nov 2013 #86

Because he promised the poor everything at the expense of the better off. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #88

So it was only the poor who voted for Chavez. bitchkitty Nov 2013 #107

Yep they seem to prefer leftist leaders, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #109

But that's their economy, not ours. bitchkitty Nov 2013 #110

And I don't see our govt telling them how to run their economy either, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #111

If you don't think that our bitchkitty Nov 2013 #112

We don't need to interfere in Ven. domestic affairs, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #115

Take off the blinders, bitchkitty. This has been predicted for years, and claims that this is a US Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #118

This person and a few others are desperately trying to defend Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #119

It is pretty pathetic, at this point. Chavez was just a much better salesman than Maduro. The..... Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #122

So the US influenced VZ domestic policy making hack89 Nov 2013 #120

Yep, and we made them not maintain or expand their electric capacity too! nt EX500rider Nov 2013 #164

Didn't bother to learn anything about what the U.S. did to Chile Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #125

So America tricked VZ into implementing disasterous domestic policies? hack89 Nov 2013 #129

Wow, you dredge up something that happened in the 70's, in Chile, not even Ven., as proof Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #131

You hope to claim the U.S. wouldn't do anything it has already done? Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #140

Bogus information? Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #159

"You hope to claim the U.S. wouldn't do anything it has already done?" EX500rider Nov 2013 #165

You have to go back to Dead Dick Nixon to try to "prove" your point? MADem Nov 2013 #166

Well I still think the issue is the President, not the people. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #101

Don't you know Capitalism is a RELIGION? Anything else is EVIL. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #41

The irony it's that VZ depends on capitalism to feed its people hack89 Nov 2013 #68

Face it. This is a stick up. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #92

Agreed. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #94

I think Maduro is simply in over his head and desperate hack89 Nov 2013 #96

He really don't seem to have much of a clue penultimate Nov 2013 #162

Same conditions existed before his death, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #163

Although that may be the content of the debate in your country, it has little to do spanza Nov 2013 #83

The discusion coming out of the walled communities sounds like the Tea Party. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #93

I visited your country in the 70's with the U.S. Navy, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #95

Thanks a lot Ranchemp spanza Nov 2013 #98

It was very enlightening, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #99

It depends from what perspective spanza Nov 2013 #82

It's because they've been "given" so much. MADem Nov 2013 #155

Fascism is never the answer dbackjon Nov 2013 #25

What a train wreck that guy is. nt Dreamer Tatum Nov 2013 #27

I think the VZ leaders have been tryng to do the right thing by the people Marrah_G Nov 2013 #70

Poor Venezuela, it's a shadow of its former self. Beacool Nov 2013 #73

Back in the early 70's, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #76

My dad was a Seabee in WW2. Didn't know they'd go to Venezuela. It sounds great. freshwest Nov 2013 #153

It was great, beautiful country, great people. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #160

This message was self-deleted by its author freshwest Nov 2013 #170

I'm sorry to hear about your dad's passing when you were 13. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #172

TY. Your reply had me stumped. He never mentioned the term 'plank owners.' freshwest Nov 2013 #173

Your dad sounds like an amazing man. sheshe2 Nov 2013 #175

Thanks, Sheshe. freshwest Nov 2013 #176

Obviously, Maduro should not call for violence McXorsett Nov 2013 #113