Venezuela Reaches the Final Stage of Socialism: No Toilet Paper

[PikaDaDon]

In 1990 I went to a Cato Institute conference in what was then still the Soviet Union. We were told to bring our own toilet paper, which was in fact useful advice. Now, after only 16 years of Chavista rule, Venezuela has demonstrated that “Socialism of the 21st Century” is pretty much like socialism in the 20th century. Fusion reports:

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Venezuela’s product shortages have become so severe that some hotels in that country are asking guests to bring their own toilet paper and soap, a local tourism industry spokesman said on Wednesday….

“It’s an extreme situation,” says Xinia Camacho, owner of a 20-room boutique hotel in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada national park. “For over a year we haven’t had toilet paper, soap, any kind of milk, coffee or sugar. So we have to tell our guests to come prepared.”…

Montilla says bigger hotels can circumvent product shortages by buying toilet paper and other basic supplies from black market smugglers who charge up to 6-times the regular price. But smaller, family-run hotels can’t always afford to pay such steep prices, which means that sometimes they have to make do without.

Camacho says she refuses to buy toilet paper from the black market on principle.

“In the black market you have to pay 110 bolivares [$0.50] for a roll of toilet paper that usually costs 17 bolivares [$ 0.08] in the supermarket,” Camacho told Fusion. “We don’t want to participate in the corruption of the black market, and I don’t have four hours a day to line up for toilet paper” at a supermarket….

Recently, Venezuelan officials have been stopping people from transporting essential goods across the country in an effort to stem the flow of contraband. So now Camacho’s guests could potentially have their toilet paper confiscated before they even make it to the hotel.

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Shortages, queues, black markets, and official theft. And blaming the CIA. Yes, Venezuela has truly achieved socialism.

But what I never understood is this: Why toilet paper? How hard is it to make toilet paper? I can understand a socialist economy having trouble producing decent cars or computers. But toilet paper?And soap? And matches?

Sure, it’s been said that if you tried communism in the Sahara, you’d get a shortage of sand. Still, a shortage of paper seems like a real achievement.

@88m3 @DEAD7 @Napoleon @Type Username Here

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

 

[CHL]

Since when does Venezuela have workers owning the means of production? Since when do they even have social democratic policies, let alone democratic or market socialist policies?

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Since when does Venezuela have workers owning the means of production? Since when do they even have social democratic policies, let alone democratic or market socialist policies?

pie, in the sky.

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

Since when does Venezuela have workers owning the means of production? Since when do they even have social democratic policies, let alone democratic or market socialist policies?

They aren't there yet, the transition can't happen overnight

But Im def curious as to how long you think it will take. You too @Swavy Karl Marx, when will Venezuelans move out of what seems like the inevitable economic stalemate and widespread rampant corruption that seems endemic to every socialist transition? When has the mass collection of private property and means of production ever resulted in anything that wasn't failure?

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

One can easily make an poorly drawn cartoon about the capitalist economy of Nigeria and the effect capitalism has had on that country. Nice try Op.

 

[DEAD7]

Central planning

 

[Disclosure]

when will Venezuelans move out of what seems like the inevitable economic stalemate and widespread rampant corruption that seems endemic to every socialist transition?

As a Venezuelan my opinion is never. Obviously this is anecdotal, but backbiting, corruption and incompetence are endemic to Venezuelan CULTURE. Cuba , North Korea and Vietnam have toilet paper AND fighter jets. Nobody ever asks how a country with so much potential wealth can screw up so badly. Any system of government can "work" more or less as long as you have competent leadership and a spirit to serve its people. These people dont exist in Venezuela.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

As a Venezuelan my opinion is never. Obviously this is anecdotal, but backbiting, corruption and incompetence are endemic to Venezuelan CULTURE. Cuba , North Korea and Vietnam have toilet paper AND fighter jets. Nobody ever asks how a country with so much potential wealth can screw up so badly. Any system of government can "work" more or less as long as you have competent leadership and a spirit to serve its people. These people dont exist in Venezuela.

How much do you blame America?

 

[Disclosure]

How much do you blame America?

I dont

 

[CHL]

Central planning

State capitalism

 

[CHL]

They aren't there yet, the transition can't happen overnight

But Im def curious as to how long you think it will take. You too @Swavy Karl Marx, when will Venezuelans move out of what seems like the inevitable economic stalemate and widespread rampant corruption that seems endemic to every socialist transition? When has the mass collection of private property and means of production ever resulted in anything that wasn't failure?

What do you think democratic socialism is and what do you think state capitalism is?

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

What do you think democratic socialism is and what do you think state capitalism is?

I asked you a question first

What do you think is the timeline for Venezuela to complete the transition

U dont get to pick and choose who is or isn't socialist..... the people do :scumbag:

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

As a Venezuelan my opinion is never. Obviously this is anecdotal, but backbiting, corruption and incompetence are endemic to Venezuelan CULTURE. Cuba , North Korea and Vietnam have toilet paper AND fighter jets. Nobody ever asks how a country with so much potential wealth can screw up so badly. Any system of government can "work" more or less as long as you have competent leadership and a spirit to serve its people. These people dont exist in Venezuela.

@Melbournelad what's your take on this? Can the jealousy and spite of impotent intellectuals overcome cultures of corruption and absences of accountability?

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

I dont

At all? I'm curious. Whats your thoughts on the attempted coup of Chavez?