Socialism and the Left..they never learn

[mrmike]

Seems the Progressive Left really are suffering from suspension of willful disbelief


Venezuela: Socialism's true face

The South American country Venezuela is virtually bankrupt. Which is odd considering that the country is sitting on one of the world's largest oil reserves. But from the socialist Hugo Chavez took power in 1999, and until 2013, oil production fell by a quarter. Exports by half. The country is currently in crisis. Grocery store are empty, the economy is shattered.

Getting hold of something as elemental as flour, washing powder and other basic goods requires one day standing in queues. Chavez and his successor Maduro has consistently nationalized and traskasserat business in the country. Venezuelans have been badly run state enterprises who do not go around. The fixed exchange rate has meant that the profitability of the private sector is close to zero and the black market has exploded.

Admittedly, it plays into the price of oil is at a record low, important for a country where oil is the only significant export product, but it does not explain that the country currently works worse than perhaps ever before. The main reason for the country's problems is the so-called Socialism of the 2000s, which was supposed to pave the way for a new wave of socialist states. But there was nothing new to Chavez and Maduro socialism and the result is eerily similar to the reality of millions of Eastern Europeans lived in the 1900s.




Venezuela: Socialismens rätta ansikte - Göteborgs-Posten

 

[mrmike]

Part 2:

The Swedish left now writes frequently about Venezuela. It is understandable, no normal intelligence would be associated with one of our contemporary worst political experiments. But only a few years ago, it sounded different.

Hans Linde , the Left Party member of parliament from Gothenburg and also the foreign policy spokesperson had this to say in 2013, when Chavez died and Maduro inherited power: "It is our hope that Venezuela's next leader will build on the success achieved when it comes to poverty alleviation and developed welfare. "

Another member of the Left who had idolized socialism in Venezuela is the senator ali esbati as 2009, wrote: "A country in Latin America who dare to break away from US hegemony, possession wider layers of people and make great economic progress, is of course a challenge, a threat, the liberal Western elites. "

One challenge was the Venezuelan government certainly, but perhaps mainly for its own people rather than for liberals in the West.

Remember these quotes. They are not isolated phenomena. They are in a century-long tradition of Swedish socialists acclaimed the disastrous implementation of socialism in other countries. The Venezuelan people's tragic situation teaches us thus two things: socialist policies in practice is still a disaster. The second lesson is that Swedish left never learns the first lesson.

 

[OldGaffer]

So Sweden and Venezuela are just alike? When does Sweden become a third world hell hole under your theory? How about the other Social Democracies, Norway, Germany, Finland, Denmark and so forth? Do they all become third world hell holes as well? What is your message here? If the US becomes more like Sweden we will wind up like Venezuela?

 

[Jen]

The destruction that the left brings is right before their eyes in every place that's tried it. Yet, true to their habit of blaming everyone else, they think that WHEN (not if) a socialist run city or country turns to rubbish, it's someone else's fault.

 

[Neomalthusian]

What is your message here? If the US becomes more like Sweden we will wind up like Venezuela?

If socialism were good policy (e.g., where housing, employment, health care, etc. are all declared to be human rights), shouldn't its adoption in a resource-rich country like Venezuela have led to a better outcome?

 

[bonehead]

If socialism were good policy (e.g., where housing, employment, health care, etc. are all declared to be human rights), shouldn't its adoption in a resource-rich country like Venezuela have led to a better outcome?

resource rich? what resources are you talking about? they have oil. what other developed resource do they have?

 

[mrmike]

I made no such statement regarding Sweden so it's not my theory. You need to stow your strawman diversion tactic and re-read the article (written in Sweden by Swedes) and give it consideration.

However, I have lived in Sweden many years and can tell you that there is a problem there due to multiculturalism, benefits to and uncontrolled immigration from mainly Islamic countries and silos of crime and poor safety for residents. They are in a predicament that has many Swedes upset. That much is true.

So Sweden and Venezuela are just alike? When does Sweden become a third world hell hole under your theory? How about the other Social Democracies, Norway, Germany, Finland, Denmark and so forth? Do they all become third world hell holes as well? What is your message here? If the US becomes more like Sweden we will wind up like Venezuela?

 

[mrmike]

One thing this thread has done already is draw out a few of the true Socialists in our midst who will to their dying breath, still be mad Soviet era communism failed. So why not give in to the middle ground (Socialism) as a natural first step to revive it?

If socialism were good policy (e.g., where housing, employment, health care, etc. are all declared to be human rights), shouldn't its adoption in a resource-rich country like Venezuela have led to a better outcome?

 

[OldGaffer]

I made no such statement regarding Sweden so it's not my theory. You need to stow your strawman diversion tactic and re-read the article (written in Sweden by Swedes) and give it consideration.

However, I have lived in Sweden many years and can tell you that there is a problem there due to multiculturalism, benefits to and uncontrolled immigration from mainly Islamic countries and silos of crime and poor safety for residents. They are in a predicament that has many Swedes upset. That much is true.

You didn't mention Sweden's economic system as a problem, strange, that.

 

[OldGaffer]

One thing this thread has done already is draw out a few of the true Socialists in our midst who will to their dying breath, still be mad Soviet era communism failed. So why not give in to the middle ground (Socialism) as a natural first step to revive it?

Who exactly, is mad that Communism failed? Which of the countries I listed are Communist? And which have failed? It is you RWNJ's that keep dragging out third world hell holes with massive corruption and centuries of failing economies, no matter what system they have tried (they are all oligarchies at heart, no matter their "label"), and keep touting them as "failed socialism", how about the rest of the Central and South American countries, a couple of dozen "failed capitalists". And your favorite, failed capitalist Mexico.