tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post392017060377509051..comments2024-03-26T00:37:34.943+01:00Comments on Venezuela News And Views: May 1 folliesDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-61288628971305746852014-05-03T23:07:35.284+02:002014-05-03T23:07:35.284+02:00Given the level of corruption and lawlessness it&#...Given the level of corruption and lawlessness it's difficult to see how any of this can ever be resolved and understand where Maduro thinks this will end. However, Mugabe is still in place in Zimbabwe in a country riddled with corruption so a Venezuelan change may be some time off yetRoss11https://www.blogger.com/profile/00042514465092675618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-46367390586227831792014-05-03T09:04:54.402+02:002014-05-03T09:04:54.402+02:00Am I understanding this correctly? The regime thi...Am I understanding this correctly? The regime thinks that more money chasing fewer goods is a solution to the problems? Is that reverse thinking, or is that just plain stupidity? And. Is their continuing application of political repression so they can keep being so stupid? This would be lousy fiction if it weren't true!Gordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15691999086847940690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-77273575901889007932014-05-03T04:51:12.009+02:002014-05-03T04:51:12.009+02:00NO.
Minimum wage is also a tool to help avoid sl...NO. <br /><br />Minimum wage is also a tool to help avoid slave working, to stabilize consumption in a country, to help guarantee the levels of certain markets. Like all things it has its good and bad sides. What needs to be rejected are automated social benefits that do not encourage people to work. Minimum wage, when decent, actually is an incentive for some to take a job, any job rather than remain on the dole.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-17663210256208177722014-05-02T23:16:53.086+02:002014-05-02T23:16:53.086+02:00"I am personally for the existence of minimal..."I am personally for the existence of minimal wages, but not when those become an hindrance to economic development or populist tools. "<br /><br />Hmmm, totally meaningless sentiment as the minimum wage is a socialist populist tool to begin with. <br /><br />Roberto Carlosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-9920515941648115932014-05-02T14:21:42.412+02:002014-05-02T14:21:42.412+02:00I said that if the regime did not do anything an e...I said that if the regime did not do anything an expiration date could be May/June. The regime has done a little bit and consumption went down, allowing for raw material reserves to stretch some. For example my business which I was considering closing June first has found some of the material needed, some only, and we may be rolling all the way through late July, but at 50% of what we were doing last year. This is basically the case for all my providers and clients, to the point that even among competition we exchange goods as "loans", on the condition that we see the completed paper work of imported raw material so we know that the "loan" will be repaid in kind very soon.<br /><br />The thing is that oil keeps being pumped though at lower levels and the regime has moved some of its stashed reserves. Some money has surfaced through that and devaluation and some imports have taken place. So the day of doom is pushed. But only pushed because the regime is not taking yet real measures that would allow for home production to start again. If nothing more is added to the little bit done, I expect a mid summer crunch, but with less reserves this time around.<br /><br />Just as a token evidence, Polar has stopped production at his Maracaibo plant for pasta, a major staple in the carbohydrate rich, protein poor diet of the Venezuelan. And this in spite of warnings from Polar for weeks to speed up wheat import as Venezuela can only grow a tiny fraction of the wheat it needs, if it set its mind to it.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-55377866060632165982014-05-02T13:42:48.457+02:002014-05-02T13:42:48.457+02:00Are things really getting worst? As crap as thing...Are things really getting worst? As crap as things may be it seems like things have stabilized (at a level to be expected for country in dire straights).<br /><br />Recall at the beginning of the year your call was that the regime would be finished around the May 1st timeframe because of economic circumstances. That hasn't happened.<br /><br />Can you please give us an update on this and what you expect from an economic standpoint.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-22170034997623036032014-05-02T11:49:46.836+02:002014-05-02T11:49:46.836+02:00Word was that the lack of gasoline in Caracas was ...Word was that the lack of gasoline in Caracas was due to striking truck drivers who were pissed that one of their number was robbed and killed last week.<br /><br />However given the fact that this Kleptocracy now imports gasoline, it is hard to tell whether the strike actually had the effect of getting several gas stations, notably mostly in El Cafetal/Macaracuay, to run dry or whether there is a "kink in the hose" thanks to Holy Week.<br /><br />The more this government rules, the more I feel we are in Boca de Uchire of the 70's and 80's. The town electricity ran on a generator that was promptly shut down every night at 10 pm and gas was available when the guy that ran the pump felt like it.<br /><br />Roberto N<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-57520175313318047312014-05-02T11:08:20.914+02:002014-05-02T11:08:20.914+02:00Has a black market developed for gasoline yet?
Has a black market developed for gasoline yet?<br />HalfEmptyhttp://www.roadsideamerica.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-49600495539101054272014-05-02T06:00:07.860+02:002014-05-02T06:00:07.860+02:00So real wages dropped 60 percent and Maduro, out o...So real wages dropped 60 percent and Maduro, out of the goodness of his little Cuban heart, is raising the bottom wage up 30 percent.<br /><br />I bet Maduro doesn't keep his money in Bolivars Fuertes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com