Yes. I do find it very unsettling to watch the Venezuelan situation. The same feeling that I got watching half the voters here support Hillary. Is this what it was like during the rise of Hitler's?

Remember that force and mind are opposites. When a goon points a gun at your family, muttering that you believe in the revolution gets easier every time.

Romney is a snake, and he deserved being rejected after many meetings basically cause he is not loyal, plus he hates russia and thats no way to be effective as a secretary of state. The idea is to find ways to successfully get along with all countries as best as possible.

I think it was his way of rubbing Romney's nose in it, knowing that he would look ungracious if he refused Trump's invitation. Which is what's happening to the Bushes.

I would rather know what he really thinks. I dont think he could have been successful by acting without due consideration of the consequences. look at his cabinet choices so far. Very slow consideration went into the choices. He even listened to Romney before dumping him out with the trash.

I hope so. If all the negative stuff about him proves false, or at least most of it. So far, he's done pretty good - if he'd only keep his trap shut.

Always more fun than planning ahead ;)

We should watch carefully the ways the government tries to stay in power. I think we are going to see them happen here in 40 years or so

At least we get 4 yrs of slowing down iof socialism- at least a little bit

Only thing to do that's left- sex

I think it's incredible that the Venezuelans are so stupid as to stick with socialism even after experiencing the horrors it has wrought. But I suppose the half of the American voters that supported Hillary are not much better. Trump will give us deplorables some more time before the liberal mob continues the march to socialism

A loss for words...ah there they are...just thinking about hiltery's mate kane...seems he was a missionary there to help the "Marxist" cause...bet ya he's completely unaware of what he did in promoting what is happening to these people now.

There is nothing that the new president has offered that will change the course of this country to the same eventual outcome. Hope that it will be staved off for a time or perhaps even change direction is to ignore the fact that whether republican or democrat in any office the path has never altered from the goal of communism which is the correct definition for what this country is now, a communist democracy where the mob can vote for and expect the enforcement of rules that plunder those who work. Even if you try to save the fiat currency in use today will continue to destroy the value of all that you have while every level of government continues to demand more.

No what he needed to do was restore their value which would be simple now that the price of oil is going to go up. Cut govt spending and regulation, restore private property and the rule of law under a new constitution. Simple isn't it.
The Venezuelan people haven't forgotten how to work and create wealth in 15 years they just forgot it has to be earned by production in a Capitalist system.

I spend a lot of time in South America, and one would think the statists would figure out the more the statism the lower the standard of living. I am sure they would, but that is not the statist motive. Power, and only power, is the motive.

In Venezuela, I am informed they have not consumed their pets --- dogs and cats --- because there is not enough food. This country was the top of the heap in South America until Chavez and Chile was the lowest in standard of living at that time (1970s), now it is reversed.

Terrible, but a great representation of socialism.

Why does she have seven children?

Heartbreaking and totally unnecessary. But before I get all weepy about it, many years ago I toured around the country while in college gathering up folk songs with a reel to reel tape recorder. I was in Harlan County, KY where I found a treasure trove of songs some of which became popular songs (16 Tons, etc.). The poverty there was bone-crushing. When the Clinton woman talked about shutting down coal mines, it brought me right back to Kentucky, where the mines there closed down and people starved. I'm so sorry that I don't believe in Hell, because that is where she deserves to rot. Eight more years of the Obama type government and Venezuela might be our future.

I'd like to treat those skinny escapees from a Bolshevik Bernie Utopia to an all you can eat buffet.

And yet, many Venezuelans still voted for the communist government. Even if the elections were rigged, there were still many that continue to believe in fairies and in stealing other people's earnings. Except that now there are no earnings left to steal. Just watching how's that working out for them...

It is of course terrible to see such massive suffering. However, it's also exceedingly gratifying to see another example of how socialism/collectivism always produces the exact opposite of what it promises.

Blanco

I'm mulling that over. Is the birthing of several kids what triggers the problem? Not really. That's a toughy, though. I wouldn't have three children here. I regularly question having any...haha...

Seven children, both parents unemployed. I feel sorry for the kids, but the parents trapped themselves with their life choices. Their religious leaders probably encouraged them to have large families, while their political leaders made sure that they would have difficulties supporting such large families. A no-win situation.

The 100 bolivar notes have been cancelled, but the new higher-denomination bills are not quite ready yet. Oops . .

"Protests, looting break out in Venezuela amid cash chaos" https://www.yahoo.com/news/pockets-pr...

However, Maduro was absolutely right to demonetize the 100 bolivar notes. They were worth a whole three cents each on the black market, and only criminals need to be carrying around that big a stash of currency, correct?

No doubt Maduro will be eating like a dictator tonight gotta keep the strength up to hold the people down , like Chavez before him . He and all the other fraudulent oppressors have no conscience, they will let children starve to death and murder anyone that gets in their filthy way. Time for payback people.

Maduro eliminated the 100 bolivar denomination in the last week, too. New higher-denomination bills are due to start being released today

https://www.theguardian.com/world/201...