Venezuela again

[Silent Earth]

Most international air lines have now withdrawn from flying to Venezuela now, Most European lines pulled out weeks ago, Mexico stopped flying their this week, The main airport looks like a ghost town with only a few short hall flights. Its illegal to use US Dollars and the local currency is worthless. If you try to buy a ticket for the few remaining airlines you have to do it ONLINE and pay via foreign banks which most locals cannot do. If you try to pay with local currency online the websites refuse to sell a ticket. Foreign airlines are now owned over $2 billion dollars by Venezuaela in profits they made flying to the country but not one of them has been paid.

 

[Brent S]

Most international air lines have now withdrawn from flying to Venezuela now, Most European lines pulled out weeks ago, Mexico stopped flying their this week, The main airport looks like a ghost town with only a few short hall flights. Its illegal to use US Dollars and the local currency is worthless. If you try to buy a ticket for the few remaining airlines you have to do it ONLINE and pay via foreign banks which most locals cannot do. If you try to pay with local currency online the websites refuse to sell a ticket. Foreign airlines are now owned over $2 billion dollars by Venezuaela in profits they made flying to the country but not one of them has been paid.

It is really scary how bad it is there for the average person. Corn meal was the basic food for the masses, and is now too expensive for them to afford. No one here thinks it could happen in the states, but if you look at the state of our economy, (debt, etc) I don't see how it won't happen here. Im not trying to be pessimistic here, just realistic. You would think that after the thousands of years mankind has been around we would have figured out a stable economic model by now.

 

[Silent Earth]

There is no perfect economic model, never will be because POPULATION always outstrips resources, as Winston Spencer Churchill once said Capitalism may be the unequal sharing of wealth, but socialism is only ever the equal sharing of misery.

 

[Brent S]

There is no perfect economic model, never will be because POPULATION always outstrips resources, as Winston Spencer Churchill once said Capitalism may be the unequal sharing of wealth, but socialism is only ever the equal sharing of misery.

That chap was a pretty sharp guy.

 

[Maverick]

With Churchill being Brit and American kindly wish he was here now!!!

 

[Mountain trapper]

The Venezuelains wanted a socialist country. They're getting what they deserve. I don't have any sympehty for anyone that thinks they can keep taking from other people and expect it to last forever. With all the slakers and takers that we have in the US the same will happen here eventually.

 

[Silent Earth]

That chap was a pretty sharp guy.

Indeed he was because in one of his early books he laid out a very stark warning about Islam in Europe.

 

[Brent S]

Indeed he was because in one of his early books he laid out a very stark warning about Islam in Europe.

Christianity and Islam have been at war for a very long time. People never learn....

 

[jontte]

nope,we don't and islam of today ain't makeing it easier,the way they act,they bring out the crusader in west.

 

[Mountain trapper]

nope,we don't and islam of today ain't makeing it easier,the way they act,they bring out the crusader in west.

The problem is the west doesn't have the backbone or the stomach to put up much of a fight anymore. The west just rolls over and allows these animals in.

 

[Silent Earth]

Well Richard the Lionheart, Charlemagne,, El Cid and Vlad the Impaler ALL had to fight that one common enemy, many people forget that.

 

[FLPrepper]

Cultures and religious sects have been fighting with one another for millennia and it will never stop. The difference now is that in the last few decades in particular that have also developed a hatred for America and have extended the battleground to our soil. Let's hope that this does not last for millennia.

 

[Brent S]

http://fortune.com/2016/12/06/venez...xid=gn_editorspicks&google_editors_picks=true
Just saw this news blurb on Venezuela. Pretty rough there. If you ever are wondering what real poverty and economic collapse could look like, you don't have to look far. Just don't ever be so arrogant that you don't think it could happen here.

 

[Silent Earth]

Ah yes the joys of Socialism on display again for all to see.

 

[Brent S]

Ah yes the joys of Socialism on display again for all to see.

What sucks is the average person suffers from the decisions of a few at the top.

 

[lonewolf]

with socialism, you have too many people taking OUT of the pot and not enough paying IN, the system cannot go on forever,
too many freeloaders will eventually collapse the system.

 

[Brent S]

with socialism, you have too many people taking OUT of the pot and not enough paying IN, the system cannot go on forever,
too many freeloaders will eventually collapse the system.

I agree it's not a good system. My biggest problem is the ones that work hard don't get rewarded any more than the others, so it kills motivation to try harder. I semi retired early, relocated to a good prepping area and took a job at Lowes for the medical benefits. I worked with five other people in my department. For 9 straight years I produced sales two to three times more than the second highest person there. Every year you got about a thirty cent raise, regardless of your ability or contribution. This last year seeing the bottom producer get the same raise as I did finally broke the camels back. I spoke with the manager in a very calm and intelligent manner, pointing out real numbers and stats. He agreed that it wasn't a fair system but he wasn't allowed to do anything outside of corporate guidelines. So I gave my notice on the spot. Since I left the dept isn't making budget anymore, which I guiltily get some pleasure from. I would have stayed for several more years and continued to produce for the company, but their lack of any rewards just ensures their employees are mediocre. Just like socialism.

 

[Silent Earth]

I agree it's not a good system. My biggest problem is the ones that work hard don't get rewarded any more than the others, so it kills motivation to try harder. I semi retired early, relocated to a good prepping area and took a job at Lowes for the medical benefits. I worked with five other people in my department. For 9 straight years I produced sales two to three times more than the second highest person there. Every year you got about a thirty cent raise, regardless of your ability or contribution. This last year seeing the bottom producer get the same raise as I did finally broke the camels back. I spoke with the manager in a very calm and intelligent manner, pointing out real numbers and stats. He agreed that it wasn't a fair system but he wasn't allowed to do anything outside of corporate guidelines. So I gave my notice on the spot. Since I left the dept isn't making budget anymore, which I guiltily get some pleasure from. I would have stayed for several more years and continued to produce for the company, but their lack of any rewards just ensures their employees are mediocre. Just like socialism.

Socialism rewards the feckless, supports the idle and carrries the useless.

 

[lonewolf]

best thing I ever did was to go self employed.

 

[Mountain trapper]

best thing I ever did was to go self employed.

Best thing I ever did was marry a younger woman (#2) with a good job and good teeth.

 

[Brent S]

best thing I ever did was to go self employed.

I was self employed most of my life other than this stint. I had forgot how much a regular job gets in the way of doing things for you.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I was self employed most of my life other than this stint. I had forgot how much a regular job gets in the way of doing things for you.

I was self employed for quite a few years too. Then I went "corporate", made lots of money for very little work and had lots of time off. Self employment is far more satisfying though and would recommend it to anyone that wants to be independent.