So, I went to Venezuela

RainDog

WindNoSail wrote:

Thanks! I trust your report more than anything I have ever read about Venezuela.

Communism = state control of all, no private property, no dissent
Facism = state control of all, but private property is allowed, no dissent
Capitalism = privatization, dissent allowed, private property allowed
Socialism tries to merge the them all into one, but that isn't really easily defined.

I really am not sure if Venezuela is socialist or facist or communist. It seems to lean much more to the left (that is both communism and facism) than socialist. Once the power is gained by such a small group of persons then the population suffers. He might even be a madman, look at the company he keeps.

I really don't understand why anyone would prefer communism, facism, or socialism to capitalism (despite its flaws) when you consider what it means. But there is no pure example of any system. Except maybe N Korea, they have come real close to the ultimate result of communism.

Socialism and communism are on the left - facism (fusion of the coporate and the state, rather than communism's total control) is on the right. While communism and facism are ideologically polar opposites (just look at how much Hitler hated communism - he used it's 'threat' as a reason to start WWII), in practice I'm sure the average person on the street sees little difference.

Capitalism is an economic system and has nothing to do with the allowance of dissent. A nation can be both capitalistic and totalitarian. In fact, some might say that's what facism is.

You're kind of right about socialism, though; it is rather poorly defined. Basically (and I mean basically), it's a society where resources (usually money and land - but not all money and land) are pooled for the good of the population. We have quite a bit of socialism here in the U.S. Medicaid, Social Security, public/national parks, government investment (our tax dollars) in the private sector (for both profit and non-profit organizations), income tax, etc. Most nations in the Western world (hell, probably most nations anywhere) have a least some instances of it.

CaterinaA

breakmarysfall wrote:

thanks a lot for the report, dear Cate.

Here, where I live, we get hardly any news about South America...
...only some political headlines that do not offer any insight on the situation.

Hence, I appreciate it alot to read first hands impressions and thoughts.
That helps me alot to start drawing a picture.

although it took me a few days til my day off to read the article,
it was worth all times... great written and with lots of information.

thanks a lot for taking the time and posting your experiences.

Hi dear Nicki

Thanks so much for your compliments. I'm glad you liked my post. Sorry, I've just seen your reply

See ya later!
Cate