Qvait Wrote:FFS. Trump just said "we have many options for Venezuela…We're not going to rule out a military option." You have got to be kidding me. That will just embolden the Maduro supporters, bring more chaos, and create more refugees.

And, what usually happens when external threats suddenly appear: Unite public opinion against the invader. NOBODY wants external intervention. That would turn this place into another Iraq. I doubt the bastard will try, however.

(08-11-2017, 09:14 PM)Malayan Singapura Wrote: To understand Venezuela's position, a history lesson is in order. Flashback to the 1970s and Venezula was the wealthiest and most relevant Latin American nation thanks to vast oil deposits and the demand of oil increased. The easily became the best example of a socialist state, rich and low income difference. But fast forward to now, years later unnecessary consumption has slowly degraded into a corrupt dictatorship with one of the largest income differences in the world. The government still survives through oil money from their monopoly but lower oil prices had made their situation worse. The government currently in place has no morals and they are trying to stuff their pockets as they know their time is nearly numbered. I have a cousin in Venezula who is a revolutionary leader there. He often shows me videos of gun fights and explosions. Don't you see ? It might be a revolution by the people or another USA proxy war, but one thing is certain, Venezula is on fire

You have a cousin here? (I'm TSP's Resident Venezuelan, nice to meet ya ) Neat.

You hit straight to the point. Venezuela's main problem is that we base our economy on the fluctuating prices of a single resource. We stubbornly refuse to diversify the economy, and every time the price goes down, the entire thing goes to shit. It happened in the late 1980's/early 1990's, and that helped Chávez get to power in the first place. The country recovered in the early 2000's, and when the prices crashed again, this happened, although it was made worse by the disastrous policies of the Government. Even before we discovered oil, it's been like this. During the 19th Century, we mainly exported coffee and cocoa, and had the same problem, the main difference being that the instability that followed resulted in countless coups, uprisings and civil wars.

I doubt the US cares as much about this place so as to be funding the Opposition (if that was the case, this would have degenerated into civil war already). I'm not sure to call this a "revolution" though... there are still lots of Government supporters, and lots of people who want to see the Government toppled, but despise the Opposition and/or the "Resistance", me included.