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I'm far away from south america - whenever an article comes about Venezuela, I just read useless repetitive statements like most of the comments on this HN subm

I'm far away from south america - whenever an article comes about Venezuela, I just read useless repetitive statements like most of the comments on this HN submission. Any insightful local Venezuelans for any comments except template-based mundane political statements? What's the reverse of populism in the case of Venezuela? Going easy and decreasing tensions with US and allies and reverting sanctions and attracting foreign investments, like some other south American countries? Or what? any insights?

meiraleal 8y ago
You can go Argentina/Brazil way: - pay all of the alleged debts without discuss - accept US military and political counselors - Allow an alien actor to open multiple military bases in your country - Stop exporting and start importing everything you can from America
nabla9 8y ago
Populism in Venezuela followed the familiar path. Typical populist belief is that popular sovereignty is expressed in elections and with grand referendums. At the same time they wall over other institutions needed for liberal democracy. They also work to delegitimize their opponents and make them enemies. As a result, they pack all other institutions with loyalists. What they should have done, is to acknowledge that supporters of the old system are also Venezuelans. They must be incorporated in the system relative to their support. They should have enacted laws and improved legals system that is independent no matter who is in charge and harder to corrupt.
crdoconnor 8y ago
Most of the awful things that have happened to Venezuela came about as a result of the resource curse. Countries with rich natural wealth that overpowers the rest of the economy that is contested alwaya go to shit, whether in the Middle East or Africa or Latin America. The whole "populism" / "socialists" thing is the American media projecting its fury at US oil companies getting kicked out in the 90s. There were many things they did to economically mismanage the country but that wasn't one of them and neither was building hospitals, schools and housing with wealth wrested from economic elites and American oil companies. The best thing that could happen to them would be for oil to lose its geopolitical importance. Then the rest of the economy could rexover and the proxy fighting between can end and the Dutch disease can end. Meanwhile, they probably will put the opposition in power next election, which American media will approve of, but it won't make things any better.

meiraleal 8y ago

You can go Argentina/Brazil way: - pay all of the alleged debts without discuss - accept US military and political counselors - Allow an alien actor to open multiple military bases in your country - Stop exporting and start importing everything you can from America

nabla9 8y ago

Populism in Venezuela followed the familiar path. Typical populist belief is that popular sovereignty is expressed in elections and with grand referendums. At the same time they wall over other institutions needed for liberal democracy. They also work to delegitimize their opponents and make them enemies. As a result, they pack all other institutions with loyalists. What they should have done, is to acknowledge that supporters of the old system are also Venezuelans. They must be incorporated in the system relative to their support. They should have enacted laws and improved legals system that is independent no matter who is in charge and harder to corrupt.

crdoconnor 8y ago

Most of the awful things that have happened to Venezuela came about as a result of the resource curse. Countries with rich natural wealth that overpowers the rest of the economy that is contested alwaya go to shit, whether in the Middle East or Africa or Latin America. The whole "populism" / "socialists" thing is the American media projecting its fury at US oil companies getting kicked out in the 90s. There were many things they did to economically mismanage the country but that wasn't one of them and neither was building hospitals, schools and housing with wealth wrested from economic elites and American oil companies. The best thing that could happen to them would be for oil to lose its geopolitical importance. Then the rest of the economy could rexover and the proxy fighting between can end and the Dutch disease can end. Meanwhile, they probably will put the opposition in power next election, which American media will approve of, but it won't make things any better.