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 re

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.