Chavez announced a couple of years ago that Venezuela had a "bulletproof" economy and that we would not be affected by the evils of the capitalist breakdown.

Chavez announced a couple of years ago that Venezuela had a "bulletproof" economy and that we would not be affected by the evils of the capitalist breakdown. As soon as oil prices went down, our economy started shrinking. When oil prices are lower, the government cannot keep the fake value of the Bolivar and they have to devalue. In the end, the people pay the price with ultra-high inflation rates (28% in 2011).