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Illustrating Venezuela’s surreal prices

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posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 07:19 AM
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In several times i have tried to explain the economy of the country with the biggest tested oil reserve in the world after now 15 years of the Chavez government and now Maduro regime.

The economy in Venezuela is very simple, after some years in power the minds of the regime figured out that poor people is easier to control, as said by the trusted men of Chavez, Jorge Giordani once "in order for the revolution to produce the new man it is required 30 years as the current generation cannot be change, the young can be educated by the revolution and the ones that born after will only know the revolution" so the man responsible of the economy of the country set to destroy it for this purpose.

The first step was to control the exchange of the local currency and foreign currency, if you wish to buy $ only the government can sell them. With a discriminatory policy of who gets the $ to acquire supplies in the exterior the local production was controlled. It was impossible to acquire currency for most business in a legal manner, furthermore the regime started to import directly most of what is consumed in the country, and controlled the prices of what is produced locally, generating an immense pressure to local producers.

Most of them closed and moved to neighbor countries, or were acquired by the government, destroying the local economy in order for the revolution to survive for the 30 years needed to produce the "new man". the rest that still exist and want to acquire foreign currency have to go to the black market. Bellow a comparison of the dollar price in official exchange and black market exchange rate.



Regular people buy small quantities like this, but some people sells dollars in amounts of hundreds of millions at a discount price of 40 bs per $. how can someone have billions of dollars to make such operations?

Well its very simple, the government imports are made by army officials without tender, they buy sub par quality items at 2 or 3 times overprice in order to keep the overprice money, once the import is acquired some times it not even reach Venezuelan ports or are just let to rot in the port. with this free money they can buy whatever they like, but as greedy as they are they like to double or triple it by selling a part in the black market.

Now small business buy dollars to these people and make their own imports of the goods and sell at reasonable prices so for example a pair of shoes that cost 50 $ in US are sold at 60$ in Venezuela, just the 60$ is not official exchange rate but black market one so the real price of the shoe to someone that buys it in bs is:



Venezuela bloats it have one of the best salaries in the region with the minimal at 600$ per month, at official rate that is, but Venezuelans buy everything at black market prices.



Poor people is indeed easy to control, they are too busy trying to get the basics to make a day to day living, the government is proud of the corrupt system they have created, made billionaire most of the government officials to the point they don't know what to buy and are buying ranch, yachts, mansions and as they run out of ideas, news papers and tv stations.



Illustrating Venezuela’s surreal prices

More photos of the prices of common items in Venezuela, the home of socialism of the 21 century




edit on 8-10-2014 by Indigent because: (no reason given)


full list


edit on 8-10-2014 by Indigent because: (no reason given)

edit on 8-10-2014 by Indigent because: (no reason given)



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 07:52 AM
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Giggle... Well, at least they are not Argentina. But let's be honest as the vast majority of the world that actually makes something begins edging away from the dollar, how will the rest of us fair when the dollar is marginalized? Here in the US we practically make nothing worth squat. I look at my computer desk in front of me and nothing of it and on it comes from any US factory. When our dollar is worthless how many wheelbarrows of bills will it take for us to buy a widescreen TV? Wait, that won't be a problem. We'll be too worried about buying food, a majority of which comes from outside our country. Monopoly money don't buy much.

Personally I think mankind really needs to practice a bit of introspection. This outward perspective stuff leads to a lot of problems. When you are the center of the universe it leads to perspective issues like the earth is flat and the sun revolves around you. Granted Venezuela has some big problems. Buy why prey on people's sense of fear and judgment and point them out saying "see, see, look, look". Their problems stem from outside influences that are mad as hell that they lost control. Ummmm, I don't know, like what happened with Iran perhaps. You should never repatriate you oil reserves and other natural reserves, lol,, Argentina. An inability at self examination leads to so many problems on this dust mote called earth.



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 07:59 AM
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a reply to: Apollumi




Their problems stem from outside influences


Nope Chavez and friends are 100% made in Venezuela and are the only responsible of what happens in the country



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 08:46 AM
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"hope lies in the proles". Not really. At best they make a VERY subject attempt at enlightenment. For all their truths have to be spoon fed to them. Me personally I hope the proles achieve a great consciousness. The chance of that happening is next to nill though.

Look at all of the people that have tried to help humanity throughout time. Killed, marginalized. Truly, it's the people's fault because they wanted, loved, simple truths that served their own egos. And even worse, try being a leader of a country and attempt to set your people free. Tsk, tsk.

Yeah, Venezuela is f'd. I suspect western based nations that float along on sheer momentum don't have very long before all that debt comes home to roost. The power of a nation is in its wealth. And for that to happen they have to be able to skim money off of their debt slaves (you and I), which need a decent income to skim off of.

I'm agreeing with you that the average Venezuelan is f'd financially. I'm just contemplating cause and effect and our upcoming time in the barrel. It just makes it hard for me to enjoy the "Thank God I'm not them" effect.



originally posted by: Indigent
a reply to: Apollumi




Their problems stem from outside influences


Nope Chavez and friends are 100% made in Venezuela and are the only responsible of what happens in the country



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 09:01 AM
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Socialism is for the people, not the socialists!

Isn't it great?



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 11:00 AM
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those IN HIGH PLACES SOON DEVELOPE A SUPREME CONTEMPT FOR THOSE IN LOWER PLACES....TWAS EVER THUS.....



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 11:12 AM
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Are you saying that if I can find a trust worthy Venezuelan to start sending cash money to, that he swaps me for, at let's say 60 Venezuelan cash per dollar, n then I swap the Venezuelan money to euros I'll be making a profit? Is that correct?



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 11:15 AM
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a reply to: Lagrimas

Yes, only if you can change back the Bs to foreign currency at government price (in other words you need to be part of the government)

Venezuelan students can apply for $ at 6bs, they get approved around 600 per month, just need to sell like 50 to pay the rest so its free money. Government not really given $ to students anymore i wonder why...



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 11:17 AM
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a reply to: Indigent

No I'll change the Venezuelan money in England so it'll have to be the official price? The banks in England must have an exchange rate for Venezuelan money?



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 11:19 AM
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a reply to: Lagrimas

No one can change Bs outside the country at official rate, the money its not good to even wipe you ass, there is not a single legal entity that makes operations in Bs outside the country



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 11:22 AM
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a reply to: Indigent

Oh so the only thing I can do is move to Venezuela for six months every year and come with a money belt with 2000 dollars in it? And live like a king for six months? Eating local cuisine and playing guitar for a little extra cash?



posted on Oct, 8 2014 @ 11:25 AM
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a reply to: Lagrimas

If you like adventure and a pretty good chance of getting murder or die of a tropical disease, pretty much yes.

Only there in not much to buy at the moment, for some reason the economic policy of the government is not working very well.

The amount of food a person can buy is now being regulated and so on




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