Very happy to read an article about potential economic and societal success in Venezuela (and beyond) that doesn't depend on Venezuelan oil. An article today from RMI shows Venezuelan oil production emissions are 4 times those of the U.S. or Canada:
Even pretending that we didn't know about the specifics of the situation (which we do -- Trump has about as much interest in a democratic Venezuela as he does in a democratic El Salvador, and his chaos monkey attention is already shifted to Greenland, making it evident that Venezuelans are once again left to fend for themselves), the odds are heavily against Venezuela: Historically, over 65% of coups and regime shifts worldwide have led to dictatorships 1 year later; another 10% to civil war. Only 25% to democratic regimes. When counting only regime changes with US involvement, it's even worse: 70% dictatorship, only 20% democracy. The trend gets a little better over time, but not much: 25 years later, the subjects of US coups are 45% democracies, 40% dictatorships and 15% failed states.
Well, damn! If we had just snatched Saddam Hussein, rather than invading, well hell, Iraq would now be a paradise. And we’d have all that oil! Gringos of the world unite! We’re not down yet! Stay positive my friends!
Very happy to read an article about potential economic and societal success in Venezuela (and beyond) that doesn't depend on Venezuelan oil. An article today from RMI shows Venezuelan oil production emissions are 4 times those of the U.S. or Canada:
https://rmi.org/venezuelas-oil-future-is-murky-but-its-production-emissions-are-all-too-clear/
Even pretending that we didn't know about the specifics of the situation (which we do -- Trump has about as much interest in a democratic Venezuela as he does in a democratic El Salvador, and his chaos monkey attention is already shifted to Greenland, making it evident that Venezuelans are once again left to fend for themselves), the odds are heavily against Venezuela: Historically, over 65% of coups and regime shifts worldwide have led to dictatorships 1 year later; another 10% to civil war. Only 25% to democratic regimes. When counting only regime changes with US involvement, it's even worse: 70% dictatorship, only 20% democracy. The trend gets a little better over time, but not much: 25 years later, the subjects of US coups are 45% democracies, 40% dictatorships and 15% failed states.
Well, damn! If we had just snatched Saddam Hussein, rather than invading, well hell, Iraq would now be a paradise. And we’d have all that oil! Gringos of the world unite! We’re not down yet! Stay positive my friends!
The plan… turn Venezuela into 2000s China.