We have seen this movie before:
First, the regime mismanages the economy with what The Economist calls: "... ruinous economic policies have caused shortages of basic consumer goods and medicines and a sharp rise in inflation and poverty."
Second, the government arrests someone to distract the population.
In Cuba, it was the attacks on "El Diario de La Marina", the expropriation of US properties or putting thousands of Cubans in political prisons. Our parents and grandparents remember that well!
In Venezuela, it is the arrest of Caracas mayor Antonio Lesezma:
"Venezuela’s turbulent politics appear headed for a new phase of confrontation a day after intelligence agents stormed the offices of the Caracas mayor, Antonio Ledezma, seizing the opposition leader for his alleged role in what President Nicolás Maduro called an “endless coup.”
Ledezma will be indicted on charges of “conspiracy,” according to a statement released by Venezuelan state prosecutors Friday night after the 59-year-old mayor’s appearance at a Caracas tribunal. He was taken directly to the Ramo Verde military jail, the statement said — the same facility where another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, has been imprisoned for the past year.
In a speech Friday night, Maduro said he would lay out recordings and videos next week in a special broadcast revealing the “gringo intervention in Venezuela” that Ledezma allegedly conspired with. “In Venezuela, no one is untouchable,” he warned."
"Gringo intervention"? That sounds a lot like the "imperialismo yanki" that our parents heard years ago!
Of course, Mr Ledezma is just the latest distraction. As you've read in Babalu, Fausta's Blog and Venezuela News & Views, Venezuela has been hit very hard by the decline in oil prices.
Venezuela's corrupt and overweight public bureaucracy requires a very high price of oil to survive. It won't fly when the commodity drops to $50!
We have seen this movie before. It will likely get worse down in Caracas before it gets any better.
Finally, where are the governments of Latin America? It would be nice if other governments in the region would demand the release of Mr. Ledezma.
P.S. You can hear my show: (CantoTalk) or follow me on Twitter .
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