Latin America's Mugabe sticks predictably to the program.
(OK, OK, you can go directly here I guess)
Faced with an accelerating inflation rate and shortages of basic foods like beef, chicken and milk, President Hugo Chávez has threatened to jail grocery store owners and nationalize their businesses if they violate the country’s expanding price controls.
There's something horribly fascinating about this kind of slow-mo smash up, watching with absolute intellectual confidence as a drearily familiar calamity envelops a nation of millions.
The second comment on the Drezner thread captures it perfectly:
Is this a surprise to anyone? We all know what happens next:
1) More shortages and more repression
2) Chavez elects himself "President for Life"
3) People start fleeing the country
4) More shortages and repression
5) Chavez starts winning elections with 99.98% of the vote
5) Miami adds to its cultural diversity
6) More shortages and repression
7) Liberals express surprise/denial at these developments
How many more times does this have to happen?
Posted by Old Nick at February 18, 2007 12:44 AM | TrackBack