Shrinking Venezuela

For John, BLUF:  At the InstPundit This was introduced with the phrase "LATE-STAGE SOCIALISM".  Indeed.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Venezuela: The country that has lost three million people

From The Beeb, by BBC South America correspondent Katy Watson, 30 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus four:

In Venezuela, the discussion about how long to stay, or where to flee and how to begin a new life, is never far from many people's minds. Every time I visit the country, there are fewer friends and contacts to catch up with.

An estimated 5,000 people pack up their lives and leave every day, eager to flee the economic collapse and humanitarian crisis which has beset the oil-rich nation.

More than 3m people have fled Venezuela in recent years. According to the UN, that number is expected to rise to more than 5m by the end of 2019.

The vast majority of Venezuelans travel to other parts of South America.  More than a million Venezuelans have chosen neighbouring Colombia as their new home, with half a million more travelling through it on their way further south to Ecuador, Peru and the countries beyond.

The lucky ones, those with connections, family members already established and an education, have found work in other parts.  But I've also met plenty of former professionals selling water or food on the streets of Peru and Colombia to make ends meet.

Tell me again why we have proud [Democratic] Socialists in the US Democratic Party?  Would they prefer living in Venezuela?  There are apparently three million people out there who think such people would be wrong, and so voted with their feet.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff