Bolivia on the verge of revolution?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Please point out something stupid I've said about economics. I've said nationalizing companies without compensation and giving away gas for free (instead of selling it for hard cash) isn't a good policy since it will discourage investmant and virtually prevent the development of the gas sector. Seeings how this amount to the single largest export for Bolivia by far and a cool 50% of revenue goes to the state this would be a huge revenue source for the Federal and local governments if properly exploited. The demands of the socialists will likely result in the gas fields not being fully exploited though if their demands are carried out.

You on the other hand have been cheering for a policy which will prevent economic development and keep people dirt poor. I guess that's you choice though.

The people are dirt poor and will stay that way as long as the rich have control of the resources. Comprende?

[Velociryx]

By their own strange definition, if a "red tide" revolution hits Bolivia, it is doomed to fail anyways (and then we'll be treated to more whine and cheese about how it will surely work "next time," or, the old standby favorite excuse: "yes, but it wasn't REALLY communism in Bolivia!"

Stay tuned. Should be LOTS to talk about.

-=Vel=-

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


they grew a traditional crop, for which they probably got a meager amount of money, and they probably grew in small amounts as a supplement to subsistence food crops. Then, due to global drug trade, they get large amounts of money, and the small supplement becomes a cash crop - the global drug trade however triggers social problems in the receiving nations, which then want the crop eliminated. And THEN the farmers complain? ****, i got no sympathy for them.

You live by the market, you die by the market.

Having your industry illegalized due to foreign pressure isn't to "die by the market".

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by pchang


Once you understand that, you understand Kid.

Wow! I feel like you are starting to understand me now.

[pchang]

The people are dirt poor and will stay that way as long as the rich don't help them exploit their resources, comprende?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Velociryx
"yes, but it wasn't REALLY communism in Bolivia!"

I bet you think it will be.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by pchang
The people are dirt poor and will stay that way as long as the rich don't help them exploit their resources, comprende?

That's why they need to learn how to do it for themselves, without the rich. Practice makes perfect.

[Velociryx]

PS: Exactly, kid...cos, you know...a dirt farmer knows EVERYTHING he needs to know about getting the oil OUT of the ground and to market.

Sadly, even if the government took control of the resource RIGHT NOW, without additional outside investment, no further development would occur (or scant additional, led by an inept gov. bureaucracy), thus once more disproving the much-cherished marxist bible.

No matter how hard those indian farmers work at it, without a steady inflow of capital (and expertise) to assist, the oil stays in the ground.

Summary: Oerdin = correct.

-=Vel=-

[Last Conformist]

Kid:

Wow! I feel like you are starting to understand me now.

To help the rest of us, how about telling us why Oerdin should give money to those poorer than him, whereas you shouldn't give money to those poorer than you?

[Kidlicious]

I'm not in the mood for a com/cap debate. I was only saying that in jest anyway.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Last Conformist

Having your industry illegalized due to foreign pressure isn't to "die by the market".

Hmmm. So if Euro pressure manages to get the US to sign Kyoto, and coal miners lose their jobs due to carbon taxes, etc you will sympathize with them?

Look, if coca had never hit the global market, and was just something grown on the side, would these coca farmers be complaining so loud? would there even be such a thing as a "coca farmer" as opposed to a potato farmer who grew a little coca on the side?

You want sympathy for your traditional way of life, you have to pursue a traditional way of life. Not a thoroughly modern, global market dependent way of life that happens to be based on a traditional crop. I fell no more sympathy for these guys than i do for folks who work at Phillip Morris.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Kidicious
I'm not in the mood for a com/cap debate. I was only saying that in jest anyway.

Im in the mood for a Harry Potter discussion. Any takers?

[Last Conformist]

Kid

I'm not in the mood for a com/cap debate. I was only saying that in jest anyway.

It wasn't funny.

[Sandman]

Twenty years of free-market policies have done precisely nothing for the majority of Bolivians. Or was it not really capitalism?

[pchang]

It wasn't. It was kleptocracism.