Latest experiment is socialism ending the same as always...

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-48103858]Breaking[/url]

Apparently the Venezuelans have finally had about enough.

Some are calling this a military coup, but it appears the military uprising is in support of the interim civilian president, Guaido. His supporters are calling it an action to restore the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution.

Yeah, so it's a military coup, and no indication that it is remotely successful as yet.

link tag is broken

Can't be right. Socialism only ever creates paradise on earth.

Oh, look. What a surprise.

US declares support for Venezuela coup attempt

No, of course it's not a surprise, but it's certainly very welcome.

This could get real messy real quick.

Then again thanks to Chavez and Maduro Venezuela was a shitshow already. :/

Your bitter rage is as a soothing balm to my soul.

From what I’m reading unless more members of the military join the people then this is over. That is not very likely as while Maduro has starved civilians he has taken care of the military so they’ve been loyal to the regime so far.

capitalist/imperialist American stooges broke the link.

Link fixed.

What sane person *isn't* for a coup at this point?

I'm shocked at you, Paladin. One would think you were against centrally planned and directed economies built around a single resource with a cult of personality at its head.

I had a moment of weakness.

I mean Venezuela was doing so well before, people were absolutely thriving

Wow, just saw a video on Twitter of a military vehicle running over people:

So, let's see...

Economy in shambles.

Sham elections.

Political opposition suppressed.

Political freedoms curtailed.

Refugees overwhelming neighboring countries.

People eating garbage to survive.

The regime straight up murdering demonstrators in the streets.

How bad does it have to get before @RickDeckard acknowledges a change is necessary?

¡Que viva socialismo!

Latest experiment in chocolate chip cookies ending the same as always...
...in brownies.

Take that, chocolate chip cookie fans!
Feel the failure inside you!
Squirm in shame!
Evade our own reflections in horror!

These brownies are the worst chocolate chip cookies ever!
And yet, the recipe for chocolate chip cookies always makes them!

Look at them! LOOK! AT! THEM!

Chocolate chip cookies debunked!
DE! BUNKED!

God, I'm so good at politics.
*Murmurs of disagreement*
No, you're stupid.
You are.
You.
You.
No, you.

Wake me when Sweden collapses into chaos and anarchy.

Don't try to confuse me with an actual chocolate chip cookie following the actual chocolate chip cookie recipe!

It's a capitalist country. It's stable and prosperous.

Do you understand that this is what American Socialists are proposing or would you rather ignore that and attack a straw man?

Are you suggesting things would be better if Maduro is left in power?

You guys should really think about re-branding

Words frighten them.

yet...

*******

VonMatthias Punz
3. Februar 2019


Considering the booming economy, dropping unemployment numbers and the return of many once-emigrated young Portuguese citizens, it seems Portugal is on the rise. Facing the policies of socialist Prime Minister António Costa, which include properly supporting the welfare state and investing in the public sector instead of austerity measures, right wing populists don’t stand a chance.

Not too long ago, Portugal stood on the brink of catastrophe: harsh austerity policies and the erosion of labour rights pushed by the conservative government lead to significant rises in poverty and unemployment. The economy dwindled due to the lack of peoples’ spending power.

Today, everything has changed:

“Nowadays, Portugal is considered a prime example among European countries: the economy is booming, unemployment is dropping and investments are rising.”

What are the reasons for this turnaround? What makes Portugal special when compared to other countries?

TURNING POINT 2015: FAMOUS LISBON MAYOR COSTA IS ELECTED PRIME MINISTER
The first major change occurred during the general election 2015. This was time when the right wing conservative government dismantled the social welfare state piece by piece, which resulted in a furious population voicing their dissatisfaction in the voting booth – causing the conservatives to lose 11 percent of their previous electoral votes.

Lisbon’s former mayor António Costa, a socialist, won by a landslide and brought in 32 percent for the Partido Socialista after being elected frontrunner a year prior and uniting the entire city of Lisbon during his time as mayor.

AT FIRST, PORTUGAL WAS SAID TO HAVE MADE A GRAVE MISTAKE
Costa succeeded in uniting the severely split left wing in Portugal, who now support the minority government led by him. At first, observers were pessimistic about the potential of this constellation, predicting a collapse after a few months. Moreover, both the EU and German minister of finances saw a grave mistake in the departure from austerity. „Angela Merkel described the prospect of a radical anti-austerity coalition in Portugal as “very negative”. The president of Portugal went further, calling non-conservative economic policies a “danger to national security” and attempting to keep the old government in power.

MIRACULOUS ECONOMIC RECOVERY
It’s been more than three years since the socialist party assumed the reins of government. The scepticism of the early days has virtually vanished. The entirety of Europe seems impressed by thesuccess story of António Costa:

The Portuguese economy has been booming for 4 years. 2017 marked the largest national economic growth of the century.

The Portuguese are not only showing the feasibility of socially conscious policies, but demonstrating the significant potential for success.

“The budget deficit has dropped to its lowest ever since the change to a democratic system in 1974 – simply because the government re-established and strengthened the social welfare state, leading to the Portuguese people having more money to spend.”

The socialists raised the once slashed wages and pensions, reintroduced paid vacations and retracted many tax raises, all while raising wealth taxes which affect only the rich parts of the population. The government also introduced a property and real estate tax designed not to target the homes of average citizens. Costa’s socialists also put an end to the catastrophic privatizations that were once instructed by the EU and resulted in selling state assets at absurdly low prices.

“The assumption that one could save the economy by aggressively cutting wages and excessively attacking welfare programs was clearly a misconception”, Costa said about his predecessors.

SOCIALISTS AT OVER 40 PERCENT POPULARITY
Portugal’s swift rise from a nation in shambles to prime example is remarkable. Costa gave hope and pride back to the people after the country was shaken to its foundation by the EU’s austerity programs and the failed previous government.

The newfound optimism is reflected by poll ratings:

The Portuguese socialists stabilized at 40 percent in popularity ratings. This makes them the most successful socialist party in Europe – something they have in common with Jeremy Corbyn and his Labour Party in the UK.

The minority government is expected to reach a result of about 60 percent in the next general election.

Costa could even gain an outright majority, meaning he doesn’t even need a political alliance any more – Portuguese electoral law allows absolute majorities under 50 percent of the total votes.

A NATION WITHOUT RIGHT WING POPULISTS
In the current political climate, which is full of optimism, the Right cannot get a foothold –patriotism as is claimed by the Left.

“If young Europeans are radicalized in city districts that were economically left behind, we have to answer with social policy measures”, Costa summarized his agenda in an interview with the german newspaper „Spiegel„.

YOUNG PORTUGUESE CITIZENS ABROAD ARE BEING BROUGHT BACK
Nowadays, the political and economic climate under the socialist government is attractive enough to make citizens abroad consider returning to Portugal. When the conservatives were in power, tens of thousands of young citizens – some of whom were very well educated – left the country due to a lack of jobs and perspectives.

“My predecessors caused the greatest wave of emigration ever since the 1960s”, Costa stated.

The economy crashed, almost half of the young Portuguese was unemployed – setting a sad record. Portugal was facing the risk of losing an entire generation.

By now, 2.3 million Portuguese live abroad, but the government led by Costa is set on bringing them back. “This is the only way to combat the demographic decline, revitalize our economy and securing the continued existence of our social welfare programs”, the state secretary responsible says. To ensure this, the government organized programs and created networks abroad. Additionally, temporary tax breaks for returning citizens are planned.

The high rate of unemployment among the general population hovering at 17 percent under conservative rule was reduced by a staggering 10 percent, and it continues to drop.

20 BILLION EUROS ARE BEING INVESTED
The remarkable economic growth of the past years is to be only the beginning. Under socialist rule, the economy grew so significantly that the money made is now set to be invested and returned to the general population. Portugal’s government plans to use the rising public sector revenue to transform the nation into a more just and modern one, after the conservatives destabilized the infrastructure.

Costa presented a nation-wide investment proposal and surprised many once again: 20 billion Euros is considered an incredible amount of money for a country the size of Portugal. 60 percent of the funds is to go towards public transportation. The remaining money will be invested in the energy sector and environmental projects.

NEW SUBWAYS, NEW TRAINS
The much-used railway line connecting Lisbon and Porto is to be modernized, urban subway networks are to be expanded and public transportation in rural areas is to be invested in. This will generate new jobs, revitalize the economy and lift public transportation onto a state-of-the-art level. Furthermore, Portugal will become more eco-sensitive in the process.

The next general election is currently set to take place in October, the opposition is trying to prevent the new investment plans insistently.

For Costa, this is about a lasting change in political climate: “This isn’t about kicking off a new campaign. It is about clearly demonstrating the importance of public investment, now that we can afford to.”


******




​

Why is it no one ever points to military coups, human rights abuses economic breakdown in capitalist countries?

Y'know, with it actually being quite a common thing? Is it that perhaps you have a minor case of selection bias?

I’m not one. But conservatives are doing enough good PR by complaining about how awful it will be to have tax funded healthcare and college to people under the burden of college and medical debt. You couldn’t sell water to a man dying of thirst faster. Only the elderly seems to be scared of it. So bravo.