No disrespect intended, but it seems to be a horrible place to live due to the government, corruption and the chaos that brings. Every time I read something like this I feel more grateful to have been born in Australia; It's not perfect here, but compared to your scenario...It's worlds apart and infinitely better. The words, I hope things improve seem quite hollow I guess, but I hope they do.
One thing I see as positive is the way you guys often have an upbeat attitude. You just get stuff done, despite the adversity. I admire and respect that you know, greatly. :)
None taken. I am very realistic about our position in the world. In fact, I've always criticized the simplistic nationalism, still pervading, which insists on highlighting our "blessed" geography and natural resources as if that alone made us better somehow.
Venezuela is a horrible place to live now and it will probably continue being for a while, even after a change of government. Some of the issues and vices will take some time to overcome.
We envy most of the world and feel sad when better societies than ours flirt with the ideology that destroyed us only because in theory in sounds so "fair".
It must be frustrating for you and tour compatriots. So sad.
I was only discussing it tonight over dinner with a friend and my wife. I was explaining your online course delivery debacle and some of the other issues you guys face. She works in a bank and sees the best and worst of situations in our Australian society but knowing your plight makes our problems seem trivial.
That is great that you have been having this kind of conversation. We tend to take some things for granted and sometimes fret about things without proper perspective. Even inside our tragedy, I still think about much worse scenarios and feel thankful for not having gotten there yet, but I also know we may.
You told a venezuelan 25 years ago that we would get to this point after electing a military guy who had failed twice at getting to power through coups and they would have laughed in disbelief. More than 80% of us did.
No country in the world is excempt from this nightmare, if they are not careful enough with their institutions and the demands to their politicians.
The mentality in Venezuela has been: "it does not matter if they [politicians] steal, as long as they do something, solve some problem." That set up the stage.
It's a good lesson for others to learn, but unfortunately people, you* have to pay the price huh?
People are usually happy to live blindly or with no real thought to the future...It's happening around us now with this covid thing; People fail to see the implications and so change nothing...But the reckoning will come, just as it did for Venezuela.
It will, sadly.
You guys keep counting your blessings in the meantime. I sincerely hope things do not change that much for you. Looking forward to the weekend engagement.
Saludos