Venezuela advances to final stages of socialism ... runs out of toilet paper

[NightHawkeye]

Venezuela reaches the final stage of socialism: no toilet paper - Business Insider

In 1990 I went to a Cato Institute conference in what was then still the Soviet Union. We were told to bring our own toilet paper, which was in fact useful advice.

Now, after only 16 years of Chavista rule, Venezuela has demonstrated that "Socialism of the 21st Century" is pretty much like socialism in the 20th century. Fusion reports:

Venezuela's product shortages have become so severe that some hotels in that country are asking guests to bring their own toilet paper and soap.​

Sigh ...

 

[brinny]

LOL! At first glance, that's hilarious....but then on 2nd thought, it isn't...

yeah, that's BAD, mon :o

 

[Aryeh Jay]

From the article…

“In the black market you have to pay 110 bolivares [$0.50] for a roll of toilet paper that usually costs 17 bolivares [$ 0.08] in the supermarket,"

In the US at Costco…
The WHOLSALE price for their store brand, Kirkland, is $15.99 for 30 rolls or $0.53 a roll before tax.

American Capitalism, paying more for toilet paper than the Venezuelan black market.

 

[Paradoxum]

That's crappy.

 

[brinny]

 

[seashale76]

From the article…

“In the black market you have to pay 110 bolivares [$0.50] for a roll of toilet paper that usually costs 17 bolivares [$ 0.08] in the supermarket,"

In the US at Costco…
The WHOLSALE price for their store brand, Kirkland, is $15.99 for 30 rolls or $0.53 a roll before tax.

American Capitalism, paying more for toilet paper than the Venezuelan black market.

But the store brand is still better quality toilet paper than you'd get in SA. Been there- used their TP.

 

[Rationalt]

Yay for forests.

 

[pgp_protector]

 

[ThinkForYourself]

But the store brand is still better quality toilet paper than you'd get in SA. Been there- used their TP.

Yeah, the Kirkland stuff is pretty good. It's quilted for comfort.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

But the store brand is still better quality toilet paper than you'd get in SA. Been there- used their TP.

The paper in the picture provided in the article is good ol’ Scott brand, not the usual South American John Wayne paper.

 

[NightHawkeye]

A recent Financial Times articles indicates that toilet paper may be the least of Venzuela's problems.

Venezuela’s economic woes spark election fears | Financial Times

Yet the bigger concern for Mr Capriles is whether the elections will happen at all.

“Are they capable of suspending it? I think they are capable of anything,” the 42-year-old says of the Venezuelan government. “If the elections were today they would lose by 20 points. This government has never faced such an electoral scenario.”

Such fears are increasingly common in Venezuela. Critics fear the deteriorating economy, forecast to shrink 4 per cent this year and racked by inflation of 69 per cent, could prompt President Nicolás Maduro and his party to stomp on democracy in a desperate attempt to cling to power. An opposition victory could facilitate a “recall referendum” that could force Mr Maduro from office.
...
The fears come as relations with the US continue to deteriorate. Caracas last week ordered Washington to slash its local diplomatic staff to 17 from more than 100. The move was met this week by an order from US President Barack Obama — who in December moved to restrict travel and freeze assets on Venezuelan government officials accused of rights abuses — for further sanctions declaring Venezuela a national security threat.

Speaking on national television on Monday, an enraged Venezuelan president blasted Mr Obama, who he said had “personally decided to take on the task of defeating my government and intervening in Venezuela to control it”. A day later, Mr Maduro asked congress for special “anti-imperialist” decree powers to defend Venezuela.​

Obama!

 

[brinny]

Yeah, the Kirkland stuff is pretty good. It's quilted for comfort.

i don't like quilted tp...i'm weird

 

[nightflight]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CMEmKe5mS0

 

[NightHawkeye]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CMEmKe5mS0

That's downright scary.

 

[keith99]

In the Mid 70s I went on a Rugby tour in England and Wales. We were warned to bring our own toilet paper.

It was good advice. No shortage but most there was either waxed paper or a good imitation of sandpaper.