Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeP
I think actual conditions in Poland and Hungary have got a bit better if anything. From a low base; same in Russia.
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Side related note: Venezuela.
Venezuela has a massive pool of poor people and Chavismo tapped into that (And the nation's oil wells at the time of a huge price in oil spike). The floor was so low with the level of poverty we're talking about that any small improvement on the standard of living in the barrios.
Barrio
Health care, dental care, a little more food. Electricity. With high oil prices Chavez borrowed like a Saudi prince and skimmed just as much. A smaller group, the middle class, literate and skilled in their jobs could A: see the corruption going on at the higher levels and B: some panic about Them Poors Taking Our Shit.
The developments for the destitute made for a net gain overall welbeing for the 'average' Venezuelan, but after purging the middle class from their positions in skilled functions and replacing them with political lackies instead, and the subsequent fall of the price of oil, there they are. Once the destitute from neighbouring countries flocked to Venezuela, now Venezuelans are flowing out to Columbia or the Dutch islands in the Caribbean. And the already rich in Venezuela angle to loot more from the country... if they have the correct political connections, or have already fled to Miami/Spain.
My points here are:
-Populism takes a variety of different forms.
-Have a large enough pool of people who are poor, or think they are poor, and promise them the moon, any corruption will be forgiven for awhile at least.
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Captain Obvious