I asked a childhood friend about conditions in Venezuela. She is a doctor. Her is her reply (remember, socialism can’t be voluntary):

“LIFE IN VENEZUELA HAS BECOME TERRIBLE.  WE ARE EVERYDAY
> WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST COUNTRIES OF HIGH CRIME.  THERE IS
> NO FOOD AT ALL.  THE HIGHEST INFLATION IN THE WORLD.
> PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THINK WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY BUT IT
> IS NOT TRUE.  THERE IS NO
>  MEANS OF OBJECTIVE NEWS.  THE GOV.  OWNS ALMOST ALL THE
> MEDIA.  SEVEN MILLION OF US VOTED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT AND
> WE WHANT TO IMPEACH HIM BUT IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
> THIS 20 TIL THE 24TH SOME OF US HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO GO AND
> VERIFY OUR SIGNITURE AND
>  FINGER PRINTS.  NONE OF MY FAMILY WERE SELECTED BUT I AM
> THE ONLY ONE TO GO.  THERE IS NO WATER.  NO ELECTRICITY.
> ONLY THEY PUT ELECTRICITY FOR A FEW HOURS DURING THE DAY.
> THERE IS NO SOAP, CHAMPU, HIGINE TOWELS, ETC… I JUST GOT
> BACK FROM BOSTON WERE MY
>  GRAND-CHILDREN LIVE AND BROUGHT IN MY TWO BAGS, FOOD, RICE,
> ETC… FOR THE FAMILY.  MANY PEOPLE ARE IN PRISON JUST
> BECAUSE THEY SAY NO TO THIS SYSTEM.  AFTER FOUR OR FIVE PM.
> IT IS DANGEROUS TO GO OUT.  MY CAR WAS STOLEN.  THERE IS
> PROHIBITION TO BUY DOLLARS.
>  SO THERE ARE TWO SYSTEMS.  EATHER YOU ASK THE GOV. FOR A
> VERY LIMITED AMOUNT.  FOUR HUNDRED A YEAR WHICH YOU NEVER
> GET .  OR YOU BUY IT IN THE BLACK MARKET AT AN OUTRAGES
> PRICE.  ONE DOLLAR CAN BE ONE THOUSAND BOLIVARES OR MAYBE
> MORE.  THE GOV .  SAYS THAT
>  ONE DOLLAR IS 12 BOLIVARES.  GAS IS THE ONLY THING SHIP.
> BUT NOT FOR US BECAUSE THE SALARY IS VERY VERY LOW.  IN A
> FAMILY OF FOUR EVERYONE HAS TO WORK.  IF THERE ARE KIDS
> THEY EAT ONLY ONE MEAL A DAY.  AND IS NOT A BALANCE MEAL AT
> ALL.
>
>
>
> EVERYTHING THAT IS PUBLISHED INTERNATIONALLY IS ALL A LIE
> BECAUSE IS ONLY WHAT THE GOV. WANTS THE WORLD TO HEAR.  IN
> MY FAMILY WE ALL HAD TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN OUT.  THERE IS NO
> SECURITY AT ALL.  THE PROPERTY THE GOV. CAN TAKE IT IF THEY
> WANT IT.  THEY HAVE
>  TAKEN ALL THE MAIN INDUSTRIES AND BROKE THEM.  WHEN THE
> PETROLEUM WAS HIGH EVERYONE ATE. NOW THE PETROLEUM IS LOW SO
> THERE IS NO FOOD.  WE HAVE TO IMPORT EVERYTHING AND THERE
> IS NO MONEY.”