21 sats \ 3 replies \ @justin_shocknet 10 Aug \ on: Achievements of the communist dictatorship in Venezuela conspiracy
I have a friend from there that didn't leave for a long time because he had a remote income, and with that could actually still live pretty well. Queues for gas are for free state gas, but if he wanted to spend the same price on gas I would here he could get it from a functional Russian run gas station. Same with food markets, imported stuff just like in the US at US prices.
There were many inconveniences, but a $5/day assistant ran errands so he could stay productive.
He worked from a very nice shared office in Caracas with satellite Internet and a generator (power there extremely unreliable)
All these factors, if you have a typical western income you can be mostly insulated. Healthcare was the impetus to finally leave, he has a condition needing to see a specialist somewhat regularly, and the brain-drain of doctors left no options. Very difficult for people like him who have family there they can't carry out.
About 10 years ago there was no satellite Internet. Yes, some people still use power generators and for the last 2 years they have also been selling solar panels. Gasoline, yes, my mother has told me something about that, but it is not the same to live in Caracas than in another state of Venezuela, the country is completely abandoned, the "best" things stay in the capital. I have also thought about it, if I had a good salary could I live there? I ask myself that question, I would have to have solar panels, water tanks, buy whatever food there is, but then I think about the health sector, some medicines are not available, there is also the problem of the lack of doctors, last but not least, how do you live in Venezuela if there is not even freedom of expression? being extorted by the military and police whenever they feel like it, it sucks. I must mention that they are now cancelling valid passports to prevent people from moving around. I am afraid to go to the website to check my passport and see that it is cancelled. It is a shame that your friend had to leave, but it happened to him like it did to many others; we had no other option.
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Goes to show what arbitrary bullshit can do to an area with such natural wealth, geographically it looks like paradise... and it had great talent before forcing it all to leave.
My understanding from him with the passports is that even "good" passports aren't recognized anywhere, people making it out are generally considered stateless wherever they arrive... he was fortunate to have a second passport from the EU
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A country with good potential, completely in ruins. I also have acquaintances who have managed to obtain an EU passport... With the Venezuelan passport, first it is an odyssey to get it, second it is charisma, third more and more countries ask us for a visa to enter their country and now to top it off the government is cancelling the passports that are in force to prohibit us from moving.
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