Evidence of a wrecked economy: Daniel shops

There are of course those that still think the regime has a plan. A plan it does: to hold on to power forever. But a plan to improve Venezuela economy, social situation, health care, etc.?  Dream on...

Between yesterday and today I visited two stores that speak volumes on how degraded the economic situation since Maduro destroyed any confidence that the business may have harbored. Not much to begin with... In short, since the "dakazo" of last November when Maduro organized official looting to empty all the stores from electronic goods to win the municipal election, these stores have simply not renewed their stock. And if on occasion something comes through it is because the regime has given them official dollars so they avoid again the high armed robbery the regime did against them last year.

We will start with the book store in Caracas that I tended to use. I had not been there in 6 months. Well, there is nothing.

We start with the travel section. Only three books from 2014, the not very good but cheaper Fodor for Hawaii, London and New York. Put to advantage because the other books are much older, including on the top shelf Zagat from 2002....  Not that it matters, we cannot travel anymore outside of Venezuela but the point here is that a major book store has such an non existent supply.

OK, so travel guides are a frivolous pursuit in a socialist country. Let's thus go to my favorite section in any bookstore in the world: History books.  There you go, nothing. Near to you there is about a dozen books of general history, and no good ones, the last remnant that nobody wants. Further behind the shelves for Venezuelan history books, Since they are printed here there is a little bit more of a choice, but not even a third of what it used to be a year ago. (apologies for the overturned pic...I cannot fix it up!)

Since we cannot dream of travels, nor educate ourselves there is the general literature section, no? In front of you you have the SciFi section, a favorite of youth, which holds not even a dozen of books, Harry Potter...  you can see for yourself that the three other sections hardly fare better.

Clearly, the glorious bolivarian revolution has no need for education. People only need to watch state TV and read the official newspaper. All the Kultur they need will be there.

Today I took the S.O. to buy a new refrigerator. We started by a place that "supposedly" had some choice, limited but choice nevertheless. It is "Nasri" located on Avenida Roosevelt, a 100 yards from where the feared barrios of Cementerio and Helicoide start.  That is, one of the first stores to be looted by chavismo last November.  Judge for yourself.



As you can see, there is nothing save a few stoves and some windows AC that were already set apart for someone. The once upon a time emporium is so empty that some of the aisles are now closed...

If you need a refrigerator, well, too bad...........