Monthly Archives: May 2011

That Slope Sure is Slippery

Posted on May 30, 2011 by

Another hat tip to Setty for pointing us to this pair of genuinely galling articles on the government’s decision to – triple horrified gasp – start charging tuition fees for Universidad Bolivariana language students. Retroactively! You know, back when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Way Back (Older Posts) | 22 Comments

Kei-khronicles

Posted on May 28, 2011 by

For those of you who haven’t used up your 20 free NYT articles this month (on the 28th! for shame!), be sure to check out Simón Romero’s illuminating piece on Keiko Fujimori. It’s a thorough, balanced treatment. My conclusion? She … Continue reading →

Posted in International | Tagged | 13 Comments

Under the Radar

Posted on May 27, 2011 by

Over at the Spanish-language blog, Quico talks about Chuo Torrealba and his indispensable blog. Worth a read. And while you’re there don’t miss Chuo’s inspired response.

Posted in History, Society | Tagged

DVD killed the Betamax politicians

Posted on May 27, 2011 by

Loyal reader GTAvex has been on my case for a few weeks. He thinks I’m unfairly maligning the old adeco-style rhetoric without acknowledging its benefits. Obviously, I’m not real sane when hardcore adequismo is at stake. These things are tribal. … Continue reading →

Posted in Opposition, Politics | Tagged | 29 Comments

Pablo Pérez Channels His Inner Adeco

Posted on May 26, 2011 by

So long as we’re looking for examples of presumptive oppo primary contestants on the stump, I thought it only fair to give Zulia Gobernor Pablo Pérez his chance in the form – admittedly – of a two year old clip: … Continue reading →

Posted in Pablo Perez | 22 Comments

The Eight-Lane Superhighway to Serfdom

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

Normally, I try to steer well clear of Hayekians. In contemporary discourse, Austrian Economics is the hobby horse of an extremist fringe of market fundamentalists: ferocious parrots with a one track mind centered on a single remedy to all economic … Continue reading →

Posted in The Economy | Tagged , | 73 Comments

>:( … :)

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

Notice how in this video, Leopoldo López goes from a furrowed brow to a smiling face, from ominous music to a more hopeful tune, from dark lighting to a brighter one. Visually, it tells a story. I’m not so sure about … Continue reading →

Posted in Leopoldo López | 48 Comments

The Hot Air Feedback Loop

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

So far, so yawn. In response to the U.S.’s Cotton Candy Sanctions against PDVSA (they look like they’re there, but the second you try to sink your teeth into them, they sort of dissolve into air), we’re getting the standard … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavismo, International, Oil | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

U.S. Imposes World’s Limpest Sanction on Iran Embargo-Running PDVSA

Posted on May 24, 2011 by

Setty has all the background here and here. PDVSA is getting off with a slap on the wrist – they’re mostly barred from doing stuff they haven’t done for years, had no intention of doing, and had no interest in … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Oil | 13 Comments

Nationalized Cement Companies hitting up the treasury for cash in 3…2…

Posted on May 24, 2011 by

What a surprise. The nationalized cement company formerly known as Cemex – now Cementos de Venezuela – is strapped for cash. With cement prices fixed by administrative fiat, the company can’t generate the cashflow it needs to pay workers and … Continue reading →

Posted in The Economy | Tagged , , , | 38 Comments

Straight-Up Capitalism vs. Communism Deathmatch

Posted on May 23, 2011 by

It sure seems like Henrique Capriles’s plan is to put a straightforward defense of private property front and center, packaging it as a pragmatic solution to the problems facing everyday Venezuelans. In my book, he gets points for speaking directly … Continue reading →

Posted in Henrique Capriles, Primaries | 35 Comments

The Return of Depression-Inducing Economics

Posted on May 19, 2011 by

Reading N24′s sad little write-up on the virtual impossibility of finding a Vergatario (rough translation: penis-phone) in Venezuela these days, it strikes me just how soul crushingly depressing the very existence of the problem is. Venezuela is busily reliving a … Continue reading →

Posted in Way Back (Older Posts) | 75 Comments

An open letter to Moisés Naím

Posted on May 16, 2011 by

Dear Moisés, I hope you won’t think it brash of me to use your first name. We’ve only met once, briefly, back in 1990 when I was an economics student asking you to come to a forum at our University. … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , | 117 Comments

FARC: Setting the Standard for Eco-friendly Terrorism

Posted on May 13, 2011 by

Setty’s been having a rummage of his own through the FARC Files and digs up three tidbits, each more bizarre than the last. The whole Environmental Impact Assessment for Pipeline Bombing thang is too weird to have been made up. … Continue reading →

Posted in FARC | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Substance

Posted on May 12, 2011 by

There’s an old, in many ways justified, lament about how devoid of substance Venezuelan political discourse is, how conceptually thin it is, how divorced it is from deeper issues. What’s weird, though, is how comfortable some people are going straight … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil, Opposition | Tagged , | 48 Comments