Context and Precedence BBC News here.
Venezuela has a new president according to thirty-one (maybe more as I type) countries who recognize Juan Gerardo Guaidó Márquez (35 yrs old), Leader of the Venezuelan Popular Will Party and President of the National Assembly of Venezuela since 5 January 2019. 
“I swear to formally assume the national executive powers as acting president,” Juan Guaidó told cheering crowds of protesters last Wednesday. Minutes later, US President Donald Trump recognised the 35-year-old as the country’s interim leader.

It’s as if President Trump knew the announcement was coming. Like magic?

Juan Gerardo Guaidó has been quoted as saying that he wants to make Venezuela great again. We know how he feels. Imagine if Hillary was running the USA?
President Maduro, the now illegitimate ruler of Venezuela (according to the US) did not agree with President Trump and gave American diplomats 72 hours to leave the country…or else. The Russians got together with Maduro and told him what would be coming if he assaulted the US Embassy (sovereign US soil) and Maduro reversed himself. The Americans can stay for now. The idea of the US yachting across the Caribbean with a fleet, a Marine division, a few air wings and supporting forces even as the 82nd Airborne Division holds the airport…and a lot of cargo planes land with a lot of tanks didn’t appeal to Maduro. 
Saddam Hussein just before they dropped him.
The Russian ambassador to Venezuela is said to have showed him photos of Saddam Hussein, Colonel (for life) Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, and Osama bin Laden, none of whom ended well.
Colonel Gaddafi, moments before his death.

The Popular Will Party is getting its act together as it tries to cobble together a response to the Venezuelan Army and the police, who remain loyal to (now ex-) President Maduro.
There are a number of scenarios. 
(#1) Ex-President Maduro rallies the troops and kills Juan Gerardo Guaidó Márquez in a junta to ‘oust’ the recognized president of Venezuela. Cause and effect would likely see the US rising to support the legitimate government (see Colonel Gaddafi, right). 
(#2) The Russians send troops to support Maduro… but Putin isn’t that stupid. It’s not the 1960’s and Venezuela isn’t Cuba. President Trump isn’t the feckless community agitator – Obama.
(#3) Maduro accepts the offer from the US and goes into exile in Russia with enough money to keep him in hookers, vodka and cigars until he shuffles off his mortal coil. The supporters he leaves behind are tried for their crimes. Many are executed.
No matter how it plays out, the misery in Venezuela is addressed, balance is restored and the Venezuelans are able to make Venezuela great again.
Your sermonette: Don’t fear the reaper.

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15 COMMENTS

  2. Venezuelans are not all that far removed from sanity, since most of the population is old enough to recall life before Hugo Chavez. It would serve the rest of the world well to watch this cauldron of unhappiness to boil into complete savagery and remind everyone that socialism has never worked, ever, anywhere.

  4. The question I haven't seen addressed anywhere is whether it's "meet the new boss, same as the old boss".

    AFAIK, the process by which Guaidó took control is legal in Venezuela, but is he another Chavez socialist or is actual freedom possible?

  5. The Russians have an investment in Venezuela. If they ease Maduro out, they get to keep it. They don't act out of anything but self-interest (Make Russia Great Again)…

  6. I think that the suffering of the people has brought the lesson home as to what they want. It's what we all want, peace, prosperity, safety and a life that is better for our children than it was for us.

    Totalitarianism/communism is like giving the nation cancer.

  7. He's a capitalist. From all indications, a good man, an engineer who was forced into politics to save his and other families.

    I'm personally working an aspect of the Venezuela issue. I think that Guaido will take things in the right direction. He loves America and he loves Trump. Trump will build a hotel in Venezuela when he leaves office.

  8. As someone once saod, "It's easier to drain the swamp in Venezuela than it is in the US."

    Of course we're anxious to embrace socialism. Let's see how that plays out.

  11. >Everybody likes to spend other people's money

    Not only do they like spending it, they consider themselves virtuous for doing so. Case in point below.

    On Saturday on NPR they were interviewing federal employees who were waiting to receive food at a pop-up food bank specifically for fedgov employees. A person called Demille Richardson was one of those interviewed. The below is verbatim from the NPR website (boldface emphasis mine).

    NPR: […] Demille Richardson, who works for the Department of Agriculture […]

    RICHARDSON: […] I came from the private sector. This is my first government job, and it's making me want to go back to the private – and I took – you know, I took a pay cut.

    NPR: She says she spent years unemployed, relying on government for assistance. That's what inspired her to take a government job.

    RICHARDSON: Quite frankly, I saw the help I got when I wasn't working, and I felt I should be giving back. And now they've taken that altruism away from me.

    According to LinkedIn, Demille Richardson is: Management Program Analyst – Chief of Staff Office for Associate Deputy Administrator at USDA. She's been in that job since April 2016. The estimated salary for a USDA MPA is USD $90,000+.

    I fail to see how working an over $90k job funded by taxes is any sort of altruism. Also, if you are making that sort of money and have run out of basic food money in only three weeks, you're doing it wrong. Very wrong. Finally, some of us would argue that you should probably have at least a month's worth of food put away at home anyway.

    Once again, I realize that I have absolutely nothing in common with a disturbing fraction of the US population.

  13. I would like to follow Demille Richardson around during her busiest day of her workweek and take notes on what she actually does, what she accomplishes, etc. I'm sure that the nation could do without her as part of the federal work force – and naturally I'd be branded a racist. Maybe she could go back to her old job at Popeye's Chicken?

  15. Venezuela is a nation of abundant wealth. It has gold, emeralds, diamonds, oil, fishing, timber, ranching and its people have traditionally been well educated and ambitious. Socialism is a lie. And people like to believe lies of that nature.

    A return to capitalism won't be an easier road, but it's easier than living under communism. At least a bushel of Venezuelan currency will buy a roll of toilet paper.

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