Since the death of former President Chavez, Venezuela has become a total institutional disaster. Currently there are: Two Heads of State (Executive Power) but living in the same National Assembly (Legislative Power). Although the other powers (Judicial, Citizen and Electoral) are in command of the Dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro.
Chavez, for better or worse, maintained a certain order in Venezuela, this is undeniable. There was already at that time a terrible corruption and inefficiency by officials of national government. However, the institutions worked and there was some confidence in them.
After his death, this changed completely. Nicolás Maduro, was extremely inept to keep the Statu quo Chávez achieved. Corruption is unleashed and the economy is plunged into an unprecedented crisis. Now Venezuela has two representatives to the world and Venezuelans are suffering the greatest economic, political and social crisis in history.
But what does this mean for a small entrepreneur like me?
Fight against inefficiency and corruption:
Venezuela is a country rich in natural resources and tries to distribute this wealth through public services at low cost or subsidized by the State. However, this has made for example a service such as gas (which I use to bake my bread) is very economical, almost gifted, but inefficiency and corruption mean that sums of money must be paid to gas officials or workers in US dollars or any type of extra payment to be able to access this service on a recurring basis, because the inefficiency of these same officials prevents the proper functioning of government programs. And so, with more services and products. For example, I personally do not have a passport because my procedure is "strangely" locked by a fingerprint problem, and officials "know" how to remedy this problem in exchange for money. Dealing daily with failures in the service of drinking water and electricity is one of the most frustrating experiences of this process. Normally, electric service is rationed at night, but electricity dips occur throughout the day. The water service is only in the mornings for one hour and on some days a week.
Hyperinflation and market economy:
Also, its economy is very atypical, because, in full hyperinflation there are products that have lowered their prices thanks to the supply and demand of products. For example, the essence of vanilla follows the rhythm of hyperinflation: its price rose 300% in a month, while the over-supply of refined sugar has caused it to drop its price by 50% since last December. This happens with several products that I use in my bakery. What has allowed me to "play" with this and keep my prices for more than a month. The use of the US Dollar as a reference for the marking of prices and salaries has also helped to give some stability to some products. Also, it has made it more profitable to import products than to produce within the country.
Poverty and overcoming:
This relentless crisis has affected my whole family: at first I exclude ourselves from access to many products and services that were once very everyday. It really changed our lives. Now I have relatives in many parts of Latin America and an aunt is even in the United States working on anything (Here she was a Nurse, and worked at the Central Hospital of my city but the loss of purchasing power made her run away from here). It's hard to get away from your loved ones that way and you know you do it so they are well.
I don't have a passport to go to another country and I don't want to do it either. For this reason, I have looked for a thousand ways to get ahead and now I am very motivated to build an elite bakery from below. At first I had nothing and now I sell 30 to 40 breads a day (maybe it sounds little but with this I earn more than a month's salary in any job as a cook). I do it from my house and I am trying to buy an oven and thus lay the foundations for a real bakery. The logistics for a bakery are many: baking trays, kneaders, ovens for the fermentation of breads. Many things. I do all this with my hands and a small oven that I have borrowed (A refrigerator adapted to be an oven). I have a lot of faith in achieving my goals and you will witness it.
I write this in search of financial help to boost this small business and thus be able to help our families. The goal is to reach $ 3000 and buy materials and utensils necessary to work from our small apartment. I am already grateful.
Authoritarian socialism is a nightmare. Combine it globalism and it the destruction of every culture on earth, and oppression.