Aren't we just so "human rights moguls" when we starve people to make a political point. Sanctions never hurt the upper classes, well seldom anyway. Guess who gets hurt?

more radical. Go figure.

in leading violent activities in the chaos of the last election.

The sanctions aren't on the country as a whole.

Venezuela needs to solve their own problems. They need solutions instead of excuses. The Bolivarians need to prove they're competent to govern.

They have a lot of oil. EOS. That's why were "interested". Most of SA and CA are dictatorships, some better than others and have been for centuries. And who are WE to be lecturing on free and fair elections...and buying elections...and on and on. Oh yeah, and they don't "kill their own" in death Penalties, either.

Like the "he dissed my Daddy" in Kuwait, Hugo dissed/pissed off some president and it has lingered.

"Capital punishment is not applied in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Venezuela was the first country still existing in the world to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, doing so by Constitution in 1863."

of the Venezuelan state. The Venezuelan education law of a few years ago was maybe well-intentioned but it's an unworkable mess. The media law they passed is very problematic. The incompetence and corruption that has plagued many of their major state infrastructure and development projects has nothing to do with the United States.

Maduro and his party can use the U.S. as a punching bag and a scapegoat, but that's not really helping anything.

They need to get their shit together. Crime is out of control. Inflation is crushing. Etc.

If the US would get out of the South Americas, they would work together ultimately...or not, but we need things they have, so we meddle, interfere, replace regimes, et al. They just happen to have a lot of oil. Their "dysfunctional" ways have worked for centuries. We have a lot of back yard cleaning up to do, as well.

seriously to China. Again, we are not their "betters". We trade with all manner of folk...including the Saudis. But we Love them. I'll bet Venezuela women can drive cars and I know they don't have to cover up their heads...and I could go on.

Venezuela can talk to China all they want. They have to give them oil as repayment for loans.

In fact, and I could be mistaken, we're the only "democratic" country who places trade sanctions on people, mostly brown skinned, we don't like who they voted for. (others white folk certainly line up behind the Emperor...us)

Here are some facts https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/ven/

I just don't get the Venezuela pissing contest here.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuelas-maduro-announces-20-billion-in-new-bilateral-agreements-with-china-1420656259

And we slap silly sanctions.

they care about getting oil. The only sanctions are against 7 individuals the US has identified as criminals.

Saudi Arabia and other dictatorships? And "only 7 individuals", how thoughtful of us. I imagine they are in government. We who are close to being an Oligarchy ourselves and have little room to be judging or lecturing or sanctioning others.

Also, I respect the opportunity for exchange of ideas, BTW.

so if they want to play that game, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the US would respond.

I understand that labeling Venezuela a security threat backfired somewhat but little gift to Maduro has run its course politically for Maduro.

The US-Cuba rapprochement was what the summit will be remembered for to the chagrin of the Ven government and their supporters who wanted the US to come out looking bad. Nicolas never got to give Obama the signatures.

I have exactly zero influence over Venezuelan politics.

This is a discussion forum, correct? Where users offer opinions on various topics? Is that how this works, or am I mistaken?

longer than the US. I'm sick and tired of being The Empire Policeman with over 800 military bases all over the world and nation-shaming those we want something from. That costs us half of our taxes, if not more. And where do we cut taxes when we do, oh right. OUR poor and needy, which leads to crime and de facto inflation, i.e. poverty.

decades before Venezul3a.

affect the lives of Venezuelans. You can label it "nation shaming" to talk about those problems openly, but I don't think that's going to help.

much don't think it's crucial to anything. The US will give them money/trade/whatever if they like the Head of State. If not, the US will try and change it.,..regime change...sanctions...rinse and repeat. I just don't get why little bitty Venezuela gets so much flack. There are certainly much worse governments down there. They just don't have the oil we want.

Oh, and they have Leftist leaders...tut tut.

Citgo gasoline is part of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company.

although Ecuador is part of OPEC and Colombia exports some oil too. However, the reality is that the US is Venezuela's largest trading partner mostly because of the oil we purchase, and the food they purchase.

Maduro is upset at the US not because we aren't buying enough of it, but because the US is now producing too much according to Maduro which has helped lower prices for the American consumer, but has caused great difficulty for Venezuela.

The argument that "we want their oil" is old and stupid. We already buy and refine their oil.

And really crack down on the hoarders and black-marketeers.

Venezuela's economic meltdown, I've got a Pacific Island in Kansas I'd like to sell you.