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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Venezuelans wary that food ID cards are thin end of rationing wedge |
| 2014-04-05 |
| [Guardian] Venezuelans queued on Friday to register for an electronic card system designed to end food shortages that have plagued the country – but which some fear may be the thin end of the rationing wedge. The ID card, introduced this week, will limit Venezuelans to once-a-week shopping and will set off an alarm to halt any transaction if a purchaser breaks the rules. The government wants to prevent individual shoppers from "over-buying" in a country hit by acute shortages of basic items including milk, sugar, "The government needs to control the hoarders. They have made this worse. But if there weren't shortages there wouldn't be hoarders. We are trapped," says Jose Diaz, a 65-year-old construction worker. You will soon be able to use for food ID card for healthcare as well. The long queues will go down and the costs will decrease. You'll see. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #3 only the "loyal" will get full rations. C'mon! You know this tune? Sing it with me. Democrats and Politically Loyal Uber Alles |
| Posted by: Frank G 2014-04-05 22:05 |
| #2 How will an electronic card system end food shortages? Oh, that's right you're prevented from buying food that you want. Isn't there a word for that? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-04-05 18:53 |
| #1 Thin end of the wedge, me arse. It's more a sign Venezuela is well down the slippery slope and about to take the plunge. Enjoy the socialism, suckers! Pity. Used to be a fairly prosperous country. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2014-04-05 14:48 |