Maduro proposes national debate to raise gasoline prices (Spanish)

[Bacchus4.0]

http://www.eluniversal.com/economia/140801/maduro-anuncia-debate-nacional-sobre-aumento-de-la-gasolina

[COLGATE4]

1. That should go over well. If the price of gasoline goes

up at all, look to see lots of burning buses as has been true anytime the government has even mentioned raising gas prices.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. This must be really maddening for chavistas given that the raise in prices

led to riots and precipitated Hugo's coup attempt.

History repeating itself.

[COLGATE4]

3. If Maduro has to even TALK about raising

gas prices the crap has really started to hit the fan (economically speaking). That's the third rail of Venezuelan politics. Stay tuned on this one...

[Bacchus4.0]

7. Yes, it is. Perhaps a continuation of the transportation subsidy for buses and shuttles while

raising the price for automobiles might be more palatable. Although, I assume they want a net revenue gain to the government so the price would go up to at least a couple of dollars/gallon I would think.

[MADem]

4. Gee, how about another price jump to go along with all the other price jumps...

And of course, wages aren't keeping pace.

This guy is an idiot. It's like he's begging for more dissatisfaction!

[Socialistlemur]

5. Gasoline prices should be increased, but Maduro botched it

It's evident that gasoline prices do need to be raised. But Maduro botched his speech when he started dividing the money from the gasoline price increases into "20 % for this group" and "20 % for that group".

People are pretty used to lies and empty promises from the Maduro regime. What he should have done is acknowledge that inflation is running at 60 % and also explain how he's going to keep bus tickets from increasing at such a rate people won't be able to move around...because that's the real problem, the bus fares will zoom, and the trucks carrying goods will be charging a lot more.

From a technical standpoint, by delaying the price increases Chavez made a huge blunder. He encouraged the vehicle market to deliver gas hogs. And to make matters even worse, there were moves to subsidize private vehicles instead of improving public transport. Chavez was terrible at governance, and Maduro is now getting kicked in the teeth by the mess he inherited from Chavez.

[Bacchus4.0]

6. Yes, you are completely correct however the impetus of chavismo was the gas hike,

and the downfall of socialist Carlos Andres Perez. It has to be killing them to propose an unpopular policy that gave rise to Chavez in the first place.

[Socialistlemur]

8. I understand, but Chavez' policy was irrational

Maduro has to bite the bullet. They already have the price set, and the "consultations" are a sham.