First profits are spent on poor supporters, then investments are used for spending, then assets are spread about when profits disappear, and foreign assets are seized. All the while, the economy deteriorates. Ignorant of the perfect logic that explains the economy as reacting to his policies, Hugo blames vague American plots for his plight.
And just as naturally as all this takes place, Venezuelans react to Hugo's bizarre death wish for Venezuela:
They call it "Plan B."
As Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez further tightens control of the South American country's economy, wealthy Venezuelans who once thought they could live with his socialist edicts are turning to their backup plan — flight to the United States, particularly Florida.
More and more Venezuelans are fleeing here:
Between 2000 — a year after Chavez took office — and 2005, the number of Venezuelans living in the U.S. doubled to about 160,000, according to the latest U.S. Census numbers. Nearly half live in Florida.
But those numbers are deceptive.
In 2005, 10,645 Venezuelans received their green cards allowing them to live in the United States, almost doubling the 6,222 who received them in 2004, according to the latest Department of Homeland Security statistics. And another 400,000 Venezuelans came to the United States in 2005 on business and tourism visas. It is unclear how many stayed.
Well, one thing is for sure, Florida will once again be safe for the Republicans as these new refugees from a Leftie hero's paradise gain American citizenship.
