It is interesting to see central planning and its consequences unfolding in real-time in Venezuela. IMO Chavez will be kept afloat by the oil bull market for as long as it lasts, like the Middle East in the 70s. But once it pops, you are going to see that market & currency fall 90%+. You will have social unrest similar to places like Indonesia in the late 90s Asia crisis. And eventually you will have one of the best buying opportunities for years. In Brazil in the 70s they introduced a crime of "hedging against inflation". I suspect before he is done, Chavez will introduce a similar measure that will became a laughing stock for future generations. Zimbabwe here we come!