Venezuela's President Seizes 4 Million Toys

Venezuela won't see a White Christmas in 2017. Snow has never been on the ground in the South American nation. It won't see much else this year as 60-percent inflation rips at the country's fabric and serves as the gasoline to which the nation's President, Nicolas Maduro, is about to light a spark.

Maduro, Hugh Chavez's hand-picked successor, and former bus driver has neither Chavez's charisma or intellect.

Because of his ineptness, the Grinch Who Stole Christmas may be living in Caracas.

Failed Economic Policies

Maduro has set some dubious economic records. The president has managed to create real poverty in an oil-rich middle-income nation. Venezuela's largest banknote is worth about two cents (USD).

Well done Maduro. But the accomplishments don't end there.

Venezuela is an oil producer, but now imports crude oil from America. The nation, a great place for growing sugar cane, can't get Coca-Cola to open a bottling plant — sugar is not available.

Big Macs? Forget it. The economy is so poorly run that Big Macs are not available as no one can be located to cook the center part of the bun.

Now, Venezuela has gone one further.

Under Maduro's orders, 4 million toys have been seized from a private company. The government intends to hand them out just before Christmas as gifts to poor children.

The nation's fair pricing authority stole the toys from three Kreisel owned warehouses on Friday. The country's largest toy distributor also saw two company executives detained on suspicion of promoting price speculation. The government does believe that prices are just random digits applied to products and not the vital information that keeps a nation's economy moving.

"Operation Merry Christmas" — Now Give Us Your Toys

In November, Maduro kicked off a program he called "Operation Merry Christmas." The goal was to reduce the price of toys, clothes, and appliances and boost his failing poll numbers. Venezuela is struggling with a flailing economy.

Soldiers in Caracas peddled subsidized holiday food as almost 30,000 government inspectors leaned on private business to slash prices. Maduro hoped he could take the sting from the 63-percent inflation rate the nation is seeing.

While inflation goes through the roof, Maduro's approval ratings have slumped to below 30-percent.

Within hours of Venezuela's price control czar Andres Mendez issued orders to businesses to keep prices down, shops were cut prices and soldiers organized Christmas "fairs" stock with government sponsored items from food to electronics.

A line formed outside a downtown Caracas toy story where cut-rate Barbie dolls had been marked down to 550 bolivars — about $5 (USD).

Carmen Suarez, a mother of two, said, "I'm buying six Barbies before they're gone. I was told I could buy six — as long as I didn't buy two of the same model."

A year ago the same strategy worked for Maduro. In 2015, Maduro saw a bump in poll numbers have forced price reductions lifted the ruling party's standing in the following elections.

Maduro accuses the opposition, together with business leaders to fighting an economic war to juice consumer prices and create product shortages.

Taking a page from the American President-elect's playbook, Maduro Tweeted: "Children are scared. We will not let them rob you of Christmas."

Jerry Nelson is an American freelance writer and ghostwriter now living the expat life in Argentina. Never far from his coffee and Marlboros, he is always interested in discussing future work opportunities. Email him at jandrewnelson2@gmail.com and join the million-or-so who follow his life and work on Twitter @ Journey_America.

His latest book, "Don't Polish the Turd and Other Writing Tips" is available on Amazon.

Jerry says, “Thanks for being part of my wild and wonderful journey called life.”