Troops seize toilet paper factory to avoid shortage

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24185342

Venezuela seizes toilet paper factory to avoid shortage

The Venezuelan government has taken over a toilet paper factory to avoid any scarcity of the product.

The National Guard has taken control of the plant, and officers will monitor production and distribution.

Earlier this year officials ordered millions of toilet rolls to be imported to counter a chronic shortage.

Last week President Nicolas Maduro created a special committee to tackle the problem, which the government blames on unscrupulous traders.

(continued, capitalism isn't working too well that way?)

[klr]

If you feel moved to create a committee to address a shortage of bog roll, then things are really going down the crapper.

[cronus]

If you feel moved to create a committee to address a shortage of bog roll, then things are really going down the crapper.

A shortage is a fairly urgent matter for any nation and could quickly lead to civil unrest everywhere.

[Clinton Huxley]

thieves stole the toilet from the local cop shop. The police say they have nothing to go on.

[mistermack]

The thing to do is to ration bog-paper, until supplies return to normal.
So if you want some, you need a certificate signed in triplicate, to verify that you really need to go, and aren't just hoarding it.
So even if there is none available, you still have a use for the certificates.

[cronus]

Double-ply will go twice as far if you carefully tease it apart. Something wicked this way comes though.

[JimC]

What's wrong with cutting up newspapers into squares?

It would be quite satisfying to use a front page picture of our new PM for such a purpose...

[klr]

What's wrong with cutting up newspapers into squares?

It would be quite satisfying to use a front page picture of our new PM for such a purpose...

Maybe, but that sort of thing is probably forbidden in Venezuela, under pain of imprisonment. El Presidente's face shall not be used to clean one's bum.

[piscator]

Can't put my finger on it, butt Venezuela seems ripe for Shi'ite Islam.

[Tero]

To do: how do Pirahas wipe their asses?

I'm on a Piraha kick.

[piscator]

To do: how do Pirahas wipe their asses?

¡Con Pirañas!

[Cormac]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24185342

Venezuela seizes toilet paper factory to avoid shortage

The Venezuelan government has taken over a toilet paper factory to avoid any scarcity of the product.

The National Guard has taken control of the plant, and officers will monitor production and distribution.

Earlier this year officials ordered millions of toilet rolls to be imported to counter a chronic shortage.

Last week President Nicolas Maduro created a special committee to tackle the problem, which the government blames on unscrupulous traders.

(continued, capitalism isn't working too well that way?)

Well, after the Chavez economic vandalism, I'm not sure you could refer to what is left of the Venezuelan economy as capitalist. The shortage of toilet roll there, if true, is not something for which capitalism can be blamed. Instead, we should turn and examine how it was that socialism, surprise surprise, has led to shortages of a key public health commodity.

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24185342

Venezuela seizes toilet paper factory to avoid shortage

The Venezuelan government has taken over a toilet paper factory to avoid any scarcity of the product.

The National Guard has taken control of the plant, and officers will monitor production and distribution.

Earlier this year officials ordered millions of toilet rolls to be imported to counter a chronic shortage.

Last week President Nicolas Maduro created a special committee to tackle the problem, which the government blames on unscrupulous traders.

(continued, capitalism isn't working too well that way?)

Well, after the Chavez economic vandalism, I'm not sure you could refer to what is left of the Venezuelan economy as capitalist. The shortage of toilet roll there, if true, is not something for which capitalism can be blamed. Instead, we should turn and examine how it was that socialism, surprise surprise, has led to shortages of a key public health commodity.

I don't blame the system whatever it is deep down. It's the people who won't let the system work because they always fight in their own little corner and worry about the consequences of running short for themselves. If only they'd share and buy and sell with a open heart rather than fearing critical system failures and holding it all in as a result.

[Cormac]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24185342

Venezuela seizes toilet paper factory to avoid shortage

The Venezuelan government has taken over a toilet paper factory to avoid any scarcity of the product.

The National Guard has taken control of the plant, and officers will monitor production and distribution.

Earlier this year officials ordered millions of toilet rolls to be imported to counter a chronic shortage.

Last week President Nicolas Maduro created a special committee to tackle the problem, which the government blames on unscrupulous traders.

(continued, capitalism isn't working too well that way?)

Well, after the Chavez economic vandalism, I'm not sure you could refer to what is left of the Venezuelan economy as capitalist. The shortage of toilet roll there, if true, is not something for which capitalism can be blamed. Instead, we should turn and examine how it was that socialism, surprise surprise, has led to shortages of a key public health commodity.

I don't blame the system whatever it is deep down. It's the people who won't let the system work because they always fight in their own little corner and worry about the consequences of running short for themselves. If only they'd share and buy and sell with a open heart rather than fearing critical system failures and holding it all in as a result.

I disagree though.

Either the economy is so buggered that a lot of people cannot afford to buy toilet paper, and the product cannot be produced or imported cheaper, or the government has manipulated the supply chain in a misguided attempt to make things better.

If hoarding is occurring, it is a result of an already scarce supply, and a belief that things are going to get worse. These are symptoms, not causes.

[cronus]

Corruption will make both socialism and capitalism tilt if the black market is big and wide enough. Artificial scarcity might occur as a result of criminal activity. The CIA may have a interested in blowing up toilet roll factories for idealogical reasons. The evidence does not support a system failure but rather a human failure with things that are as basic as standard soft two-ply. One can imagine a criminal community awash with cocaine requiring some alternative basic commodity to act as a currency where dollars are scarce on account of embargo's.