Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

The great escape from socialism!

Thousands of people are lining up at the border of Venezuela and Colombia each morning, desperate to escape Nicolas Maduro's collapsing socialist state, with some vowing not to return until the "president who spends money while his people die of hunger" is ousted.

The economic and political crisis is putting pressure on Venezuela's neighbor as around 25,000 people cross the Simón Bolívar International bridge each day to reach the Colombian town of Cucuta. "I'll return when Maduro goes," Jeferson José Gutierres, who is jobless after fleeing Venezuela with his wife and three children a month ago, told the BBC. "He's a president who spends money while his people die of hunger."

A shelter in the center of the town has reported a spike in migrants.

The Scalabrini International Migration Network told the BBC between January and June, 650 people stopped by. But in August alone, there were 850 people that came through its doors. Franklin Díaz, who runs the shelter, says the problems start at the top with the Venezuelan government. "The action of the authorities is fundamental, they are the ones who manage the resources," he said.

Meanwhile, Maduro has been urging his country's army to prepare for a war with the U.S. that shows no signs of coming, telling troops to have "rifles, missiles and well-oiled tanks at the ready." He also has been encouraging citizens to start eating pet rabbits for protein as Venezuela faces a severe food shortage. "What a humiliation" two women with a baby were heard by the BBC saying as they walked past a Colombian border guard, in search for food and supplies. Some families are crossing into Colombia with empty suitcases to stock up on products that have disappeared on their side of the border.

In Cucuta, a local church is feeding up to 2,000 people a day in an open-air courtyard.

And more than 700,000 people have applied for "border mobility cards" from the Colombian government that allows them to move between the two countries without a passport, the BBC reported. "At the moment, there's a pretty big flow but not everybody stays," said Luis Fernando Niño López, the secretary for victims, peace and post-conflict for the province of Norte de Santander.
"But what's going to happen when they can't go back because Maduro closes the border, or because armed groups that control the border won't let people go back?"


https://apple.news/A0bUuZHzASV-jVr4iBjAM_Q

archie bunker Loc: Texas

Hey WFOC! Long time no see!
I'm ready for it if the l*****ts get their way here. We won't starve. I have an over abundance of rabbits, quail, and some deer, and turkeys running around. Plus, 3 dogs, and a horse. We'll eat one way or the other!
Worst case, I also have some pretty fat neighbors!

EL Loc: Massachusetts

We've got about the same here (minus the horse who has passed away) Just worried about all the fat neighbors making it less of an abundance might fast.

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

Hey Arch!! Yeah, it's been a while. Busy enjoying the summer with the kids, it's been great, they're at the perfect age, wish I could freeze time.

We've got some rabbits (but none as pets), also the turkeys, and with a little searching I'm sure we could stumble across some deer. I've eaten all but the rabbit, you're gonna have to let me know if they're any good.

Spent most of the summer fishing with the kids, my five year old girl picked it up fast. Started the summer using a hook, worm, and a bobber catching sunfish. By the end, she was using lures, catching bass with me, she became quite good with a spinnerbait, so we should also be able to have a fish-fry to go with the other animals. I've had my eye on one of my neighbors for a while too...😳 But, I'll never eat dog or horse, I don't care how hungry I get.

Hope all is well with you and yours, my friend.

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

Maybe we can get a copy of Hannibal Lecter's cookbook to help us out. Or maybe even that couple from Russia that was in the news recently, sure they have some wonderful recipes. 😳

archie bunker Loc: Texas

Good for you WFOC! Those are the best of times with the kids!👍They go fast, but if you both survive the teenage years, and it all goes right they'll give you grandkids who you can have fun with, then send home when you're done.😆

Don't be scaird to try rabbit. It's actually really good. You want the cottontails though. I don't know if you have them in your part of the world, but we have jackrabbits as big as small donkeys here. You can eat em if you can manage to get me chewed. Tough, and stringy as boot leather jerkey. I prolly couldn't eat the dogs either. Although there are some days that I think this 11 week old bulldog pup we now have might not be bad fried up with some onions, garlic, green chili, and wrapped in a tortilla. I've eaten cat before. It was a mountain lion that a friend k**led (legally) in Colorado several years ago. It was ok. Speaking of that.....how far is Aunt E from you?
I would probably eat horse myself. My grandparents ate it during WW2, and it got them by.

We can joke about it all we want, but Venezuela is the perfect example of what Democratic Socialism does. It took less than 20 years to reduce that once vibrant, productive country to what it is now. And people think they want that here.
Sorry if this rambled I'm on puppy duty at the moment.

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

Thanks Arch. They sure are the best, and I know they go fast and I'm doing my damnedest to hang on to them. My oldest will be 24 in December, so technically I could be a grandparent already, but she's pretty adamant about not having children, which is fine by me, I can wait, lol.

I'll take your word on it Arch. I think they are the cottontails, I see them mostly at night hopping through the yard, they're brown and not very big. Perhaps EL could confirm this for me, I just can't say for sure. Under dire circumstances I wouldn't have any qualms about eating them. I just found it sickening that the Venezuelan president told his citizens to eat their pets, what a POS!

Lol. I don't think I'd have a problem trying a big wild cat like that, especially under extreme circumstances. I'm so jealous of your new little buddy. We acquired a min-pin a few months back. It was Mrs. WFOC's grandmother's, she's been diagnosed with advanced Alzheimers and had to move into assisted living. The dog is 9 years old, no fun, sleeps like 17 hours a day. Perhaps after she goes I'll think about getting a puppy, I sure still miss my old one, but I think I'm ready. BTW, what's your pups name?

Lol, she's prolly about a 10 hour drive away, but she'll probably want me to drive her to Texas after she sees that remark. 😳

Yeah, my dad told about some of the stuff they ate when he was a boy, nothing ever went to waste, leftovers were put into a grinder and some sort of concoction was served the next day for lunch. I think of those stories and it makes me appreciate the things I have today. I honestly don't think today's generation would be able to handle times like those, especially if they didn't have an older relative around to show them the ropes.

You're absolutely right, sir. There's nothing funny about what's going on in Venezuela, it's a human catastrophe. Humor is only a technique used to protect one from insanity. I just hope that all the Bernie supporters get a front row seat to the horrors of what can happen when their ideas are put into affect in the real world.

You never ramble, my friend. It's always a pleasure to chat with you.

archie bunker Loc: Texas

Mornin WFOC.

We got busy yesterday, so I just now looked back in here. Went to a 50th birthday party for one of Mrs. Bunkers old high school buddies. I hope some of those old bags feel as bad as I do this morning. We sure ain't in high school any more! We did the responsible thing, and called my son to come bring us home.

Well, just for fun that smart-ass let himself in the house at 6:00 this morning, and managed to get himself in bed between us before the burglar alarm went off. Man, I tell ya, that's one helluva way to wake up all hunged over, and discombobulated! Damn that things loud!
30 seconds later the alarm people called needing the code word so they don't dispatch the calvary and I had to recall that.
Anyway, he took me to get the car, and made me buy him breakfast laughing at me the whole time. I can't be mad at him. I'm sure he owed me that one because you know what they say about the apple not falling far from the tree.

The pup is 1/2 American Bulldog, and 1/2 Pittbull. He's gonna be a big one! When we brought him home at 5 weeks, and were discussing names, my wife commented that he's quite a little pistol, so I spat out Ruger. And that's his name. He's a lot of fun, and is learning really well. NPP, and SWMBO sent us some puppy training books, and he's doing pretty good with it I think. But, boy is he a busy mess!
When the time comes your kids will love having one, and helping train it. I'll see if I have a recent pic, and send it to you. He changes every day.

teabag09

When you get to the fat neighbors will you invite me over, I'll bring the stuffing and gravy? Mike

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

My apologies Arch, just after my last response to you I had major phone issues, but I think I'm back on track now, fingers crossed.

Sounds like you have a good natured son there, proves the apple theory true. 👍 You made a good decision, the cost of breakfast is cheap by comparison to any number of possible alternatives.

Yeah, NPP & SWMBO are good like that, very knowledgeable and helpful too. Can't wait to see a pic of the pup. You could even post it on the four year thread, I'll be heading there next. 👍