patrick.net

Just yet another Keynesian nightmare.

Every OPEC country and and Russia are dependent on oil exports for their survival. We know alternative energy will start chipping away at world wide demand for oil and coal, while at the same time technology makes it cheaper and easier to find new oil deposits.
The future of these countries lies with the future of oil - dark and polluted.

The fracking boom will blow up before other less costly exploitations.

Send in troops now!

Strategist says

We know alternative energy will start chipping away at world wide demand for oil and coal, while at the same time technology makes it cheaper and easier to find new oil deposits.

LOL!

This is our future.

I have doubts about the human race post-2100.

Strategist says

while at the same time technology makes it cheaper and easier to find new oil

It is butt-hard to find new oil these days. That's why world oil production has been flat since 2005.

If it were easier, then we would see $10/bbl oil.

Venezuela has been on the verge of collapse since the 2004 failed coup.

thunderlips11 says

Venezuela has been on the verge of collapse since the 2004 failed coup.

Venezuela's collapse has been on steroids ever since late ceasar assumed leadership.

Venezuela has highest murder rate in south america - 73 per 100,000 and has rampant kidnapping problem.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/9769897/Venezuela-murder-rate-soars.html

HydroCabron says

This is our future.

I have doubts about the human race post-2100.

I'm just visiting the planet. Someone's gonna have to fix it.

thunderlips11 says

Venezuela has been on the verge of collapse since the 2004 failed coup.

If it does go over the cliff, no one will even care.

dublin hillz says

Venezuela has highest murder rate in south america - 73 per 100,000 and has rampant kidnapping problem.

According to the UN, #1 in the world is Honduras with 90 murders.

Venezuela is #2 with "only" 53 murders.

The Third? The US Virgin Islands barely behind Venezuela with 52.6.

Belize and El Salvador are 4th and 5th with also about 50 murders per 100,000.

I heard Belize is a major, major hellhole, has gotten so awful that cruise ships are taking it off their list.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

Other interesting things:

Puerto Rico is worse than Brazil. Yet firearms have been banned for years and years now.

Colombia had "only" 30 murders per 100,000, just behind South Africa with 31.

Mexico has been getting shittier and shittier with each passing year, too.

There are some British and French Carrib Islands on there that only had one murder, yet got into the top 30, which really isn't that fair if you think about it.

thunderlips11 says

Puerto Rico is worse than Brazil. Yet firearms have been banned for years and years now.

Are you saying that gun control does not work? Very surprising since it has worked so well in Chicago?

indigenous says

thunderlips11 says

Puerto Rico is worse than Brazil. Yet firearms have been banned for years and years now.

Are you saying that gun control does not work? Very surprising since it has worked so well in Chicago?

It also worked wonderfully in DC.

thunderlips11 says

It also worked wonderfully in DC.

So where do these fine destinations come in at on your list?

Some American cities are comparable to Venezuela:
Flint, 62 per 100k
Detroit, 55
N'awlins, 53

thunderlips11 says

I heard Belize is a major, major hellhole, has gotten so awful that cruise ships are taking it off their list.

Where did you hear that? I stopped in Belize (oddly enough it was a lot cheaper to do a belize stop than flying direct) in 2008 or 2009 for 2 weeks of kitesurfing and found it quite nice. Belize City is an absolute shithole to be avoided at all costs, but the areas I traveled around (caye caulker and dangriga) were fine. I haven't read anything since that things have deteriorated. I'd be interested in reading your sources.

bob2356 says

Where did you hear that? I stopped in Belize (oddly enough it was a lot cheaper to do a belize stop than flying direct) in 2008 or 2009 for 2 weeks of kitesurfing and found it quite nice. Belize City is an absolute shithole to be avoided at all costs, but the areas I traveled around (caye caulker and dangriga) were fine. I haven't read anything since that things have deteriorated. I'd be interested in reading your sources.

I read up on Belize a while back. Basically, I remember various sites saying that San Pedro and the rest of the diving resorts were great, but the rest of the country was hellacious - especially Belize City, but also the Capital, Belmopan. Where the largest segments of the population live. I remember reading a few years ago about an onslaught of bus hijackings by armed men, where the drugged out shooters even killed people who paid up in at least one case.

Even if you X out Belize City gang warfare, the murder rate is still ~20+ per 100,000, damn high.

In any case, I imagine Belize is like everywhere else. There's plenty of areas in Colombia and Mexico that are nice and not very dangerous, but generally speaking, they're not so wonderful outside of those touristy areas like Cancun or Cartagena. Capitol Hill and the French Quarter are also safe, as they're not the areas that have most of the murders and violent crime and residents.

thunderlips11 says

Even if you X out Belize City gang warfare, the murder rate is still ~20+ per 100,000, damn high.

In any case, I imagine Belize is like everywhere else. There's plenty of areas in Colombia and Mexico that are nice and not very dangerous, but generally speaking, they're not so wonderful outside of those touristy areas like Cancun or Cartagena. Capitol Hill and the French Quarter are also safe, as they're not the areas that have most of the murders and violent crime and residents.

A rate of 20 per 100k is about average for central america. I don't agree about touristy area's. I've travelled around a lot outside of touristy area's in many countries. There's always plenty of local information about where to avoid available. Find the expat hangouts and ask. Stay away from trouble spots and there's no problem. The touristy area's aren't very interesting many times. I find the idea of going on vacation to stay in a mini america not very appealing at all.

I'll find out about columbia in april. I'm taking the kids to Cali and Lago Calima for 3 weeks. Car rentals are astronomical in columbia so I'm not doing much driving, but I'm going to go around for at least a few days. I'd really like to see medellin and visit friends who retired to there, but it's just too much of a stretch. They tell me it's the greatest place they've ever been.