Chavez Threatening Farms With Treason

[T]hugo Chavez continues to show that he has absolutely no understanding of economics. He's now threatening Venezuelan farmers with treason if they consider selling their products outside Venezuela.

With the country recently facing milk shortages, Chavez said "it's treason" if farmers deny milk to Venezuelans while selling it across the border in Colombia or for gourmet cheeses.

"In that case the farm must be expropriated," Chavez said, adding that the government could also take over milk plants and properties of beef producers.

"I'm putting you on alert," Chavez said. "If there's a producer that refuses to sell the product ... and sells it at a higher price abroad ... ministers, find me the proof so it can be expropriated."

Addressing his Cabinet, he said: "If the army must be brought in, you bring in the army."

Chavez issued the warning on his weekly broadcast program "Hello President" after announcing a hike in milk prices, a measure intended to counter recent shortages.

There are shortages because the Venezuelan thug imposed price controls that have the effect of depressing production and those farmers are looking to sell their goods at prices that actually reflect their costs of production.

Chavez has admitted to being a coca-head, and socialism has once again shown itself to be the culprit, not the market. Chavez is hoping to impose a socialist economy on Venezuela, and the effect is rampant shortages, inflation, and depressed economic activity. He's trying to pin all those problems on profiteers, but all he has to do it simply look in the mirror.