Never a good idea.
Yes. Yes...Gildersleeve first made that comment in his food post below. But given who we're writing about, maybe we should just change the blog name to "Never a Good Idea Watch" because I'm sure the phrase will become standard.
Anyway, here's the housing story:
Chavez's Caracas Home-Building Sows Hope
The article describes a massive home building program run by Chavez. If you want to be bored to tears about all the wonderful things he's doing to make the poor comfortable instead of not poor, there's the link. Have fun. I, on the other hand, want to make just a few observations.
Observation #1...Every AP story has that signature "you can't be serious" (YCBS) sentence. Such a sentence is remarkable for an extra dose of left wing BS, and usually causes any right thinking person to slap his forehead, mutter obscenities, and then laugh for fear of punching his computer screen. In this story, the YCBS sentence offers a description of Chavez's project. See if you can think of more accurate phrasing. Here's the quote:
Chavez has opted for a government-centric approach.Riiiiight...That's just what I'd call it. Good grief.
Observation #2....The article mentions that this "government-centric" home building project is behind schedule and will make small progress in addressing Venezuela's housing problem. So...People are waiting on homes from an inadequate program that is behind schedule. But the government has told everyone it's building them homes. In the AP's words, Chavez is "sowing hope." Well, guess what's not getting done in the meantime? Correct...Home building.
Observation #3...A fair amount of data accumulated over the years on the success of "government-centric" home building programs has lead to one conclusion: There isn't any (success, that is). Why would this attempt be any different? Sure, it may be sowing hope, but what will it reap? This may give us a glimpse:
Outside one housing office, scores of people sit in a parking lot in plastic chairs waiting for their requests to be heard by officials. "I've been coming here for six years, and they don't resolve anything for me," Victoria Yanez says angrily, holding a worn folder of documents.
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