At the beginning, Venezuela experienced an economic boom and funded many social programs. I saw Chavez go on live TV, receiving callers – like a talk show – and offering gifts like houses, cars and other goodies to the people. I remember Chavez’s multiple-hour speeches – which we were essentially forced to watch because the state blocked all other channels – announcing new nationalizations, new “missions,” or simply denouncing the press and political adversaries as traitors.

At the time, it was hard to imagine the dark future ahead for Venezuela, as money seemed never ending. But the country’s centralized control of the economy was heavily dependent on oil.

In short, I know what real socialism is because I grew up in a country that was destroyed by the totalitarian rule of the Socialist Party.

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/venezuelan-student-know-real-socialism-090132684.html