and, to be as clear as possible - venezuela is not currently and never was a socialist country. it was at most a mixed economy, with a state-run oil sector. but, you couldn't even really call it "state capitalism". it's just as capitalist as anywhere else.

if the country had actually embraced socialism, it wouldn't have destroyed it's own agriculture sector, or become reliant on imports of food by crowding out the rest of the economy.

socialism is a worker-run economy, and there is no sign of that in venezuela. at all.

so, it's an absurd red herring for ignorant buffoons to squabble over and not a serious debate to engage with. these right-wing idiots pushing this kind of stupidity should just be laughed out of the room.