TRIGGERnometry Why Socialism Never Works - A Warning From Venezuela - Daniel Di Martino
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Dec 24, 2025 
Daniel Di Martino, a Venezuelan-born economist and activist at the Manhattan Institute, shares his firsthand experiences of Venezuela's economic collapse. He discusses how socialist policies, starting with Chávez's rise, led to nationalization, rampant corruption, and deteriorating living standards. Di Martino critiques the idea that corruption alone caused the crisis, warning against the allure of 'free' benefits that stifle production. He also emphasizes the risks of socialism to personal freedoms and advocates for market-based solutions to revitalize economies.
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From Wealth To Decline
- Venezuela was once among the world's richest countries due to oil and economic freedom.
- Socialist policies and nationalization later destroyed incentives and long-term investment.
Vote-Buying Over Investment
- Nationalizing oil and using revenues for short-term welfare eroded investment and growth.
- Politicians bought votes instead of funding infrastructure or maintenance, causing long-term decline.
Expropriations And A Martyr
- Daniel recounts Chávez expropriating private businesses and a farmer's fatal hunger strike.
- He names Jose Brito as a martyr whose family farm was seized and who died protesting the expropriation.