I look often at a picture of four young Venezuelan boys, taken by me during a press trip to their country 15 years ago.

 

They had just finished playing a pickup game of “beisbol” on the streets, smiling as they goofed along the boulevard.

 

They were happy to pose. Young faces, bright dark eyes, without a care in the world.

 

My encounter with them was not too distant in time from a speech their President Hugo Chavez made at his claiming office.

 

Venezuela, oil-rich with one of the highest per-capital-incomes in our hemisphere, was embarking on a new way of live - socialism.

 

Well, you know how that idea has gone. Dr. Harold Pease, syndicated columnist and 30-year professor of political science at Taft College, says it this way:

 

“The lure of socialism - getting something for nothing” is all about wanting (and getting) what the more fortunate members (the working business people) of society have. Chavez was more than happy to distribute their wealth, because it made a lot of people happy. So, he took their things.

 

“When government makes prosperity unlikely through confiscatory taxes, the productive quit investing (in their businesses),” he wrote. “Socialism destroys the creative . . . “

 

And the downward spiral began. Most of Venezuela’s people are on the streets, hungry, without medicine or work, trying to overthrow the heir to Chavez after he died,  Madero.

 

It’s happening in the news this week. Many countries have called for Madero to step down, leading to democratic elections and a free and open economy.

Socialism has torn the heart and soul out of their country, they charge. But, is it being heard loudly enough.

 

We’ll see how that goes.

 

But I think about those four young ballplayers and where they are now. Did they join Madero’s army to fight the new “anarchists?” 

 

Were they killed on the streets, protesting against Madero?

 

Have they run away to other countries? (Perhaps a third of their residents have fled the country.)

 

Was one of them good enough at beisbol to come to America to play?

 

Are they alive?

 

Something about socialism. It runs really well until the other guy’s money runs out.

 

Oh, a postnote to our trip to Venezuela. Our press group flew to the east side of the country to meet one night (under cover of dark) with a small daily newspaper staff who wrote unbecoming things about Chavez’ way of governing. 

 

They were worried about being shut down.

 

A short time after our visit, padlocks were put on their presses. Nothing like stifling the voices of those who disagree with you. 

 

 

There is a major movement underway in the Minnesota Legislature to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

 

I haven’t seen any surveys regarding public opinion about the issue, so I will draw on a small survey conducted by a fellow Minnesota weekly newspaper last week, in which they asked their readers for an opinion.

 

A little less than half of their respondents said it would be okay to legalize pot for recreational use. “Why not? Alcohol is legal” was their response.   Twenty-six percent of the respondents suggested, No. Keep the state’s hands out of it.”

 

Twenty-three percent of the respondents said, “No,” but they were okay with medical marijuana.

 

A very small percentage offered no opinion.

 

My take on it?

 

By all means, continue using marijuana for specified medical use.

 

By all means, don’t allow it to be used for recreational use.

 

Our society gives us enough other ways for us to get goofy.

 

Some from the other side will suggest it will be a good way to capture taxes on the sale of the stuff.

 

Why do we need those taxes? To help solve peoples’ problems stemming from pot use, of course.

 

Legal gambling has proven that.