I don't think there is much debate here to be honest... Chavez was a socialist, he boldly advocated for his socialist policies. His effectiveness in actually getting them implemented was poor, but it is not like he could just flip a switch and change the country completely; takes time. 

I used the data I gave because it was the most recent I could find; still useful for showing a trend. I could not find specifically which companies survived from 1991 to 2008 either, i'm not sure if that data exists. My ultimate point being that Chavez essentially declared war on private business in the name of his socialist agenda ... even if he had not implemented a single policy that fact alone has a profound impact on the economy. Imagine if Trump had a press conference tomorrow and said that America is going to war with private industry ... what do you think that would do to market confidence / stock markets?

This is what happens when you look to government to take care of you.

History has proven time and time again that government is a net negative to human progress. I feel for the Venezuelan people. But, they put themselves in this spot. They should rise up and kick those commie scumbags to the curb. I think they will do so pretty soon.

Economically self-sufficient, I mine. Sure, you could survive alone. Would you be able to sustain an economy anywhere close to what you currently hold? No, certainly not. The majority of the value of consumer products purchased in Australia (phones, cars, clothes, etc...) are foreign (as is the case everywhere), and Australia certainly does *not* have the capacity to sustain that within its borders, either.

Looking through the data, yeah... US isn't either. Closer, though. Mostly just by being bigger, lol.

The essence of the problem is oil and it will always be a problem until Venezuela develops it's economy which will not happen without government intervention.

And become another US puppet state until the false guise of "free market capitalism"? No thanks.

Who said anything about that?  The Venezuelans need to get government out of the way.  They don't need fake free market capitalism like the USA.  They need actual free markets.  

And here's the part where Maurdo/Chavez knew things were going to go. Years ago, they imported hundreds of thousands of guns from the Russians for their militias. The earliest info I have is from 2009/2010, but Chavez was already planning to protect the regime with the Bolivarian militias that far back.

Sadly, evil dictators such as those within Venezuela's socialist party will do some terrible things to stay in power.

Venezuela will serve as a sad, stark contrast as to how not to run your country for decades... If anyone heeds the warning.

Also, its funny to come back this year and see so many people dogging socialism, instead of supporting it like they did in the early days of VGC. Oh my, how the times have changed!

And what is an actual free market?

The problem is that the US is actively trying to overthrow the government of Venezuela so they can swoop in an install their own US friendly regime. The state department today has announced that they want to "force democratic change", a massive oxymoron, and has admitted helping to collapse Venezuela's economy. "Getting the government out of the way" is exactly what the US and European countries want right now in order to reap the spoil's of Venezuela's natural resources, they do not care at all for the Venezuelan people.

I largely agree with you.  However, even if you are 100% correct, there is no realistic argument to be made that Venezuelans will be worse off under a US puppet regime.  Venezuela is a resource rich country.  It has been run completely into the ground by the socialist regime.  That regime must be cast off.  Then maybe the people will have the wherewithal to cast of the puppets that come next.   

All transactions are completely voluntary, and in no way influenced by government.  Basically, zero government.