#10. No Separations of Powers
Last and certainly not least, is one of the cornerstones of a country that is completely in shambles. In functioning republics and democracies, the rule of law is supreme, not the arbitrary rule of one man or a select few men. The absence of separation of powers is fertile ground for all types of government abuse and tyranny.
The Founding Fathers of the United States were wise in the construction of a political system that made clear distinctions between the separate branches of power. Despite various increases in the size and scope of government since World War I, the United States had maintained institutional stability throughout the 20th and 21st century.
On other hand, the Venezuelan case is one of a country that benefited from a huge oil-boom in the 20th century, but at the same time, had a very weak institutional foundation. Eventually this weakness caught up with it and laid the groundwork for the current mess that it is in. Massive intervention in the economy, imprisonment of the opposition, arbitrary killings, and restrictions on free speech are the order of the day in Venezuela.
Current crises in first world countries such as Greece and Spain have many ominous parallels to that of Venezuela. Time will tell if these nations will completely fall for the Siren Song of statism. First World countries be warned, the turmoil that my home country of Venezuela faces can manifest itself in your backyard if people do not wise up and keep their governments in check.
Don’t fall for the same mistakes that my country did.
