Changes

Venezuela's government continued to receive support from [[Russia]] and [[China]].<ref>Adelmann, Bob (October 29, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/30485-china-russia-rushing-to-keep-venezuela-alive-as-crisis-deepens China, Russia Rushing to Keep Venezuela Alive as Crisis Deepens]. ''The New American''. Retrieved October 29, 2018.</ref> Additionally, [[Cuba]]'s Communist regime helped Venezuela adopt left-wing authoritarian policies.<ref>Berwick, Angus (August 22, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/venezuela-cuba-military/ Imported repression: How Cuba taught Venezuela to quash military dissent]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved August 22, 2019.</ref>

Venezuela's government continued to receive support from [[Russia]] and [[China]].<ref>Adelmann, Bob (October 29, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/30485-china-russia-rushing-to-keep-venezuela-alive-as-crisis-deepens China, Russia Rushing to Keep Venezuela Alive as Crisis Deepens]. ''The New American''. Retrieved October 29, 2018.</ref> Additionally, [[Cuba]]'s Communist regime helped Venezuela adopt left-wing authoritarian policies.<ref>Berwick, Angus (August 22, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/venezuela-cuba-military/ Imported repression: How Cuba taught Venezuela to quash military dissent]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved August 22, 2019.</ref>

 

Maduro won re-election in 2018, despite banning major opposition parties from participating in the election<ref>Kew, Ben (December 11, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/12/11/venezuelas-maduro-bans-opposition-parties-2018-election/ Venezuela’s Maduro Bans Opposition Parties from 2018 Election]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.</ref> and despite record low turnout and serious voter fraud allegations.<ref>Martel, Frances (May 21, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/05/21/venezuela-maduro-reelected-with-record-low-turnout-rampant-fraud/ Venezuela: Maduro ‘Reelected’ with Record Low Turnout, Rampant Fraud]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.</ref> He started his second term despite the fact that about 60 countries did not recognize the election results.<ref>Multiple references:

Maduro won re-election in 2018, despite banning major opposition parties from participating in the election<ref>Kew, Ben (December 11, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/12/11/venezuelas-maduro-bans-opposition-parties-2018-election/ Venezuela’s Maduro Bans Opposition Parties from 2018 Election]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.</ref> and despite record low turnout and serious voter fraud allegations.<ref>Martel, Frances (May 21, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/05/21/venezuela-maduro-reelected-with-record-low-turnout-rampant-fraud/ Venezuela: Maduro ‘Reelected’ with Record Low Turnout, Rampant Fraud]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.</ref> He started his second term despite the fact that about 60 countries did not recognize the election results.<ref>Multiple references:

*Adelmann, Bob (January 10, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/31153-venezuela-s-marxist-president-maduro-inaugurated-for-second-term Venezuela’s Marxist President Maduro Inaugurated for Second Term]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

*Adelmann, Bob (January 10, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/31153-venezuela-s-marxist-president-maduro-inaugurated-for-second-term Venezuela’s Marxist President Maduro Inaugurated for Second Term]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

Many experts and technicians fled the country. During electrical blackouts in 2019, which the government was incapable of restoring due to a lack of skilled personnel, [[Social Justice Warrior]]s began looting shops, stores, and malls. Despite Venezuela's guarantee of [[healthcare]] as a right, people contracted [[E. coli]] bacteria from contaminated water with no technicians to treat the water and a lack of medical personnel to treat the victims.

Many experts and technicians fled the country. During electrical blackouts in 2019, which the government was incapable of restoring due to a lack of skilled personnel, [[Social Justice Warrior]]s began looting shops, stores, and malls. Despite Venezuela's guarantee of [[healthcare]] as a right, people contracted [[E. coli]] bacteria from contaminated water with no technicians to treat the water and a lack of medical personnel to treat the victims.

 

The situation in Venezuela demonstrated the importance of an armed citizenry – its population was disarmed and thus unable to free itself from Maduro's grip.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (April 30, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/30/msnbc-venezuela-coverage-shows-why-u-s-founders-wanted-armed-citizenry/ MSNBC Venezuela Coverage Shows Why U.S. Founders Wanted Armed Citizenry]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref><ref>Byas, Steve (May 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/32167-msnbc-reporter-s-remarks-illustrate-need-for-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms MSNBC Reporter’s Remarks Illustrate Need for Right to Keep and Bear Arms]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref> Maduro used violent means to keep control of Venezuela.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (July 9, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/32799-venezuelas-maduro-employing-death-squads-torture-to-retain-control Venezuela’s Maduro Employing Death Squads, Torture to Retain Control]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> According to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory in 2019, over 7,000 Venezuelans died in the country's prisons since 1999.<ref>Kew, Ben (July 26, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/07/26/ngo-7000-venezuelans-died-prison-under-socialist-regime/ NGO: Over 7,000 Venezuelans Have Died in Prison Under Socialist Regime]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 26, 2019.</ref>

The situation in Venezuela demonstrated the importance of an armed citizenry – its population was disarmed and thus unable to free itself from Maduro's grip.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (April 30, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/30/msnbc-venezuela-coverage-shows-why-u-s-founders-wanted-armed-citizenry/ MSNBC Venezuela Coverage Shows Why U.S. Founders Wanted Armed Citizenry]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref><ref>Byas, Steve (May 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/32167-msnbc-reporter-s-remarks-illustrate-need-for-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms MSNBC Reporter’s Remarks Illustrate Need for Right to Keep and Bear Arms]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref> Maduro used violent means to keep control of Venezuela.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (July 9, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/32799-venezuelas-maduro-employing-death-squads-torture-to-retain-control Venezuela’s Maduro Employing Death Squads, Torture to Retain Control]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> According to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory in 2019, over 7,000 Venezuelans died in the country's prisons since 1999.<ref>Kew, Ben (July 26, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/07/26/ngo-7000-venezuelans-died-prison-under-socialist-regime/ NGO: Over 7,000 Venezuelans Have Died in Prison Under Socialist Regime]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 26, 2019.</ref>