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Christmas shopping is going to be a little different this year in Venezuela. Bloomberg reports that new president Nicolas Maduro, frustrated with the level of inflation in the country and shortages of goods, ordered the military to occupy a popular electronics chain, arrest store managers and cut prices on items like flat-screen TVs and washing machines. The store, Daka, hasn't responded to journalists' requests for comment.
In a public address, Maduro said, "we can't just close the businesses; the owners have to go to jail," adding that he won't allow "parasitic bourgeoisie" to overcharge shoppers. "This is just the tip of the iceberg of what we are planning to do with the bourgeoisie," he added, threatening more store seizures and arrests. Critics say that inflation has less to do with store pricing and more to do with economic mismanagement, and that forcing down prices will only lead to more shortages.
· How to Save on Christmas Shopping: Punish the 'Parasitic Bourgeoisie' [Bloomberg]
· Kmart Christmas Ad Not a Sign of Irreparable Cultural Depravity [Racked]