Lots of nice stuff there.

Kind words will get you so far.

Kind words and a tank of gas will get you hundreds of miles.

Having been in Venezuela in '99 right after the big banker grand theft I've seen the desperate look for people's savings wiped out literally overnight.

I purchased items (what was to be had) from a shopkeeper who saved $8 or $10,000 in Bolivares, only to have them devalued to $250. He "lost it all," his life savings. Even if he had had a fraction of that as silver or gold he could have recovered better than most.

Desperate times in 1999... and they've gotten worse in the ensuing 24 years. Our friend's brother lives there as a priest helping the poor daily. He's old and has just decided to expend the rest of his life and pension helping the poor, living in misery himself.