Venezuelan native: Socialist nation was once a 'thriving country

Venezuela native Debbie D’Souza joined “The Glenn Beck Radio Program” on Friday to talk about how socialism has devastated Venezuela and why Americans need to pay attention.

The people of Venezuela have struggled through years of recession and face shortages for basic necessities like food and medical supplies. Major companies, including General Motors, have been forced to pull out of Venezuela as the government seizes assets. Glenn Beck and D’Souza credited the country’s poverty and unrest to the socialist leadership of President Nicolás Maduro.

“People are being literally smuggled out at night because they’re being targeted as groups,” Glenn said. “This is communism. This is socialism. This is what happens. And quite honestly, this is the road that we’ve been headed on for a very long time.”

D’Souza, who is married to author and commentator Dinesh D’Souza, was born in Venezuela and remembers it from decades ago as a “thriving country,” far from the socialist wasteland that it is today. She described how the government took over all of the country’s industries, nationalizing telecommunications and energy. National health care was devastating to the economy and the population.

“When people started leaving the country, when doctors started leaving the country, there was no one to pay for it,” D’Souza said.

To see more from Glenn, visit his channel on TheBlaze and watch "The Glenn Beck Radio Program" live weekdays 9 a.m.–noon ET or anytime on-demand at TheBlaze TV.