Economy Shattered, Currency Collapsing - Venezuelans Wait in 6 ATM Lines For Enough to Buy RiceBy Mac Slavo Unfortunately, it is already underway in Venezuela. Of course there is a higher standard of living in the United States overall, but tens of millions of people are already on the edge of poverty and tens of millions more can be brought to their knees in a matter of hours. Some 46 million Americans are already on food stamps, and reliance on digital systems, EBT debit cards and electronic transactions could make Americans more vulnerable than they appear on the surface. If the system shut down tomorrow, what would you do? How would you feed your family? Unless you are a prepper, the answer could make you uneasy. Long lines have been the norm in Venezuela for over a year now; shortages and rations just another part of their upended lives. But now, the sheer free fall of their currencys value has made live even more precarious forcing many to visit as many as six ATMs just for enough to buy very basic, cheap goods. via Bloomberg: Ive had to go to six different ATMs just to get 6,000 bolivars, said [Domingris] Montano She needed to buy groceries. A package of rice would cost 3,500 bolivars, more than half the daily withdrawal limit, and the automated teller machine might be empty by the time her turn came. Maybe she could hit a few more before dark? [] It takes almost six minutes for it to spit out, 3,500 bolivars at a shot, and the victor walks away with a 3-inch stack worth $5.32. Sometimes I go to five ATMs without getting anything at all, he said, because the devices are busted or bare. [] The last time I cashed a check [with a live bank teller], it was for 44,000 bolivars and they gave it to me in bills of 5 and 10, said Elyn Hernandez, a 27-year-old assistant chef. That many bolivars in notes of 10 would fill a Duffel bag. An ATM delivers in larger denominations. (emphasis added) Most of the people are poor, and cash has long been the only fluid transaction for most vendors, and the wide segment of the population that dont have bank accounts. This has proven to be an especially difficult logistical problem as banks have responded to an accelerating crisis by placing harsh limits on the amount of money that can be withdrawn from ATMs with the maximum equating a huge fistful of bolivars but only a few U.S. dollars of purchasing power. That is why President Maduro has ordered a revaluing of the currency, and will issue higher denomination bills sometime early next year. But that will do little to alleviate the problems that everyday people are facing in the meantime. They have been desperate already, but now things are reaching a point of outright hyperinflation and spiraling collapse. Pray for these people, and prepare so that it might not happen to you or yours. Read More: Click here to subscribe: Join over one million monthly readers and receive breaking news, strategies, ideas and commentary. You can read more from Mac Slavo at his site SHTFplan.com, where this article first appeared. Photo Credit To cash or not to cash that is the question. Google is paying 97$ per hour! Work for few hours and have longer with friends family! !mj160d: I would imagine that there is no one here who does not think that this was engineered by the CIA, the banks and an awful lot of money. The USA, my country, has struck again. Why cant they get some gardens growing veggies or something edible and work together. There must be fruit trees as well. After all it cant be desert but I can be quite sure no humanitarian aid will be coming from the UN as they have stock piles waiting in Turkey for east Aleppo. All food is confiscated from anyone that is not a member of the communist party and given to party members. Uh, dont think so. The bankers control the economy and as long as the US is on board with their policies, the dollar will be kept afloat. We and Venezuelans give complete control of the economy to the bankers. Venezuela was one of the most prosperous countries in Latin America until Hugo Chavez came to power promising to soak the rich. The double-digit IQ masses put this Communist in power to steal from the productive to give to the parasites. Aint democracy great? 