It doesn’t seem that long ago. But it was back in 1999 when Venezuela elected Hugo Chavez to bring in the “joys” of socialism.

Right away, Chavez stacked the courts, so he could stay in power past his constitutional term limit. He realigned his country with communist regimes. His government took over private businesses. He cracked down on dissent. He was a thug. And he talked anti-American crap every chance he got.

Of course, libs here loved him. Hollywood stars and other lefties flocked to Venezuela to worship at his feet.

Meanwhile, Venezuela suffered. By the time Chavez died in 2013, the once-prosperous country was a basket case. But his hand-picked successor, Nicolás Maduro, promised to keep marching toward socialist utopia.

This week, President Maduro announced a major change. Due to severe energy shortages, the five-day workweek has gone to a two-day workweek. The government blames a drought, but that’s an excuse. Venezuela is an oil-rich country. They used to export oil to us! But it can’t even use its own resources now, because the country’s infrastructure is in collapse. As is almost everything else.

Crime has been out of control for years. There are food shortages, and economic misery. Riots and looting have broken out. Now people are standing in long lines to sign petitions, calling for Maduro’s removal.

It’s a textbook lesson. Socialism fails, every time it’s tried. Here. There. And everywhere. and the millennials still don't get it.