When we look south of our border, to the nation of Venezuela, we are not just witnessing a geopolitical footnote; we are observing a horror show in real-time—a clear, flashing neon sign that spells out the ultimate consequence of abandoning fundamental American principles. This isn't just about some distant country’s poor economic choices; it is the textbook tragedy of what happens when socialism, enabled by the weakness of global leadership, consumes a republic.