They nationalized a massive oil industry and then spent the way profits on stupid shit instead of the basic needs of the population.

Governments have been able to run feeding programs for "dangerous" populations for centuries, in jails, prisons, schools and the military.

Shut down all military chow halls for a week and see what happens.

Now if they "funded military chow" and are not feeding the troops, but everyone in the military chow business gets nice homes and vehicles, it's not hard to figure out. Seems I remember hearing stories about how shortly after Obama took over, prison and military food went downhill, with combat zone troops in Afghanistan being cut back to two meals a day.

The reason the Venezuelans are rioting is they are not stupid people. They know that the fight between elites in their society and government is using food restriction as a weapon.