Chile has been for many years the greatest benchmark for economic freedom and prosperity in Latin America. Today, the country that for a long time demonstrated that it is possible to reduce poverty and accelerate social mobility, sustain a successful pension system, grow economically, considerably increase per capita GDP and enjoy the enormous benefits that free trade generates, among so many other advances have fallen into the hands of those who applaud the populisms and dictatorships that have plunged Cuba, Venezuela and many other countries into misery.
In short, Chileans have decided to move away from the model that gave them prosperity during the last decades to embrace an alternative that promises to bring them closer to the miserable reality of socialism that has sunk many Latin American countries. I hope that the pendulum does not go to the extreme, but it is enough to analyze the narrative and proposals of President-elect Gabriel Boric to anticipate a future clouded by ideas and policies that have failed wherever they have been launched.
It not only hurts me that a brother and friend country can regress by allowing itself to be entangled between so many lies and strong doses of resentment, I am also concerned about the repercussion and impact of this very dangerous change in the entire region. Few countries are left whose sensible governments defend the ideas of freedom. It seems that throwback is the favorite sport in Latin America.
It hurts (RE) to know that a country with so many resources, so much potential and so many possibilities like Mexico, has been “far” from that free and prosperous Chile, even though we have been able to learn from its successes and advances. Today, the reality is that we are “closer” to that populist Chile or perhaps they to us because Mexico is giving the region a very bad example whose disastrous consequences we cannot yet fully estimate.
It is obvious that the supporters of the 4T celebrate the triumph of Boric because they are on the same side and are united by the same resentment. But the opposition? It is one thing (RE) to know the maturity of Chilean democracy and its institutions and another is to celebrate the arrival of a communist to power.
It is outrageous that many “opinion leaders”, “intellectuals” and “opponents of the 4T regime” in Mexico celebrate the arrival of Boric, who has never hidden his admiration for the worst socialist leaders such as Castro and Chávez. Short-sighted or hypocritical, they have applauded the arrival of a socialist with a tendency more to the extreme than to the center (more communist than social democrat) when they supposedly say they despise López, his ideas and his failed government.
A mixture of ignorance and hypocrisy confuse many who fail to assess the risk that Chile will follow in the footsteps of Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Peru (after the election of Pedro Castillo) and Venezuela. It is no coincidence that the leaders of these countries are the most enthusiastic about Boric’s triumph and that the newly elected president is an admirer of the “Bolivarian revolution.”
It does not suit anyone that socialism and the agenda of the Sao Paulo Forum continue to advance in Latin America. I am concerned and mistrust that “opposition” that “condemns” López but praises Boric because they have not understood what kind of battle we are waging nor do they see that both presidents are on the same side.
I am convinced that nothing can be asked of the radical socialist left and nothing good can be expected of them. But those of us who defend the ideas of freedom must demand more congruence, more empathy, more closeness, more creativity and better solutions totally out of the box. We must also demand less ego, less arrogance and less coldness in narrative and in fact.
A defeat is always a great opportunity for (RE) to consider everything. Those of us who are willing to defend freedom have to be more self-critical, really work as a team and (RE) imagine many things. Socialism does not advance just because. There are omissions and errors that must be corrected and wounds that must be healed from the root. If we don’t, we will end up living in a world without freedom.
* The author is the founding president of the Ágora AC Strategic Thought Institute (IPEA). First Think Tank of young Mexicans and One million young people for Mexico.
Twitter: @armando_regil
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx