Javier Milei, president of Argentina, gave a forceful speech against socialism during the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In his speech, the libertarian defended capitalism as the only economic system capable of allowing the creation of wealth and economic growth for citizens.
He explained how, historically, free enterprise capitalism lifted 90% of the world's population out of poverty. "The conclusion: far from being the cause, free enterprise capitalism is the only tool to end hunger, poverty and destitution. The evidence is unquestionable," said the Argentine president.
He further added that "the State is not the solution, it is the problem," and criticized collectivism because, he says, the State is financed through taxes. "Or can anyone say that they pay them voluntarily? The state is financed through coercion and, the greater the burden, the greater the coercion and the less freedom," he said.
"We are here to tell you that collectivist experiments are never the solution to citizens' problems, but rather are their cause. Believe me, there is no one better than us to bear witness to these issues," Milei added.
How can it be that academia demonizes an economic system that has lifted the world's population out of poverty, which is fair and morally superior? Thanks to capitalism, the world is at its best. There has never been a time of greater prosperity. The world is freer, richer, more peaceful and more prosperous.
Furthermore, Milei warned that the West and its democracies are in danger because their governments have allowed themselves to be consumed by socialist ideas. The Argentine president maintained that socialism is an impoverishing model that has only failed.
"Today I am here to tell you that the West is in danger because those who are supposed to defend its values find themselves co-opted by a vision of the world that inexorably leads to socialism and poverty," said Milei.
Socialism 'murdered more than 100 million human beings'
The president of Argentina recalled that socialism has killed more than 100 million people: "Those countries that should defend the free market and sectors of the establishment--some due to mistakes and others due to ambition for power--are undermining the foundations, opening the doors to socialism, condemning us to poverty. It should never be forgotten that socialism is an impoverishing phenomenon that failed in all countries and also murdered more than 100 million human beings."
We are here to warn you about what can happen if Western countries continue down this path of servitude. The case of Argentina is the empirical demonstration that if measures are adopted that hinder the free functioning of markets, free competition, free price systems, and trade, if private freedom is attacked, the only possible destiny is poverty.
Likewise, he asked the rest of the participants in the meeting, mainly business owners, not to let themselves be intimidated by and surrender to a political class that, he says, only wants to remain in power.
"You are social benefactors, you are heroes, you are the creators of the most extraordinary period of prosperity that we have ever experienced. Let no one tell you that your ambition is immoral. If you make money it is because you offer a better product at a better price, contributing to general well-being, you are the true protagonists of this story and know that from today onwards you have an unconditional ally in Argentina," said Milei, concluding his speech that ended with his emblematic: "Long live freedom, damn it."
