Foolishness and arrogance rule

The article critiques a concerning global trend where leaders and influential figures express admiration for authoritarian regimes, exemplified by a conversation overheard on a ship involving Chileans discussing the "total freedom" in China, provided one does not criticize the government. This sentiment is contrasted with a perceived decline in Europe's influence and a growing embrace of rapid, albeit undemocratic, capitalist development, a model seemingly favored by libertarians and figures like Peter Thiel.

The author expresses alarm over the rise of an "illiberal democracy" in the region, which, paradoxically, champions liberalism while actively undermining democratic foundations. This movement disdains the state, parliament, judiciary, and especially independent media, which it believes should not criticize the government. The piece suggests this is a "revolutionary movement" that, for electoral purposes, proceeds with calculated hypocrisy, needing the support of moderate democrats to oppose Kirchnerism, thus masking its true intentions.

Both left-wing Kirchnerism and right-wing "mileísmo" are depicted as sharing a penchant for autocracies, engaging in business and forming close ties with them. The article frames this as a "pretty pincer movement" by global populism, aiming to dismantle the hard-won consensus established in 1983. The author notes a recurring pattern where societal divisions manifest during mass events, revealing a perceived "other" that is deemed undesirable and must be suppressed rather than included.

Historically, the author recalls being labeled with derogatory terms like "cipayos" or "gorilas" by the Kirchnerists. Now, the targets of such labels are the "lúmpenes" or "degenerados fiscales" of the opposing side. While Kirchnerism blamed the wealthy, the current movement venerates them as "sublime heroes." The article concludes by suggesting that libertarians align with the "winners" due to their Darwinian outlook and the profitability of serving international tech corporations, which now hold sway over governments.