A couple of good examples for Bolivian businessmen
By: Hugo Marcelo Balderrama - 01/09/2024
Guest columnist.Share:
In mid-August, with the honourable exception of CAINCO, the Bolivian business community participated in the "dialogue" convened by Arce Catacora and his economic team. Once again, like docile sheep, the business community accepted 17 points of an agreement aimed at "confronting" the major problems facing the national economy. Once again, as happened with the 10 points of February, they are complicit in the misery, misfortune and tragedies that Bolivia has to live through day after day.
What motivates the business sector to participate in such crude negotiations?
"To hit the pig so that the owner appears" is an expression used to describe those who are the direct beneficiaries of corruption, favors and public money. The phrase reflects very well the attitude of the national business community, since, at least those who represent them, have shown no interest in debating the true cause of the Bolivian tragedy, excessive public spending.
It turns out that, in many cases, their bloated financial results are not the result of their efficiency and business expertise, but of their ability to close agreements with those who have the tap of state money. Therefore, they are not going to debate Public Spending, but only to maintain their privileges.
In fact, at the beginning of the Bolivian dictatorial system, during the time of Evo Morales' presidency, many businessmen were happy with the coca grower's plans to create synergies between the State and the private sector.
Finally a president with balls! A friend of mine at the time declared. Years later, his company suffered, like many others, the onslaught of the tax system. It was very ironic to see him in the National Tax Offices on the verge of tears and begging for a reduction in fines. I felt sorry for the situation, but I don't usually back down from my decisions, breaking off relations with people of that caliber was one of them, so I left him alone to face the monster he had helped create.
However, the purpose of this note is not to talk about anecdotes and personal bad times, but to show a couple of good examples that could serve as inspiration for Bolivian businessmen.
Shortly after the end of World War II, an English billionaire named Anthony Fisher happened to read an abridged version of The Road to Serfdom, one of Friedrich Hayek's greatest works. Fisher was so impressed by Hayek's analysis and prognosis that he arranged an interview with him.
At the meeting, the billionaire asked the economist to advise him, since he had intentions to enter politics. However, Hayek proposed something else: to fight the mother of all battles, the battle for ideas and culture.
Anthony Fisher followed Hayek's advice and soon founded the Institute of Economic Affairs, an academic center that, through research and support for intellectuals, dedicated itself to defending freedom and, especially, combating the monopoly of socialist ideas in universities and the media.
Closer to us in time and distance is the phenomenon of Javier Milei in Argentina. Several businessmen motivated the libertarian economist to enter politics, since it was the only way to change things and get his country out of the quagmire and misery, says Nicolás Márquez in his book: Milei: the revolution they didn't see coming.
In conclusion, whether by supporting those who spread the ideas of freedom, or by promoting politicians who want to change the model, Bolivian businessmen have the moral duty to commit themselves to the battle to build a prosperous Bolivia. Will they be ready for this paradigm shift, or will their short-term financial interests make them prisoners of 21st Century Socialism?
«The opinions published herein are the sole responsibility of its author».