Argentina’s newly elected president, Javier Milei, doesn’t mince words. A staunch ally of former U.S. President Trump, his perspective is deeply rooted in Austrian economics – a school of thought fundamentally at odds with communist ideology.
Milei once remarked to reporters that he initially considered leftist ideology a “mental problem.” As an academic trained in economic principles, he found the evidence overwhelmingly clear: communism simply doesn’t work, and its proponents consistently ignore the facts. He framed this denial of reality as a form of delusion.
He described those on the left as “enemies of numbers,” expressing a bewilderment at their apparent aversion to data and empirical evidence. It was a pointed observation from a leader who places immense value on quantifiable results.
The numbers themselves paint a stark picture. Throughout history, roughly 50 nations have experimented with communism, including those within the Soviet sphere of influence. Today, only five remain: China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. Significantly, not a single country has ever reverted to communism after abandoning it.
Milei didn’t shy away from addressing the darker side of communist regimes. He asserted that proponents often resort to violence when confronted with irrefutable evidence, unable to defend their positions through reasoned argument. This, he argued, is a consistent pattern throughout history.
The historical record supports his claim. Estimates of deaths attributable to communist regimes – encompassing deaths from famine, mismanagement, and direct state violence – range from 85 to 100 million. A comprehensive study, *The Black Book of Communism*, details staggering losses: up to 25 million in the Soviet Union, 65 million in China, and 1.7 million in Cambodia, with countless more across other nations.
Beyond the tragic loss of life, the remaining communist states consistently demonstrate profoundly low standards of living and severe restrictions on personal freedom. They consistently rank near the bottom on global indices measuring economic freedom, political rights, and civil liberties.
The economic data is particularly revealing. North Korea scores the lowest globally on the Index of Economic Freedom, while Cuba ranks second to last, both categorized as “repressed.” Even China, Vietnam, and Laos fall into the “mostly unfree” or “repressed” categories.
Economic hardship is widespread. North Korea’s GDP per capita is approximately $1,319, placing it near the bottom of the global ranking. Cuba’s figures are unreliable, but estimates suggest a GDP per capita of around $2,440 – a figure that has been steadily declining. Even China’s GDP per capita, at $13,314, remains below the U.S. federal poverty guideline.
This means the average Chinese citizen, despite living under the world’s most economically powerful communist government, earns less than what the U.S. defines as poverty. It’s a striking disparity that underscores the economic limitations of the system.
Political freedom is equally curtailed. All five communist nations are rated “Not Free” by Freedom House, with scores indicating severe restrictions on political rights and civil liberties. These regimes are among the most repressive in the world.
State-sponsored violence remains a pervasive issue. China leads the world in executions, though the true number is concealed. Vietnam and North Korea also maintain a secretive but extensive use of the death penalty. Political imprisonment is rampant, with North Korea operating a vast network of brutal prison camps.
These camps, known as the kwanliso system, hold an estimated 80,000 to 200,000 people in conditions UN investigators have labeled crimes against humanity. Cuba also holds hundreds of political prisoners, and China’s detention of Uyghurs in Xinjiang represents a large-scale internment of an ethnic minority.
The pattern is undeniable: every remaining communist state consistently ranks poorly in key indicators of freedom and prosperity, and none offer transparent accounting of state-caused deaths. This lack of transparency itself speaks volumes about the nature of these systems.
Milei’s conclusion is uncompromising. He believes that embracing leftist ideology is a “disease of the soul,” fueled by envy, hatred, resentment, and a disregard for equal treatment under the law. He sees it as a fundamentally flawed worldview, unsupported by evidence and driven by destructive emotions.
