We can’t replicate the Venezuela story

Not long ago, Venezuela was one of the most prosperous countries in South America. It had a strong middle class, vast natural resources, and a functioning democratic system. Families worked hard, built businesses, and believed their children would have a better future.

Today, Venezuela is marked by crisis, economic suffering, and political oppression.

What took generations to build was lost in a few years.

Venezuela’s story is a stark reminder of how precious and fragile freedom and democracy are.

It is also a personal story for many in the Latino community. It’s family members who lost it all. It’s friends who were forced to flee their country. For thousands of Latinos, this is more than a headline.

At The LIBRE Initiative, we know very well that our freedoms are something we can’t take for granted — and we’re working every day to make sure we never lose them.

How Venezuela lost its way

More than 20 years ago, Venezuelans voted for a socialist leader who promised equality, fairness, and more democracy.

His message sounded hopeful to many. He claimed the government could fix what free markets couldn’t. And he promised a revolution would bring change for everyday Venezuelans.

Many people trusted him.

But, once in power, things started to change — for the worse.

Slowly, power began to shift as the government rewrote the rules of the game:

• Checks and balances weakened
• Independent courts were undermined
• Free media was silenced
• Elections became anything but transparent

At the same time, the economy was taken over by the state.

The all-powerful government seized key private businesses, punished entrepreneurs, imposed price controls, and spent recklessly.

The result was devastating.

Hyperinflation wiped out the savings of millions. Food shortages forced families to wait in long lines just to buy basic necessities. Public services — from electricity to health care — fell apart.

Unfortunately, Venezuelans no longer had a way to hold their government accountable. Independent institutions had been stripped of their power, leaving citizens defenseless against power-hungry politicians.

As a result, millions have fled their homeland looking for the safety, dignity, and opportunity their government took away from them.

Why this matters to Latinos in America

For many Latino families, Venezuela’s story hits close to home.

Many have family members or friends who came to the United States to escape socialist systems where individual freedom was quashed.

For them, America represented something rare: a country founded on the idea that we owe our rights and liberties to God, not the government.

The Declaration of Independence makes that clear. Government exists to protect those rights, not to grant them. And when government violates this agreement, the people have the tools necessary to hold the government accountable.

Many Latinos know firsthand what happens when those principles are ignored, and how giving up freedom is way easier than getting it back.

Defending freedom for generations to come

At LIBRE, we also know how lucky we are to live in a country as free and prosperous as America. And we’re ready to defend freedom for generations to come.

As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence, we must remember a simple truth: Our strength comes from our citizens, not our government.

We are prosperous because we are free — and we must work to keep it that way.

Looking ahead to America’s next 250 years, the lesson is simple but urgent: Freedom survives only when each generation understands its responsibility to defend it.

At LIBRE, that responsibility guides everything we do.

That’s why we launched the “Quiero ser LIBRE” campaign. We know freedom is always one generation away from falling, and we Latinos must firmly defend liberty from all threats.