Freedom | By: Rafael de la Cruz

By: Rafael de la Cruz

Yesterday, July 5, Venezuela commemorated 213 years since the declaration of independence. Of the complex economic and political reasons that led to this outcome, one continues to reverberate through time: Freedom.

After 25 years of 21st century socialism that progressively stifled the political rights of Venezuelans, sacrificed economic freedoms, and tried to subject the entire country to the authority of a State run by a few, a massive and unstoppable democratic citizen movement has arisen with the same desire for freedom.

The adventures of María Corina Machado in every corner of the country bear witness to a brave people who have said enough, and who are determined to embark on a new path in which each person has the freedom to make a decent life for themselves, for their family and to rebuild a great country with effort and honest work. A country that welcomes the return of emigrants who were forced to leave and reunites families.

Freedom means that everyone can think and express their ideas freely without fear of being excluded, repressed or worse. A country without persecuted people or political prisoners.

Freedom means that the media can publish their opinions and news without being expropriated, closed, or forced to sell to people loyal to the regime in power.

Freedom means that judges decide on the cases presented to them in accordance with the law, without allowing political power to divert justice in its favor.

Freedom means a Congress legitimately elected by all citizens of the country, where all political tendencies have a place and the right of everyone to have a voice in the destiny of the nation is respected.

Freedom means an executive power elected by all citizens, without exclusion, and where all those who want to stand as candidates for the offices of President, governors and mayors can do so, once more, without exclusion.

Freedom means that the State does not interfere in the lives of its citizens, watching them on every block, deciding to whom it gives its shameful gifts and to whom it takes them away.

Freedom means that those who want to invest to build a business and create jobs can do so without fear of being expropriated in the future, with the confidence that market rules will be respected and that the State will act with consideration and seriousness in managing the economy. Freedom means recovering our presence in international financial organizations and reestablishing the Republic’s credit to access the support required for the reconstruction of the country.

Freedom means that every family can choose with a voucher the school where they will send their children so that they can receive a good education and that teachers have salaries that allow them to live and dedicate themselves to teaching. All children and young people in the country should have not only the right, but the opportunity to be educated.

Freedom means that everyone can go to the health center that seems best to them with insurance that allows them to be cured.

Freedom means that at the end of their working life, people have a decent pension, with solidarity support from the nation for those who are already retired and whose pension savings have been squandered; with complementary support from the State for those who are halfway through their working career and whose pension savings would not allow for a sufficient income; and with individual capitalization and subsidiary support from the State for young people who are starting to work.

Freedom means returning to production of more than 3 million barrels of oil with private investment to help finance Venezuela’s recovery.

Freedom means unleashing the country’s vast hydroelectric potential to ensure increasing clean energy as the oil era draws to a close. Freedom means turning on the light and not turning it off. And ensuring that clean water arrives that can be drunk without making the person who drinks it sick.

Freedom means having relations with all countries of the world, with special closeness to the democratic countries of our continent, and reintegrating the country into the inter-American system and global forums.

Freedom means that the armed forces fulfill their role as guarantors of sovereignty and compliance with democratic rules, and receive the respect and appreciation they deserve from Venezuelans.

Freedom is living in a country that is internationally respected, prosperous, and of which we are all proud.