The Ghost of Liberalism Haunts the Minds of the Youth

The grass is always greener on the other side. Frightened by the environment of political pressure, poverty, unemployment, poor-quality education, and a lack of future, the youth are falling for the rhetoric of "liberal" figures. Especially on X and YouTube, "opposition-looking" liberals are attracting a lot of attention.

According to these friends, if "structural reforms" are implemented, the problems will be solved. Those who disregard the Constitution—both the public and the state—will be bound by the rule of law, interest rates will be as they should be, the market will fix everything, and the best will win... It is always the same fairy tales. The deceivers and the deceived change. The fairy tale is the same, and the one making the tale told is the same.

According to opposition liberal friends, the guarantee of political freedoms is economic freedom, and the guarantee of economic freedom is political freedom. Of course, by freedoms, they mean the freedom of capital. No one is talking about the freedom of the laborers.

Opposition liberal friends link political freedoms and economic freedoms with a sleight of hand. However, political freedom is not a subject that separates the liberal from the non-liberal. A socialist can certainly defend political freedom as well. However, what liberals call "economic freedom" is an impossible dream.

Think about it. Let's say we are in a country where the rule of law truly prevails and, at least initially, free competition is established. The guarantee of the rule of law and free competition is honest bureaucrats and an organized public. However, when there are people who are truly good at competing in free competition, free competition is stifled over time. Someone has to be good at competing, and the one who is good expands their share. Capital will, of course, strive to grow its share this way. Anything else would be foolishness. Capital that grows its share tries to become a monopoly.

So, according to opposition liberal friends, who opposes monopolization? The honest bureaucrat and the organized public. However, these opposition liberal friends do not like the organized public very much. Because trade unionists organize, and the general level of wages is pulled up through strikes. According to opposition liberal friends, this is objectionable. Because the result of this is an increase in the minimum wage. In this case, unemployment or informal employment increases. It is expected that honest bureaucrats and the organized public will prevent informality. Well, what about unemployment? That, according to them, is the fault of the organized public. Therefore, in the eyes of opposition liberal friends, there should be no organized public. Because unions are harming the economy.

What remains as a guarantee is honest bureaucrats. Well, what is the power of an honest bureaucrat against capital that dominates the media, can easily finance association and group activities, and even controls other associations by financing them, and determines politicians? The honest bureaucrat also tries to support their family, goes into debt, gets scared, and cowers. Who will stop capital, which is very skilled at indebting, frightening, intimidating, lynching, and mocking? This is exactly where the opposition of the opposition liberal friend ends. They have received their money. According to them, the culprit is people's morality. It is easy for people who have not been tested by debt and fear to criticize the morality of people who are indebted, frightened, and cowed. Come and try it, gentlemen! Try to be an honest bureaucrat in this system.

My young brothers and sisters, all of this has been experienced. There was once a public-oriented economy in this country. We were fed, we studied in schools, we were treated in hospitals. We were able to live, even if it was difficult. But we were able to remain human.

Ertem Eğilmez told the story of the honest clerk going mad. Find the time and watch it. The power of an honest bureaucrat to resist the tricks and bribery of capital is limited. Let's not deceive ourselves; pressure, violence, trickery, and bribery are not the exception, they are the rule. I kiss the eyes of my brothers and sisters who are lost in liberal democratic daydreams. How sweetly they sleep!