Facts Ep. 7: You Should Be Worried About The Pink Wave | The Ben Shapiro Show

Intro

In this episode of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” Ben discusses the rise of the “pink wave” in South and Latin America and the potential backlash against leftist governments in the region. He explores the economic and political consequences of this wave and its implications for America’s interests. Ben also highlights specific countries and leaders that exemplify the challenges posed by left-wing ideologies.

Main Takeaways

The Pink Wave and its Consequences

• The “pink wave” refers to the rise of popularly elected leftist governments in South and Latin America.
• These governments have pursued economic redistributionism, nationalism, and anti-Americanism, leading to poverty, human rights abuses, and threats to democracy.
• The first pink wave occurred shortly after the Cold War, with the election of socialist leaders like Hugo Chavez, Lula de Silva, Eva Morales, and Christina Fernandez de Kirchner.
• The commodities boom ending with the recession of 2007-2008 led to the decline of the first pink wave.
• A second pink wave emerged in 2018 with the rise of leftist leaders like Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Alberto Fernandez, Luis Arce, Pedro Castillo, and others.

Specific Country Examples

• Venezuela’s economy has suffered under left-wing rule, experiencing a dramatic drop in GDP and hyperinflation.
• Brazil’s Lula, head of the corrupt Workers’ Party, has faced corruption charges and drawn closer to Iran, Russia, and China.
• Argentina is facing economic destruction with high inflation and political shifts.
• Mexico’s President, Amlo, has been criticized for attacking autonomous agencies and violating electoral laws.
• Bolivia’s president, Luis Arce, is trying to stave off the return of Evo Morales, and the country faces debt and gas production issues.
• Colombia has its first left-wing leader, Gustavo Petro, whose leadership is associated with worsening security, cost of living, and corruption.
• In Honduras, President Shio Marl Castro has suspended constitutional rights to combat criminal gangs, leading to institutional weakness, corruption, violence, and impunity.
• Nicaragua has been a de facto dictatorship since 2006, aligning with China, Russia, and Iran.
• Chile’s President Gabriel Borek sought to make dramatic changes to the Constitution but faced opposition, leading to a shift to the center left.

Summary

The Rise and Consequences of the Pink Wave

The “pink wave” in South and Latin America refers to the rise of leftist governments that have pursued economic redistributionism, nationalism, and anti-Americanism. The first pink wave occurred after the Cold War, with leaders like Hugo Chavez, Lula de Silva, Eva Morales, and Christina Fernandez de Kirchner coming to power. However, the commodities boom ending with the recession of 2007-2008 led to the decline of this wave. In 2018, a second pink wave emerged with the rise of leaders like Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Alberto Fernandez, Luis Arce, Pedro Castillo, and others.

Country Examples: Economic and Political Challenges

Venezuela’s economy has suffered greatly under left-wing rule, experiencing a dramatic drop in GDP and hyperinflation. Lula, the head of Brazil’s corrupt Workers’ Party, has faced corruption charges and aligned with Iran, Russia, and China. Argentina is facing economic destruction with high inflation and political shifts. Mexico’s President, Amlo, has been criticized for attacking autonomous agencies and violating electoral laws. Bolivia’s president, Luis Arce, is trying to prevent the return of Evo Morales, and the country is dealing with debt and gas production issues. Colombia has its first left-wing leader, Gustavo Petro, whose leadership is associated with worsening security, cost of living, and corruption. Honduras has suspended constitutional rights to combat criminal gangs, leading to institutional weakness, corruption, violence, and impunity. Nicaragua has been under a de facto dictatorship since 2006, aligning with China, Russia, and Iran. Chile’s President Gabriel Borek faced opposition to his proposed constitutional changes, resulting in a shift to the center left.

Conclusion

The rise of the “pink wave” in South and Latin America poses significant challenges to the region’s economies, human rights, and democratic institutions. Left-wing ideologies have led to economic destruction, corruption, and threats to security. It is crucial to recognize the true threats posed by socialist leaders and their impact on Latin American futures. The election victory of libertarian conservative Javier Miele in Argentina signals a potential backlash against the pink wave and a step towards addressing these challenges.