In two weeks, New York City will inaugurate a new socialist mayor. In a few weeks, Chile will inaugurate a new president from the Right. In Seattle, a socialist is now the mayor, but in Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Bolivia, and Paraguay, leaders from the Right are governing or starting to govern.

What in the world is going on? Socialism is dead but alive and well in New York City and Seattle. Of course, they don't really call it “socialism” but rather the "affordability" crisis. Did you ever read about a socialist country that made things more affordable? No. They make people miserable and poor. They make things more affordable by rationing everything or rent controls that turn pretty buildings into slums. Have you a recent picture of Havana? I mean that part of Havana that the tourists spending dollars don't get to see. Yes, the part where Cubans live and the hospitals are falling apart. My family used to live in that pretty part of Cuba that now looks recently bombed for days.

Chile's victory was massive, as NPR pointed out:

Kast's victory follows years of left-of-center rule in Chile. It also reflects a broader regional trend in Latin America in which security and migration have become decisive electoral issues.

In elections this year Bolivia ousted socialists who had ruled for nearly two decades. Argentina's La Libertad Avanza won legislative elections, boosting President Javier Milei's influence in Congress, and Ecuador re-elected center-right Daniel Noboa.

Far-right libertarian President Javier Milei of neighboring Argentina welcomed Kast's win, calling his "friend's" victory proof that Latin America is casting off the "oppressive shackles of 21st-century socialism."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tweeted his congratulations, saying Washington looks forward to "partnering with his administration to strengthen regional security."

By the way, Secretary Marco Rubio is a big winner here too. He is convinced Latin American leaders that the U.S. has their backs in the battle against narcos and that doing business with the U.S. is a better bet than China.

As we celebrate Chile and other examples of the good guys winning, we also look with shock and horror at some of our cities. Who told them that socialism works or that you make things affordable by telling people what they want to hear? Well, they will learn the hard way and maybe follow the example of Chile and others in rejecting this garbage.

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Image: Gage Skidmore